Riser VIV and its numerical simulation

This paper summarizes some of the typical riser vortex-induced vibration (VIV) problems in subsea oil and gas developments,and presents the corresponding computational fluid dynamics (CFD) time domain simulation results to address these problems. First,the CFD time domain simulation approach was applied to analyze the wake field behind a stationary cylinder and a vibrating cylinder. Then a vertical riser VIV response under uniform current was studied. The VIV response time histories revealed some valuable clues that could lead to explanation of the higher harmonics. After that,a vertical riser VIV response under shear current was investigated. A 3 000 ft (1 ft=0.304 8 m) water depth top tensioned riser was sized,and its VIV responses under uniform and shear current were studied. Then this paper continues to discuss one catenary flexible riser VIV response during normal lay. Last,the time domain simulation approach was applied to a partially submerged flexible jumper,to study the jumper VIV behavior,and dynamic motion envelopes. It was demonstrated that the time domain simulation approach is able to disclose details of the flow field,vortex shedding pattern,and riser dynamic behavior,and han-dle different types of risers under different type of currents.

Tension leg platform project execution

The first floating platform concept design work for South China Sea is undergoing in DMAR's office now. This tension leg platform has potential to become the first advanced floating production platform project. Project execution is always a challenge for floating system. This paper focuses on the critical elements of project execution for tension leg platform,and studies potential implications to future oil and gas exploration in South China Sea. There are many factors affecting successful execution of floating system project,including technical issues, engineering management,interface management,etc. There are also failure examples of project execution in the industry. The author has participated 28 large detailed projects and has gained extensive experience on floating projects,with ample hands-on project experiences. A detailed tension leg platform project study example and discussions in depth are presented for future project execution in China deepwater development.

Floating Production Platforms and their Applications in the Development of Oil and Gas Fields in the South China Sea

This paper studies the current available options for floating production platforms in developing deepwater oil fields and the potential development models of future oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea. A detailed review of current deepwater platforms worldwide was performed through the examples of industry projects, and the pros and cons of each platform are discussed. Four types of platforms are currently used for the deepwater development: tension leg platform, Spar, semi-submersible platform, and the floating production system offloading. Among these, the TLP and Spar can be used for dry tree applications, and have gained popularity in recent years. The dry tree application enables the extension of the drilling application for fixed platforms into floating systems, and greatly reduces the cost and complexity of the subsea operation. Newly built wet tree semi-submersible production platforms for ultra deepwater are also getting their application, mainly due to the much needed payload for deepwater making the conversion of the old drilling semi-submersible platforms impossible. These platforms have been used in different fields around the world for different environments; each has its own advantages and disadvantages. There are many challenges with the successful use of these floating platforms. A lot of lessons have been learned and extensive experience accumulated through the many project applications. Key technologies are being reviewed for the successful use of floating platforms for field development, and potential future development needs are being discussed. Some of the technologies and experience of platform applications can be well used for the development of the South China Sea oil and gas field.

Deepwater oil and gas field development in South China Sea

This paper focuses on potential development models of future oil and gas exploration in South China Sea. A detailed study of current development models worldwide is performed through some examples of industry installed/ongoing projects and major technical issues encountered during these practice. Key technologies are discussed for the success of field development. Some of the technologies and field development experience can be used for South China Sea project. Several models are studied in field development for different scenarios,including marginal field,large oil field and gas field. With the massive investment activities,continued improved technologies,and rapidly growing pool of professionals,the offshore industry in China will soon encounter a golden period.

TLP hull structural design and analysis

Tension leg platform (TLP) has been one of the most favorite deep-water platform concepts for offshore oil and gas field exploration and development. As of now,a total of 24 TLPs have been installed worldwide with 3 more to be installed in the near future and 5 more under design. Most of these installations are in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Water depths for these TLP installations range from 150 m to 1 600 m. It is highly expected that China will have her first TLP designed,fabricated,and installed in the very near future. In order to satisfy the need for a unified hull structural design practice,this paper presents the design philosophy of a conventional TLP hull structure with emphases on critical structural components design and analysis methodologies.

