Securing offshore resources development:A mathematical investigation into gas leakage in long-distance flexible pipes

Gas flexible pipes are critical multi-layered equipment for offshore oil and gas development.Under high pressure conditions,small molecular components of natural gas dissolve into the polymer inner liner of the flexible pipes and further diffuse into the annular space,incurring annular pressure build-up and/or production of acidic environment,which poses serious challenges to the structure and integrity of the flexible pipes.Gas permeation in pipes is a complex phenomenon governed by various factors such as internal pressure and temperature,annular structure,external temperature.In a long-distance gas flexible pipe,moreover,gas permeation exhibits non-uniform features,and the gas permeated into the annular space flows along the metal gap.To assess the complex gas transport behavior in long-distance gas flexible pipes,a mathematical model is established in this paper considering the multiphase flow phenomena inside the flexible pipes,the diffusion of gas in the inner liner,and the gas seepage in the annular space under varying permeable properties of the annulus.In addition,the effect of a variable temperature is accounted.A numerical calculation method is accordingly constructed to solve the coupling mathematical equations.The annular permeability was shown to significantly influence the distribution of annular pressure.As permeability increases,the annular pressure tends to become more uniform,and the annular pressure at the wellhead rises more rapidly.After annular pressure relief followed by shut-in,the pressure increase follows a convex function.By simulating the pressure recovery pattern after pressure relief and comparing it with test results,we deduce that the annular permeability lies between 123 and 512 m D.The results help shed light upon assessing the annular pressure in long distance gas flexible pipes and thus ensure the security of gas transport in the emerging development of offshore resources.

Torsional Response Analysis of Flexible Pipe Based on Theory and Finite Element Method

As key components connecting offshore floating production platforms and subsea imports, offshore flexible pipes play significant roles in oil, natural gas, and water injection. It is found that torsional failure is one of the failure modes of flexible pipes during transportation and laying. In this paper, a theoretical model(TM) of a flexible pipe section mechanics is established, in which the carcass layer and the pressure armor layer are equivalent to the orthogonal anisotropic layers due to its complex cross-section structure. The calculation results of the TM are consistent with those of a finite element model(FEM), which can accurately describe the torsional response of the flexible pipe.Subsequently, the TM and FEM are used to discuss the influence of boundary conditions on the torsional response.The structure of the flexible pipe is stable when twisted counterclockwise. However, limiting the top axial displacement can improve the axial and radial instability of the tensile armor layer when twisted clockwise. Finally, it is recommended that the flexible pipe can be kept under top fixation during service or installation to avoid torsional failure.

Prediction of Load-Displacement Curve of Flexible Pipe Carcass Under Radial Compression Based on Residual Neural Network

The carcass layer of flexible pipe comprises a large-angle spiral structure with a complex interlocked stainless steel cross-section profile, which is mainly used to resist radial load. With the complex structure of the carcass layer, an equivalent simplified model is used to study the mechanical properties of the carcass layer. However, the current equivalent carcass model only considers the elastic deformation, and this simplification leads to huge errors in the calculation results. In this study, radial compression experiments were carried out to make the carcasses to undergo plastic deformation. Subsequently, a residual neural network based on the experimental data was established to predict the load-displacement curves of carcasses with different inner diameter in plastic states under radial compression.The established neural network model’s high precision was verified by experimental data, and the influence of the number of input variables on the accuracy of the neural network was discussed. The conclusion shows that the residual neural network model established based on the experimental data of the small-diameter carcass layer can predict the load-displacement curve of the large-diameter carcass layer in the plastic stage. With the decrease of input data, the prediction accuracy of residual network model in plasticity stage will decrease.

Analytical and Numerical Modeling for Flexible Pipes

The unbonded flexible pipe of eight layers, in which all the layers except the carcass layer are assumed to have isotropic properties, has been analyzed. Specifically, the carcass layer shows the orthotropic characteristics. The effective elastic moduli of the carcass layer have been developed in terms of the influence of deformation to stiffness. With consideration of the effective elastic moduli, the structure can be properly analyzed. Also the relative movements of tendons and relative displacements of wires in helical armour layer have been investigated. A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model has been presented to predict the response of flexible pipes under axial force and torque. Further, the friction and contact of interlayer have been considered. Comparison between the finite element model and experimental results obtained in literature has been given and discussed, which might provide practical and technical support for the application of unbonded flexible pipes.

An Analytical Approach for Assessing the Collapse Strength of an Unbonded Flexible Pipe

This paper presents an analytical scheme for predicting the collapse strength of a flexible pipe, which considers the structural interaction between relevant layers. The analytical results were compared with a FEA model and a number of test data, and showed reasonably good agreement. The theoretical analysis showed that the pressure armor layer enhanced the strength of the carcass against buckling, though the barrier weakened this effect. The collapse strength of pipe was influenced by many factors such as the inner radius of the pipe, the thickness of the layers and the mechanical properties of the materials. For example, an increase in the thickness of the barrier will increase contact pressure and in turn reduce the critical pressure.

The development of studying flexible pipe bend reinforced by Kevlar fibers

The flexible pipe bend can not only reduce the structural vibration and fluid noise in pipeline, but also realize the flexible connection of a horizontal line and a vertical line and compensate the displacement of three dimensions produced by the shock or vibration of pipeline in the special situations. Up to now, little attention has been paid to study the flexible pipe bend applied in the pipeline of medium or high pressure, because no appropriate framework materials can be used to reinforce it which must endure the burst pressure higher than 10 MPa. The investigation shows that it is possible to produce the flexible pipe bend of medium or high pressure if such fibers with high performance as Kevlar fibers are used to be its reinforced materials. However, its structural designing theory, manufacturing technology and measuring techniques aren't yet perfect and systematic, which leads to the instability of the performance of products. Furthermore, few references about its research can be seen. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically and thoroughly develop the structural designing theory, manufacture technology and measuring techniques of flexible pipe bend.

