Robustness of an SCR in Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Conditions

Author(s):  
Partha Sharma ◽  
Kim Mo̸rk ◽  
Vigleik Hansen ◽  
Celso Raposo ◽  
Srinivas Vishnubhotla

Recent hurricanes in Gulf of Mexico, most notably Ivan (2004), Katrina & Rita (2005), Ike (2008), were more severe than the local 100 year extremes in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). As a result API has issued an interim metocean bulletin, API Bulletin 2INT-MET [1]. Concurrently, API also issued API Bulletin 2INT-EX [2] for assessment of existing offshore structures for hurricane conditions. API Bulletin 2INT-EX recommends a robustness check to evaluate floating structure critical components including production and export risers. The robustness check for risers as a minimum should consider the capacity and ductility of the key riser components. This paper investigates the robustness of a steel catenary riser (SCR) suspended from a deepwater tension leg platform (TLP) unit in Central GoM. The robustness assessment is performed for the 1000 year Central GoM hurricane conditions provided in API 2INT-MET. Time domain coupled analysis using the program DeepC is performed to determine the TLP motions and the associated loading on the SCR. SCR strength capacity checks are performed as per the methods outlined in new ISO 13628-12 [3].

Author(s):  
Donogh W. Lang ◽  
Aengus Connolly ◽  
Michael Lane ◽  
Adrian D. Connaire

With the move to the development of remote, deepwater fields, increasing use is being made of floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facilities from which oil is intermittently offloaded to a shuttle tanker via offloading lines and an anchor leg mooring buoy. The response of the individual components of these systems is significantly influenced by hydrodynamic and mechanical coupling between adjacent components, precluding the use of traditional analysis techniques such as displacement RAOs derived from tank model tests or diffraction/radiation analyses of the independent components. Consequently, the reliable and accurate design of these complex systems requires an analysis tool capable of determining the fully coupled response of each of the individual components of the system. A recently-developed time domain coupled analysis tool has been extended to incorporate a frequency domain coupled analysis capability. This tool combines radiation/diffraction theory with a non-linear finite element (FE) structural analysis technique used for the analysis of slender offshore structures. This paper describes the application of frequency domain analysis to the coupled FE/floating structure problem, with particular consideration given to the linearisation of viscous drag loads on floating structures and the treatment of low-frequency second-order loads in the frequency domain. Results from frequency domain and time domain coupled analyses of a typical West of Africa type offloading system are compared, highlighting areas of application where frequency domain coupled analysis can offer significant benefits when used in conjunction with time domain analysis. Based on this, recommendations are made for the appropriate use of frequency and time domain coupled analysis for this type of system.


Author(s):  
Wei Qiu ◽  
Hongxuan Peng

Based on the panel-free method, large-amplitude motions of floating offshore structures have been computed by solving the body-exact problem in the time domain using the exact geometry. The body boundary condition is imposed on the instantaneous wetted surface exactly at each time step. The free surface boundary is assumed linear so that the time-domain Green function can be applied. The instantaneous wetted surface is obtained by trimming the entire NURBS surfaces of a floating structure. At each time step, Gaussian points are automatically distributed on the instantaneous wetted surface. The velocity potentials and velocities are computed accurately on the body surface by solving the desingularized integral equations. Nonlinear Froude-Krylov forces are computed on the instantaneous wetted surface under the incident wave profile. Validation studies have been carried out for a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. Computed results were compared with experimental results and solutions by the panel method.


2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (02) ◽  
pp. 124-134
Author(s):  
L. Sun ◽  
G.H Dong ◽  
Y. P. Zhao ◽  
C. F. Liu

Ship-generated waves can make bad effects on offshore structures. A numerical model is presented for evaluating the forces exerted on a nearby floating structure by ship generated waves. The ship waves were modeled using Michell thin-ship theory (Wigley waves), the forces were computed using a boundary element method in the time domain, and the motions of the offshore structures were evaluated using the equation of motion of the floating body, and predicted using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. The numerical method was validated by comparing its results to those of frequency-domain methods reported in the literature. It was then applied to calculate the force of ship waves on a floating box. The ship's speed, dimensions, and distance were varied. The numerical results indicate some useful rules for varying these factors.


Author(s):  
Ruxin Song ◽  
Paul Stanton

The Steel Catenary Riser (SCR) concept offers advantages over other riser concepts and has been widely deployed worldwide. The first deepwater SCR was installed in the Gulf of Mexico in 1994. Since then, more than 100 SCRs have been installed for many types of deepwater floaters (Spars, TLPs, SEMIs, and FPSOs) in the deepwater fields of West of Africa, the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), and Offshore Brazil. As the second of two companion papers, this paper presents the state-of-the-art of key analysis techniques of deepwater SCRs while the first paper addresses the design methodology [R. Song, P. Stanton, Ref. 4]. First of all, the procedure for analysis of deepwater SCRs is discussed and presented in more detail than given in the first paper and is also illustrated in an analysis flowchart. Wave theory applicable to deepwater SCR analysis and time domain vs. frequency domain analysis approaches are described and discussed. More focus is given to the strength analysis including discussion and comparison of regular wave and random wave approaches. Attention is paid to the vortex induced vibration (VIV) analysis including discussion of modal response analysis and VIV parameter selections. For SCRs on semisubmersibles and FPSOs, vessel heave-induced VIV needs to be taken into account, and a corresponding time-domain approach is presented. Similarly, for Spars and deep draft semisubmersibles, vortex-induced motion (VIM) fatigue damage of SCRs is discussed in more detail. Particular attention is also given to the analysis of SCR compression in the touch-down zone (TDZ) and corresponding acceptance criteria are presented. The application of fracture mechanics to engineering criticality assessment (ECA) is explored. Two examples of deepwater SCRs corresponding to a semi and a Spar are given to illustrate the presented methodology.


Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1110
Author(s):  
Wei-Qin Liu ◽  
Luo-Nan Xiong ◽  
Guo-Wei Zhang ◽  
Meng Yang ◽  
Wei-Guo Wu ◽  
...  

The numerical hydroelastic method is used to study the structural response of a hexagon enclosed platform (HEP) of flexible module rigid connector (FMRC) structure that can provide life accommodation, ship berthing and marine supply for ships sailing in the deep ocean. Six trapezoidal floating structures constitute the HEP structure so that it is a symmetrical very large floating structure (VLFS). The HEP has the characteristics of large area and small depth, so its hydroelastic response is significant. Therefore, this paper studies the structural responses of a hexagon enclosed platform of FMRC structure in waves by means of a 3D potential-flow hydroelastic method based on modal superposition. Numerical models, including the hydrodynamic model, wet surface model and finite element method (FEM) model, are established, a rigid connection is simulated by many-point-contraction (MPC) and the number of wave cases is determined. The load and structural response of HEP are obtained and analyzed in all wave cases, and frequency-domain hydroelastic calculation and time-domain hydroelastic calculation are carried out. After obtaining a number of response amplitude operators (RAOs) for stress and time-domain stress histories, the mechanism of the HEP structure is compared and analyzed. This study is used to guide engineering design for enclosed-type ocean platforms.


Author(s):  
Will Brindley ◽  
Andrew P. Comley

In recent years a number of high profile mooring failures have emphasised the high risk nature of this element of a floating structure. Semi-submersible Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) operating in the harsh North Sea environment have experienced approximately 3 mooring failures every 2 years, based on an average population of 34 units. In recognition of the high mooring failure rates, the HSE has introduced recommendations for more stringent mooring strength requirements for units operating on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) [17]. Although strength requirements are useful to assess the suitability of a mooring design, they do not provide an insight into the question: what is the reliability of the mooring system? This paper aims to answer this question by evaluating failure statistics over the most recent decade of available data. Mooring failure rates are compared between the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), the UKCS, and with industry code targets to understand how overall reliability is related to the strength capacity of a mooring system. The failure statistics suggest that a typical MODU operating in the UKCS would experience a mooring line failure in heavy weather approximately every 20 operating years. This failure rate appears to be several orders of magnitude greater than industry targets used to calibrate mooring codes. Despite the increased strength requirements for the NCS, failure rates do not appear to be lower than the UKCS. This suggests that reliability does not correlate well with mooring system strength. As a result, designing to meet the more rigorous HSE requirements, which would require extensive upgrades to existing units, may not significantly increase mooring system reliability. This conclusion needs to be supported with further investigation of failure statistics in both the UKCS and NCS. In general, work remains to find practical ways to further understand past failures and so improve overall reliability.


2014 ◽  
Vol 660 ◽  
pp. 799-803
Author(s):  
Edwar Yazid ◽  
M.S. Liew ◽  
Setyamartana Parman ◽  
V.J. Kurian ◽  
C.Y. Ng

This work presents an approachto predict the low frequency and wave frequency responses (LFR and WFR) of afloating structure using Kalman smoother adaptive filters based time domain Volterramodel. This method utilized time series of a measured wave height as systeminput and surge motion as system output and used to generate the linear andnonlinear transfer function (TFs). Based on those TFs, predictions of surgemotion in terms of LFR and WFR were carried out in certain frequency ranges ofwave heights. The applicability of the proposed method is then applied in ascaled 1:100 model of a semisubmersible prototype.


Author(s):  
H. Suzuki ◽  
H. R. Riggs ◽  
M. Fujikubo ◽  
T. A. Shugar ◽  
H. Seto ◽  
...  

Very Large Floating Structure (VLFS) is a unique concept of ocean structures primary because of their unprecedented length, displacement cost and associated hydroelastic response. International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress (ISSC) had paid attention to the emerging novel technology and launched Special Task Committee to investigate the state of the art in the technology. This paper summarizes the activities of the committee. A brief overview of VLFS is given first for readers new to the subject. History, application and uniqueness with regard to engineering implication are presented. The Mobile Offshore Base (MOB) and Mega-Float, which are typical VLFS projects that have been investigated in detail and are aimed to be realized in the near future, are introduced. Uniqueness of VLFS, such as differences in behavior of VLFS from conventional ships and offshore structures, are described. The engineering challenges associated with behavior, design procedure, environment, and the structural analysis of VLFS are introduced. A comparative study of hydroelastic analysis tools that were independently developed for MOB and Mega-Float is made in terms of accuracy of global behavior. The effect of structural modeling on the accuracy of stress analysis is also discussed. VLFS entails innovative design methods and procedure. Development of design criteria and design procedures are described and application of reliability-based approaches are documented and discussed.


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