Suppression of Vortex-Induced Vibration by Fairings on Marine Risers

Vortex-induced vibration is quite common during the operation of offshore risers or umbilical cables,commonly leading to serious damage to risers and reduced service life.Vortex-induced vibration of the offshore risers could be effectively suppressed by fairing devices.In this paper,a newly developed vortex-induced vibration fairing and large eddy simulation model of the FLUENT software were used for numerical analysis,experimental research and stimulating vortex-induced vibration at 0.1–2 ms^-1.The data of the numerical model with fairing was compared and analyzed to study the vortex shedding frequency at different Reynolds numbers and changes in drag and lift coefficients.The displacement state of 12 in risers with and without fairing was experimentally tested using a five degree-of-freedom balance.The vortex-induced vibration effect of the fairing was tested at different velocities.The result shows the drag reduction effect of the fairing is more obvious when the flow velocity is 0.4–1.2 ms^-1 and the maximum drag reduction reaches 55.6%when the flow velocity is 0.6 ms^-1.Additionally,the drag reduction effect was obvious when the flow velocity was greater than 1.3 ms^-1 and less than 0.3.The result indicates that the developed 12 in fairing,with good potential in engineering applications,has good vortex-induced vibration-suppression effects.

Subsea rigid jumper design and VIV fatigue evaluation

The purpose of this paper is to present a design procedure for subsea rigid jumper system including strength and fatigue analysis. Special attention gives to a methodology based on DNV-RP-F105 to evaluate jumper fatigue damage caused by vortex induced vibration (VIV). Jumper strength analysis is to determine the jumper con-figuration which can accommodate various load conditions and all possible span lengths driven by installation tole-rances of connected subsea structures. Fatigue analysis includes two parts:thermal fatigue and VIV fatigue. This paper presents the procedure of VIV fatigue damage calculation. An example is given to illustrate above methodologies.

Polyester mooring stiffness modeling for deepwater floating system

Polyester mooring has become increasing popular to serve as permanent station-keeping system for deepwater floating system during recent years. Comparing to the traditional steel wire mooring,polyester mooring provides significant benefits in deepwater,such as reduced installed capital expenditure (CAPEX) and smaller vertical loads on host platform. Polyester rope is a visco-elastic material,and its stiffness is nonlinear and affected by mean load,load range,loading period and loading history. There is a perception that the polyester stiffness model has significant impact on the floating system's performance. This paper presents a detailed description and comparison of two stiffness models and three analytic approaches,and provides a systematic study of the impact of polyester mooring stiffness modeling on the deepwater floating system performance.

Capping stack:An industry in the making

This paper gives an overview of recent development of the marine well containment system (MWCS) after BP Macondo subsea well blowout occurred on April 20,2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. Capping stack,a hard-ware utilized to contain blowout well at or near the wellhead is the center piece of MWCS. Accessibility to the dedicated capping stacks is gradually becoming a pre-requirement to obtain the permit for offshore drilling/workover, and the industry for manufacturing,maintenance,transportation and operation of the capping stack is in the making.

Application of a Newly Built Semi-submersible Vessel for Transportation of a Tension Leg Platform

