Evaluation of Contact Forces in the Vertical Connection of a Flexible Riser in the Subsea Equipment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Coelho Del’ Sarto ◽  
Ricardo Franciss ◽  
Celso Kazuyuki Morooka
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Flexible Riser ◽  
Shear Forces ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Operational Procedure ◽  
Numerical Simulation Result ◽  
Operational Design ◽  
Flexible Risers

Abstract Flexible risers are commonly used in ultra deepwater offshore fields to convey fluids from the subsea equipment to the floating production unit. During the development of the production systems, the flexible pipe installation is a critical operation. In this scenario, an operational procedure for the installation frequently used in offshore Brazil is known as Direct Vertical Connection. In this concept, the Vertical Connection Module (VCM) is connected to the flexible pipe through a flanged joint, and lowered in to the subsea equipment with assistance of an installing cable. During the installation procedure, excessive loads may occur in the VCM due to reaction loads induced by the flexible pipe. The present paper aims to describe the Direct Vertical Connection installation and to propose a methodology to study the forces induced by the flexible pipe into the VCM during such operation. For this purpose, a numerical model is developed for the Direct Vertical Connection and it is represented to simulate the installation procedure through a commercial software OrcaFlex. The dynamic behavior of the system is investigated by varying the payout velocity of the installing cable, and the results are shown in terms of bending moment, wall tension and shear forces acting in the flange of the VCM. Numerical simulation result in the present work allows to evaluate the range of loading which acts during the Direct Vertical Connection to help operational design of the installation process, and avoid failure of components during the procedure.

Cathodic Protection Design Consideration for an Offshore Flexible Riser Connected to an Impressed Current System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Dequin ◽  
Clark Weldon ◽  
Matthew Hense
Keyword(s):  
Cathodic Protection ◽  
Sacrificial Anode ◽  
Flexible Riser ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Linear Resistance ◽  
Flexible Pipes ◽  
Flexible Risers ◽  
Impressed Current ◽  
Host Structure ◽  
Impressed Current Cathodic Protection

Abstract Flexible risers are regularly used to produce oil and gas in subsea production systems and by nature interconnect the subsea production system to the floating or fixed host facilities. Unbonded flexible pipes are made of a combination of metallic and non-metallic layers, each layer being individually terminated at each extremity by complex end fittings. Mostly submerged in seawater, the metallic parts require careful material selection and cathodic protection (CP) to survive the expected service life. Design engineers must determine whether the flexible pipe risers should be electrically connected to the host in order to receive cathodic protection current or be electrically isolated. If the host structure is equipped with a sacrificial anode system, then electrical continuity between the riser and the host structure is generally preferred. The exception is often when the riser and host structure are operated by separate organizations, in which case electrical isolation may be preferred simply to provide delineation of ownership between the two CP systems. The paper discusses these interface issues between hull and subsea where the hull is equipped with an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system, and provides guidance for addressing them during flexible pipe CP design, operation, and monitoring. Specifically, CP design philosophies for flexible risers will be addressed with respect to manufacturing, installation and interface with the host structure’s Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) system. The discussion will emphasize the importance of early coordination between the host structure ICCP system designers and the subsea SACP system designers, and will include recommendations for CP system computer modeling, CP system design operation and CP system monitoring. One of the challenges is to understand what to consider for the exposed surfaces in the flexible pipes and its multiple layers, and also the evaluation of the linear resistance of each riser segment. The linear resistance of the riser is a major determinant with respect to potential attenuation, which in turn largely determines the extent of current drain between the subsea sacrificial anode system and the hull ICCP system. To model the flexible riser CP system behavior for self-protection, linear resistance may be maximized, however the use of a realistic linear resistance is recommended for evaluation of the interaction between the host structure and subsea system. Realistic flexible linear resistance would also reduce conservatism in the CP design, potentially save time during the offshore campaign by reducing anode quantities, and also providing correct evaluation of drain current and stray currents.

