Evaluation of Noise in Sensitive Living Quarters aboard Floating Offshore Oil & Gas Facilities Using the SEA Method
Regular paper
ARCADIS U.S
Tuesday 2 june, 2015, 09:00 - 09:20
0.6 Madrid (49)
Abstract:
Offshore oil & gas facilities are noisy places where the workers live and work
for extended periods of time. For health and safety reasons, as well as
quality of life, each employee’s living areas should allow for a much needed
respite from the high noise levels generated during continuous daily
operations. A detailed review of the vibro-acoustic noise levels will help to
reduce the stress of continual exposure to high noise levels to prevent
hearing loss or other potential health issues. The Statistical Energy Analysis
(SEA) method represents a "high frequency" modeling technology for evaluating
vibro-acoustic behavior over a broad range of frequencies. In application to
offshore oil & gas facilities, this robust mathematical type of analysis is
effective for evaluating noise over the entire audible frequency range. SEA is
effective for modeling complex structures with many sources and energy paths.
In this paper, the structural-acoustic propagation from multiple sources was
considered. A SEA model was developed to predict the vibro-acoustic
propagation from significant source locations that impact a worker’s living
quarters. The SEA model is used to predict the structural-borne noise levels
within living areas to evaluate potential design changes for improvement to
the acoustical environment.