紧张腿站台(TLP ) 的交通组织因为长距离总是与一个重半运输容器的使用被联系了。这类容器的要求总是是特殊的，并且他们的可获得性是有限的。为华南海深海的工程的未来发展准备，中国近海油工程公司最近造了重电梯运输 vessel-Hai 杨实你 278。这个半能沉入水中的容器有 42 米的 50k DWT，和呼吸的一个排水量能力。理解容器适用性并且在未来为使用准备它深海的工程正在成为逼近的需要。这份报纸考察与 TLP 交通联系的当前的关键问题并且在装载外面和交通期间执行设计 TLP 的详细分析。新建 COOEC 交通容器 HYSY 278 被使用在华南在 Qingdao 从 COOEC 制造院子弄干 TLP 结构的运输到一块油地海。全部进程从制造院子，从容器，在长距离上的 TLP 的干燥运输，并且平台的最后的卸载卸载和平台的漂浮上的 landsite 包括了 TLP 结构的装载外面。水动力学和结构分析被执行评估运输容器和 TLP 结构的行为。特殊注意对与这个新容器的使用联系的批评区域被给予，与任何潜在的限制一起。结果证明 HYSY 278 能有效地被用于与合适的安排和准备得好的操作搬运结构。过程和细节根据学习结果被介绍。特殊注意也从分析基于结果被给未来使用的讨论。

State of the art for dry tree semi technologies

Dry tree semi is a fast developing technology and becomes more and more appealing to the operators as a solution for producing deepwater reserves. Utilizing a dry tree semi means spending less cost on well mainte-nance and interventions,while the production platform can be integrated and commissioned at quayside. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of various technologies for dry tree semi,such as E-semi,T-semi,paired-column semi and long stroke tensioners. Each dry tree semi concept is briefed in terms of global performance,top tension riser (TTR) tensioner system,quayside integration and feasibility to environment.

An overview of marine & utility system for offshore platform

Main marine & utility (M & U) systems are essential to the routine operation of offshore units,and are extremely important as they are the system that will ensure the basic safety of offshore platforms. This paper gave a general explanation and guideline of the marine & utility systems in offshore projects including their interface with topside,M & U engineering,equipment sizing operation and control.

Transportation of Floating Structures by Using Newly Built Heavy Lifting Semi Vessel HYSY278

Transportation of floating structures for long distance has always been associated with the use of heavy semi transport vessel. The requirements of this type of vessel are always special, and its availability is limited. To prepare for the future development of the South China Sea deepwater projects, COOEC has recently built a heavy lift transport vessel - Hai Yang Shi You 278 （HYSY278）. This semi-submersible vessel has displacement capacity of 50k DWT, and a breath of 42 m. Understanding the vessel＇s applicability and preparing its use for future deepwater projects are becoming imminent need. This paper reviews the critical issues associated with the floating structure transportation and performs detailed analysis of two designed floating structures during transportation. The newly built COOEC transportation vessel HYSY278 will be used to dry transport the floating structures from COOEC fabrication yard in Qingdao to the oil field in the South China Sea. The entire process will start with load-out/float-offthe floating structures from the construction sites, offload the platform from the vessel if needed, dry transport floating structures through a long distance, and finally offload the platform. Both hydrodynamic and struc^tral analyses are performed to evaluate transport vessel and floating structures. Critical issues associated with the transportation and offloading of platform from the vessel will be studied in detail. Detailed study is performed to evaluate the response of the system during this phase and additional work needed to make the vessel feasible for use of this purpose. The results demonstrate that with proper modifications, HYSY278 can effectively be used for transporting structures with proper arrangement and well-prepared operation. The procedure and details are presented on the basis of study results. Special attentions associated with future use will also be discussed based on the results from analysis.

Response-based Analysis for Tension Leg Platform

为一个常规短期的设计配方的紧张腿站台(TLP ) 设计焦点的典型工业实践，它假设 N 年设计环境导致 N 年回答。在基于反应的设计方法， TLP 被设计承受 N 年回答而非对 N 年环境条件作出回应。在这份报纸，我们在场为基于反应的设计方法和使用的概述和一个一般过程比较在二个方法之间的批评 TLP 回答的案例研究。我们的比较的结果证明常规短期的设计方法经常包含保守主义的一个元素并且基于反应的设计方法能减少设计条件并且从而完成费用积蓄。

Overview of flowline bundle technology from concept selection to offshore installation

