ELEVATION OF BOTTOM OF PLATFORM 



The maximum intensity of wave forcf. occurs close 

 to the maximum elevation of the wave crest. | f 

 these large intensities of wave force should be 

 applied to large areas such as the areas of the 

 platforms themselves, extremely large total forces 



WOULD RESULT. ThEREFOR, SAFETY AND INTEGRITY OF 

 THE PLATFORMS REQUIRES THAT THE PLATFORMS THEM- 

 SELVES ALWAYS BE DEFINITELY ABOVE THE CRESTS OF 

 ANY WAVES THAT MAY PASS THEM. THIS CONCLUSION IS 

 CONFIRMED BY EXPERIENCE WITH OFFSHORE OIL WELL 

 DRILLING PLATFORMS IN THE GU L F OF MEXICO WHERE 

 MAJOR FAILURES AND COMPLETE LOSS OF THE PLATFORMS 

 HAS BEEN REPORTED IN TWO INSTANCES AS THE RESULT 

 OF WAVE CRESTS STRIKING THE PLATFORMS THEMSELVES. 

 On THIS BASIS THE EVALUATIONS OF HEIGHT REQUIRE- 

 MENTS SHOWN IN Table III have been prepared. 