Technical Solutions Applied for the Treatment of Damaged Dynamic Risers

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas S. Taylor ◽  
Michael V. Joosten ◽  
Frank Smith
Keyword(s):  
Corrosion Fatigue ◽  
Treatment Process ◽  
Fatigue Testing ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Flexible Riser ◽  
Hydraulic Test ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Safety Critical ◽  
Flexible Risers ◽  
Technical Solutions

The objective of this paper is to provide operators of floating production systems that utilise dynamic flexible risers an opportunity to review the technology and procedures adopted by PGS Production. These procedures were utilised in order to verify/re-use the damaged/seawater annulus flooded Banff risers. Most of these risers were also classified as being safety critical. The scope of the work carried out covers the development of a seawater displacement treatment system using an inhibitor fluid. The feasibility and efficacy of the flushing treatment were rigorously developed based on hydraulic test analysis using sections taken from an actual flexible riser. An extensive corrosion fatigue-testing programme using seawater/CO2/inhibitor was carried out to establish optimal safe service lives for the “damaged and treated” case for these risers. This paper presents the successful results from this work covering the development of the remedial treatment process and the resulting corrosion fatigue work that has been conducted.

Effect of Anti-Wear Tape on Behavior of Flexible Risers

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chongyao Zhou ◽  
Naiquan Ye ◽  
Svein Sævik
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Numerical Model ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Laboratory Measurements ◽  
Flexible Riser ◽  
Bending Loads ◽  
Flexible Risers ◽  
Bending Behavior ◽  
The Impact

The service life of a flexible riser is often dominated by the metallic layers under cyclic bending loads, particularly the tensile armor layers. The effect of the anti-wear tapes is normally omitted during cross section modelling, where a plane-remain-plane assumption is usually used for stick condition. Significant differences have been observed between numerical analysis assuming plane surfaces remain plane and laboratory measurements studying the bending moment versus curvature for a flexible riser which has anti-wear tapes between the two tensile armor layers. A new shear interaction algorithm has been developed in the numerical model to improve the modeling of the anti-wear tapes by taking the thickness and shear modulus of the anti-wear material into account. The impact of these parameters on the bending behavior of the flexible riser is demonstrated by comparing the numerical analysis results with the laboratory measurements.

A Comparison of Coupled and Uncoupled Dynamic Analysis for the Flexible Riser in Shallow Water

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chul-hee Jo ◽  
Do-youb Kim ◽  
Yu-ho Rho
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Gas Permeation ◽  
Dynamic Responses ◽  
Coupled Analysis ◽  
Flexible Riser ◽  
Extensive Experience ◽  
Flexible Risers

Flexible risers have been used extensively in recent years for floating and early production systems. Such risers offer the advantage of having inherent heave compliance in their catenary thereby greatly reducing the complexity of the riser-to-rig and riser-to subsea interfaces. Another advantage with flexible risers is their greater reliability. Concerns about fatigue life, gas permeation and pigging of lines have been overcome by extensive experience with these risers in production applications. In this paper, flexible riser analysis results were compared through coupled and uncoupled dynamic analyses methods. A time domain coupled analysis capability has been developed to model the dynamic responses of an integrated floating system incorporating the interactions between vessel, moorings and risers in a marine environment. For this study, SPM (Single Point Mooring) system for an FSU in shallow water was considered. This optimization model was integrated with a time-domain global motion analysis to assess both stability and design constraints of the flexible riser system.

