Assessing suction bucket jacket foundation installations in the South China Sea: Insights from field installation experiences

The suction bucket jacket foundation has become a widely choice for supporting offshore wind turbines. Assessing the installation of the suction bucket foundation (SBF) is important as it significantly affects the stability of the offshore wind system and the overall project cost. Currently, experience with suction bucket jacket foundation installations primarily revolves around stiff clay and dense sand, drawing insights from North Sea projects (e.g. the design method reported by DNV-RP-C212). However, there is a shortage of publicly available knowledge concerning SBF installations in the South China Sea, characterised by deep-covered mud (i.e. very soft clay) and extensive layered soils. Existing design parameters may not adequately address these challenges, highlighting the need for a site-specific installation design method. This study introduces a tailored approach for evaluating design parameters of the SBF installation in the seabed conditions of the South China Sea. Utilising field data from 19 suction bucket jacket installations across the region, the proposed method undergoes rigorous validation and testing. The findings of this study aim to contribute to the advancement of offshore SBF installations in the intricate geological setting of the South China Sea. By presenting the SBF installation design method, the research offers practical guidance for both the evaluation of suction bucket jacket foundation installations and the optimisation of turbine locations in the region.