Flowline bundle system consisting of carrier pipe,sleeve pipe and internal flowlines offers innovative solution for the infield transportation of oil and gas. Due to its features,flowline bundle offers a couple of advantages over conventional flowline in particular for cases where multi-flowlines and high thermal performance is of great interest. The main benefits and advantages of such system include excellent thermal performance to prevent wax formation and hydrates,multiple bundled flowlines,mechanical and corrosion protection,potential reuse, etc. With the developments of offshore oil and gas industries,more and more hydrocarbon resources are being explored and discovered from shallow to deep water. Pipeline bundle system can be a smart solution for certain applications,which can be safe and cost effective solution. The objective of this paper is to overview pipeline bundle technology,outline detailed engineering design issue and procedure. Focus is given to its potential application in offshore for infield transportation. Engineering design principles and procedures for pipeline bundle system are highlighted. Construction methods of flowline bundle onshore are reviewed. Offshore towing and installation of pipeline bundle procedure is outlined.

Subsea flexible flowline installation issues and solutions

Flexible flowlines and risers have been increasingly used for deepwater and ultra-deepwater field applications,partially because of its low submerged weight and better dynamic characteristics comparing to rigid pipelines. The offshore installation of flowline may have advantages as well. However,it has special needs for the in-stallation aids,and it is challenging to install tie-in structures due to its low bending stiffness. This paper is to present some of the challenges during a recent flexible installation project with a total of more than 100 km flexible flowlines,and 24 in-line sleds/pipeline end termination(PLET) in water depth up to 1 300 m.

Seismic response of a typical fixed platform foundation under earthquake loading

Offshore platforms in seismically active areas should be designed to service severe earthquake excitations with no global structural failure. This paper summarizes the dynamic analysis of a typical fixed platform under the earthquake loading in the seismically active area. The dynamic analysis includes interpretation of dynamic design parameters based on the available site-specific data,together with foundation design recommendations for earthquake loading conditions,which include free-field site response analyses,liquefaction analyses and soil-pile interaction analyses.

In-place structural strength and fatigue analysis for floating platform topsides

This paper presents some insights on the state-of-the-art practice that has been utilized recently in the inplace structural strength and fatigue analysis for topsides on deepwater floating platforms such as tension leg plat-form (TLP) and semi-submersibles. Emphases are put on analysis software,geometric and mass modeling,hydro-dynamic loading and its mapping,and analysis procedures. In addition,for the in-place analysis using structure analysis computer system (SACS),the procedure of Visual Basic for Application (VBA) is developed to map AQWA-LINE hydrodynamic loading to the SACS integrated hull/topsides model;for the in-place analysis using structure engineering system analysis model (SESAM),many computer aided applications are made to aid the post-processing. These applications have been used in structural analyses for a few TLP and semi-submersible plat-form topsides,and are briefly introduced in this paper.

Production TTR modeling and dynamic buckling analysis

In a typical tension leg platform (TLP) design,the top tension factor (TTF),measuring the top tension of a top tensioned riser (TTR) relative to its submerged weight in water,is one of the most important design parameters that has to be specified properly. While a very small TTF may lead to excessive vortex induced vibration (VIV),clashing issues and possible compression close to seafloor,an unnecessarily high TTF may translate into excessive riser cost and vessel payload,and even has impacts on the TLP sizing and design in general. In the process of a production TTR design,it is found that its outer casing can be subjected to compression in a worst-case scenario with some extreme metocean and hardware conditions. The present paper shows how finite element analysis (FEA) models using beam elements and two different software packages (Flexcom and ABAQUS) are constructed to simulate the TTR properly,and especially the pipe-in-pipe effects. An ABAQUS model with hybrid elements (beam elements globally + shell elements locally) can be used to investigate how the outer casing behaves under compression. It is shown for the specified TTR design,even with its outer casing being under some local compression in the worst-case scenario,dynamic buckling would not occur;therefore the TTR design is adequate.