A Study on the Extensional-Torsional Response of a Damaged Flexible Pipe

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héctor E. M. Merino ◽  
José Renato M. de Sousa ◽  
Carlos Magluta ◽  
Ney Roitman
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Load Capacity ◽  
Torsional Stiffness ◽  
Flexible Riser ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Full Data ◽  
Torsional Response ◽  
Tension Tests ◽  
Flexible Risers ◽  
Unbonded Flexible Riser

Inspections in flexible risers have detected a considerable number of damages in their top section caused by the installation process or generated during their operation, due to the contact with another riser or components of the floating facility. Among the most common damages detected, the rupture of the tensile armor wires is critical to the structure integrity as its load capacity may be significantly reduced. The objective of this work is to present the main results involving pure tension and torsion with tension tests in a 4” unbonded flexible riser with five damaged wires in its outer tensile armor. These tests were carried out at the Structures Laboratory of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (LabEst). Besides presenting full data concerning the internal structure of the riser, this paper describes the experimental procedures used to perform the tests and the main results obtained such as axial and torsional stiffness and the redistribution of forces in the wires. Comparisons between numerical simulations with those obtained experimentally are presented. A brief discussion about results and some simplifications assumed on the numerical model are presented at the end of the work.

An Analytical Approach for Predicting the Collapse Pressure of the Flexible Risers With Initial Ovalization and Gap

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Li ◽  
Xiaoli Jiang ◽  
Hans Hopman
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Approach ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Flexible Riser ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Collapse Pressure ◽  
Initial Imperfections ◽  
Collapse Strength ◽  
Flexible Risers

Abstract A flexible riser is a flexible pipe that transports materials between seafloor and topside structures. As oil and gas production heads to water depths greater than 3000 meters, huge hydrostatic pressure may cause the collapse failure of flexible risers. Generally, the collapse strength of a flexible riser is designed by considering the effects of initial imperfections, e.g., ovality of the carcass, and radial gap between the carcass/liner and pressure armor. These two imperfections may cause a significant reduction in the collapse strength of flexible risers under the flooded annulus condition. However, there are few analytical models available in the public literature that could take those factors into account. In this paper, an analytical approach is presented to predict the critical collapse pressure of the flexible risers with initial imperfections. The analytical results were compared with the numerical simulation, which showed reasonably good agreement.

Bending Stiffener Design Through Structural Optimization

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Loureiro Tanaka ◽  
Lauro Massao Yamada da Silveira ◽  
Joa˜o Paulo Zi´lio Novaes ◽  
Eduardo Esterqui de Barros ◽  
Clo´vis de Arruda Martins
Keyword(s):  
Optimization Problem ◽  
Design Procedure ◽  
Complex Task ◽  
Load Case ◽  
Shear Forces ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Curvilinear Coordinate ◽  
Regular Design ◽  
Curvature Deformation ◽  
Flexible Risers

Bending stiffeners are very important ancillary equipments of umbilicals or flexible risers, since they protect the lines from overbending. Their design however is a complex task, since many load cases must be taken into account; the structure itself has a section that is variable with curvilinear coordinate. To aid the designer in this task, optimization algorithms can be used to automate the search for the best design. In this work an optimization algorithm is applied to the design of the bending stiffener. First, a bending stiffener model is created, which is capable of simulating different load case conditions and provide, as output, results of interest such as maximum curvature, deformation along the stiffener, shear forces and so on. Then, a bending stiffener design procedure is written as an optimization problem and, for that, objective function, restrictions and design variables defined. Study cases were performed, comparing a regular design with its optimized counterpart, under varying conditions.

Optimization Applied to Buzios Flexible Riser Systems and Subsea Layout

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinicius Gasparetto ◽  
Thierry Hernalsteens ◽  
Joao Francisco Fleck Heck Britto ◽  
Joab Flavio Araujo Leao ◽  
Thiago Duarte Fonseca Dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Capital Expenditure ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Internal Diameter ◽  
Flexible Riser ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Injection Wells ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Field Development