Mode Transitions in Vortex-induced Vibrations of a Flexible Pipe near Plane Boundary

A pipe model with a mass ratio（mass/displaced mass） of 4.30 was tested to investigate the vortex-induced vibrations of submarine pipeline spans near the seabed.The pipe model was designed as a bending stiffness-dominated beam.The gap ratios（gap to diameter ratio） at the pipe ends were 4.0,6.0,and 8.0.The flow velocity was systematically varied in the 0-16.71 nondimensional velocity range based on the first natural frequency.The mode transition between the first and the second mode as the flow velocity increases was investigated.At various transition flow velocities,the research indicates that the peak frequencies with respect to displacement are not identical along the pipe,nor the frequencies associated with the peak of the amplitude spectra for the first four modes as well.The mode transition is associated with a continuous change in the amplitude,but there＇s a jump in frequency,and a gradual process along the pipe length.

Axial mechanical experiments of unbonded flexible pipes

Axial structural damping behavior induced by internal friction and viscoelastic properties of polymeric layers may have an inevitable influence on the global analysis of flexible pipes.In order to characterize this phenomenon and axial mechanical responses,a full-scale axial tensile experiment on a complex flexible pipe is conducted at room temperature,in which oscillation forces at different frequencies are applied on the sample.The parameters to be identified are axial strains which are measured by three kinds of instrumentations:linear variable differential transformer,strain gauge and camera united particle-tracking technology.The corresponding plots of axial force versus axial elongation exhibit obvious nonlinear hysteretic relationship.Consequently,the loss factor related to the axial structural damping behavior is found,which increases as the oscillation loading frequency grows.The axial strains from the three measurement systems in the mechanical experiment indicate good agreement,as well as the values of the equivalent axial stiffness.The damping generated by polymeric layers is relatively smaller than that caused by friction forces.Therefore,it can be concluded that friction forces maybe dominate the axial structural damping,especially on the conditions of high frequency.

A Finite Element Model for the Instability Analysis of Flexible Pipes Tensile Armor Wires

The instability of the tensile armor wire of flexible pipes is a failure mode associated with deep and ultra-deep water applications. Real compressive forces acting on the pipe are necessary to trigger this process. The loss of stability may be divided into two distinct processes, according to the main direction of the wire＇s displacement： radial or lateral instability. This study aims at proposing a numerical tool for predicting lateral and radial critical buckling loads for the tensile armor wires of flexible pipes. A simple finite element model, based on springs and beams elements, was developed in ABAQUS~ to deal with this problem in an efficient and reliable manner. A parametric study was conducted concerning the behavior of the critical load when the laying angle, the initial curvature and the total pipe length are varied. The results were consistent with previously published literature data and analytical expressions, proving its applicability to pipe engineering projects. It also has the advantage of approaching the problem three-dimensionally, which allows further modelling modifications, such as including friction effects.

Parameter sensitivity analysis of the axial stability for a marine flexible pipe

Marine unbonded flexible pipes serve as the most essential equipment in offshore oil and gas exploration and exploitation.Axial compressive loads during installation or in service in the complex marine environment usually lead to buckling failure.A flexible pipe is a composite structure with multiple functional layers,of which the tensile armor layer plays a key role with regard to the response of the pipe subjected to axial loads.In this paper,a simplified three-dimensional finite element model is developed,focusing on the tensile layer and replacing the carcass layer,pressure sheath layer,and pressure armor layer by a cylindrical rigid body to reduce computational expense.By using this model,the buckling failure modes of the tensile armor layer(in particular the birdcaging phenomenon)are analyzed.Several key parameters that affect the stability of the flexible pipe under axial compression and torsion are emphasized,and their effects on its axial and torsional stiffness are compared and discussed.The results show that both the lay angle of the steel wires and the interlayer friction coefficient have a significant influence on the axial and torsional stiffness of the pipe,whereas the damaged length of the outer sheath has virtually no effect.

Mechanical Response of Steel Wire Wound Reinforced Rubber Flexible Pipe under Internal Pressure

Steel wire wound reinforced flexible pipe in this study mainly consists of multiple anisotropic steel wire wound reinforcement layers and multiple isotropic rubber layers.Based on 3D anisotropic elastic theory,the analytic solutions of stresses and elastic deformations of steel wire wound reinforced rubber flexible pipe under internal pressure are presented.As the adjacent reinforcement layers with wound angle have different radii,the single reinforcement layer shows the effect of tensile-shear coupling.Moreover,the static loading test results of steel wire wound reinforced rubber flexible pipe under internal pressure are basically coincided with the calculated values by present method.

Comparison Between Different Finite Element Analyses of Unbonded Flexible Pipe via Different Modeling Patterns

Three kinds of models based on the same flexible pipe with 8 layers have been separately created to investigate the effects of different modeling approaches on numerical simulation results of finite element(FE)models for unbonded flexible pipes.Then the mechanical property of the unbonded flexible pipe under tension,torsion and bending load has been analyzed and compared via ABAQUS software on the basis of three created models.The research shows that different modeling methods of flexible pipes make a great difference in the results.Especially,modeling simplifications of the carcass and pressure armor have a great impact on the accuracy of the results.Model 3,in which the carcass is simulated by spiral isot ropic shell and other layers are Simula ted by solid element,possesses good adaptability,which has been proved by comparing the experiment data and other models.This paper can offer a reference for the FE modeling methods,selection and mechanical property analysis of unbonded flexible pipe.