Abstract Buzios is a super-giant ultra-deep-water pre-salt oil and gas field located in the Santos Basin off Brazil's Southeastern coast. There are four production systems already installed in the field. Designed to use flexible pipes to tie back the production and injection wells to the FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading), these systems have taken advantage from several lessons learned in the previous projects installed by Petrobras in Santos Basin pre-salt areas since 2010. This knowledge, combined with advances in flexible pipe technology, use of long-term contracts and early engagement with suppliers, made it possible to optimize the field development, minimizing the risks and reducing the capital expenditure (CAPEX) initially planned. This paper presents the first four Buzios subsea system developments, highlighting some of the technological achievements applied in the field, as the first wide application of 8" Internal Diameter (ID) flexible production pipes for ultra-deep water, leading to faster ramp-ups and higher production flowrates. It describes how the supply chain strategy provided flexibility to cover the remaining project uncertainties, and reports the optimizations carried out in flexible riser systems and subsea layouts. The flexible risers, usually installed in lazy wave configurations at such water depths, were optimized reducing the total buoyancy necessary. For water injection and service lines, the buoyancy modules were completely removed, and thus the lines were installed in a free-hanging configuration. Riser configuration optimizations promoted a drop of around 25% on total riser CAPEX and allowed the riser anchor position to be placed closer to the floating production unit, promoting opportunities for reducing the subsea tieback lengths. Standardization of pipe specifications and the riser configurations allowed the projects to exchange the lines, increasing flexibility and avoiding riser interference in a scenario with multiple suppliers. Furthermore, Buzios was the first ultra-deep-water project to install a flexible line, riser, and flowline, with fully Controlled Annulus Solution (CAS). This system, developed by TechnipFMC, allows pipe integrity management from the topside, which reduces subsea inspections. As an outcome of the technological improvements and the optimizations applied to the Buzios subsea system, a vast reduction in subsea CAPEX it was achieved, with a swift production ramp-up.

An Analytical Model to Predict the Bending Behavior of Unbonded Flexible Pipes

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (03) ◽  
pp. 171-177
Author(s):  
Leilei Dong ◽  
Yi Huang ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Gang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Bending Moment ◽  
Bending Stiffness ◽  
Nonlinear Formulation ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Flexible Pipes ◽  
Bending Behavior ◽  
Interlayer Slip ◽  
Unbonded Flexible Pipes ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Theoretical Results

Analytical formulations are presented to determine the bending moment-curvature relationship of a helical layer in unbonded flexible pipes. Explicit expressions describing the variation of both bending stiffness and moment as a function of the applied curvature are given. The approach takes into account the nonlinearity of the response caused by the interlayer slip. The contribution of local bending and torsion of individual helical elements to the bending behavior of helical layers is included. Theoretical results for a typical unbonded flexible pipe using the nonlinear formulation for helical layers are compared with experimental data from the available literature. Encouraging correlations are found and the importance of the initial interlayer pressures is seen. The influence of local bending and torsion of individual helical elements on the bending behavior of the entire pipe is also evaluated. The results show that the inclusion of this local behavior significantly influences the full-slip bending stiffness.

Bending Moments and Shear Forces in Ships Sailing in Irregular Waves

1981 ◽  
Vol 25 (04) ◽  
pp. 243-251
Author(s):  
J. Juncher Jensen ◽  
P. Terndrup Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Linear Part ◽  
Vertical Motion ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Bending Moments ◽  
Shear Forces ◽  
Strip Theory ◽  
Wave Heights ◽  
Exciting Forces ◽  
Wave Induced

This paper presents some results concerning the vertical response of two different ships sailing in regular and irregular waves. One ship is a containership with a relatively small block coefficient and with some bow flare while the other ship is a tanker with a large block coefficient. The wave-induced loads are calculated using a second-order strip theory, derived by a perturbational procedure in which the linear part is identical to the usual strip theory. The additional quadratic terms are determined by taking into account the nonlinearities of the exiting waves, the nonvertical sides of the ship, and, finally, the variations of the hydrodynamic forces during the vertical motion of the ship. The flexibility of the hull is also taken into account. The numerical results show that for the containership a substantial increase in bending moments and shear forces is caused by the quadratic terms. The results also show that for both ships the effect of the hull flexibility (springing) is a fair increase of the variance of the wave-induced midship bending moment. For the tanker the springing is due mainly to exciting forces which are linear with respect to wave heights whereas for the containership the nonlinear exciting forces are of importance.

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