A flexible-segment-model-based dynamics calculation method for free hanging marine risers in re-entry

In re-entry,the drilling riser hanging to the holding vessel takes on a free hanging state,waiting to be moved from the initial random position to the wellhead.For the re-entry,dynamics calculation is often done to predict the riser motion or evaluate the structural safety.A dynamics calculation method based on Flexible Segment Model(FSM) is proposed for free hanging marine risers.In FSM,a riser is discretized into a series of flexible segments.For each flexible segment,its deflection feature and external forces are analyzed independently.For the whole riser,the nonlinear governing equations are listed according to the moment equilibrium at nodes.For the solution of the nonlinear equations,a linearization iteration scheme is provided in the paper.Owing to its flexibility,each segment can match a long part of the riser body,which enables that good results can be obtained even with a small number of segments.Moreover,the linearization iteration scheme can avoid widely used Newton-Rapson iteration scheme in which the calculation stability is influenced by the initial points.The FSM-based dynamics calculation is timesaving and stable,so suitable for the shape prediction or real-time control of free hanging marine risers.     

Experimental study and numerical simulation on vortex-induced vibration of flexible riser

In order to study the effect of internal flow on vortex-induced vibration of flexible riser, the experiment on the vortex-induced vibration of flexible riser transporting fluid in the current was conducted in the physical oceanography laboratory of Ocean University of China. Considering the internal flowing fluid and external marine environment, the dynamic response of the flexible riser was measured. The corresponding numerical simulation was performed using the wake oscillatory model considering the extensibility of the riser system. Both the experiment and the numerical simulation indicated that with the increase of internal flow speed, the response amplitude increases, while the response frequency decreases.     

Experimental Study on Response Performance of VIV of A Flexible Riser with Helical Strakes

Laboratory tests were conducted on a flexible riser with and without helical strakes. The aim of the present work is to further understand the response performance of the vortex induced vibration (VIV) for a riser with helical strakes. The experiment was accomplished in the towing tank and the relative current was simulated by towing a flexible riser in one direction. Based on the modal analysis method, the displacement responses can be obtained by the measured strain. The strakes with different heights are analyzed here, and the response parameters like strain response and displacement response are studied. The experimental results show that the in-line (IL) response is as important as the cross-flow (CF) response, however, many industrial analysis methods usually ignore the IL response due to VIV. The results also indicate that the response characteristics of a bare riser can be quite distinct from that of a riser with helical strakes, and the response performance depends on the geometry on the helical strakes closely. The fatigue damage is further discussed and the results show that the fatigue damage in the CF direction is of the same order as that in the IL direction for the bare riser. However, for the riser with helical strakes, the fatigue damage in the CF direction is much smaller than that in the IL direction.     

考虑涡激运动下海洋柔性立管的疲劳损伤分析

基于ABAQUS/AQUA模块,当Spar平台发生涡激运动时,对与平台相连接的柔性立管进行时域动态响应分析,得到了不同折合速度下柔性立管的应力响应曲线.对立管触地区域和悬垂段进行了细化的分析,并利用S-N曲线和Miner线性累积损伤理论对平台涡激运动引起的柔性立管疲劳损伤进行了计算.研究结果表明:平台涡激运动对立管触地区域和悬垂段的影响较大,这两部分最容易在长时间的工作中产生疲劳损伤.特别是平台运动到近点时,立管触地区域受到的应力急剧增加,这个区域是立管工作的危险区域,应该特别注意.该研究结论可以作为立管结构设计和海底铺设时的参考,通过增加立管触地区域的结构强度和优化铺设方式,从而来提高立管的疲劳寿命和系统的安全性.     

平台运动下深水钻井隔水管非线性动力响应研究

建立深水钻井隔水管在波、流和平台运动的联合作用下的运动方程,模拟1 000 m深水钻井隔水管的非线性动力响应.分析在波、流作用下钻井液密度和顶部张力比等因素对隔水管振动频率的影响,研究平台的静偏移和动态运动对隔水管最大弯矩分布的影响.结果表明,平台运动对深水钻井隔水管的动力响应有较大影响,使隔水管上部最大弯矩峰值增加了1倍多.     

顶部浮体激励下钢悬链线立管的动力响应分析

考虑钢悬链线立管大变形的特性以及内流的影响,利用Kane方法和拉格朗日应变理论建立钢悬链线立管的二维动力学模型。将顶部浮体的激励简化为一个沿顺流向的周期作用力施加于立管顶部,采用平均加速度法求解立管的动力响应。探讨顶部浮体不同激励频率下立管的非线性动力响应以及内流流速的大小对管道共振响应幅值的影响。     

弯曲柔性立管举升气液两相流时的流固耦合效应研究

海洋油气混输时,气液两相流与混输立管之间的双向流固耦合作用机理十分复杂.针对柔性立管与气液两相流的流固耦合响应问题,在气液两相循环试验装置中开展了不同流型两相流流动特性及柔性立管振动响应的测试,利用高速摄像非介入测试技术同步捕捉了柔性立管的振动位移与管内的流型演变过程,对比了不同流型气液两相流诱导的立管振动响应特性,通过对比固定和振动立管内的气液两相流动特性,辨析了振动对管内两相流动的影响.结果表明:柔性立管中出现了泡状流、泡状—段塞流、段塞流、段塞—搅拌流和搅拌流五种流型,不同流型的气液两相流诱导立管振动的机理不同,在段塞—搅拌流作用时立管的振动响应最剧烈.与固定立管相比,强烈的振动不同程度地改变了气液两相流的流动特性,振动立管中部分两相流流型转变的临界条件有明显地调整,相对而言,振动对搅拌流和泡状流的影响较小.     

A nonlinear viscoelastic bend stiffener steady-state formulation

Bend stiffeners are essential components of a flexible riser system, employed to ensure a smooth transition at the upper connection and to protect the riser against over bending and from accumulation of fatigue damage. The highly nonlinear rate dependent behavior of these structures directly affects the integrity assessment of the riser in one of its most critical regions, the top connection. A steady-state formulation (disregarding inertial forces) and numerical solution procedure is developed in this work employing the perturbation method for a nonlinear viscoelastic bend stiffener large deflection beam model subjected to harmonic loading conditions. For stochastic loading conditions, the response is calculated employing the superposition principle by summing up the steady-state result of a number of individual frequency components. A time domain formulation is also derived employing the state-variable approach for the numerical solution of the resulting hereditary integral in the governing equations. A case study is presented for the top connection system of a 4″ ID flexible riser using relaxation and tensile experimental data obtained from a typical class of bend stiffener polyurethane. Harmonic and stochastic input loading conditions are employed for time and frequency domain model comparison/validation and to assess loading history and frequency influence in the curvature response.     

深海SPAR平台系泊系统耦合动力分析

随着海洋石油向深水领域的拓展,SPAR平台以其诸多优点逐渐成为海上油气生产的主流设施。主要研究SPAR与系泊系统间的耦合响应问题,在讨论了浮体在波浪中运动求解方法之后,阐述了如何利用非线性有限元技术对系泊缆索和立管进行动力分析和张力计算,以及浮体与系泊系统耦合计算的相关理论,对浮体和系泊系统耦合计算模型进行了描述。通过对某SPAR进行系泊系统耦合计算和对计算结果的讨论,证明了深海SPAR系泊系统耦合计算的正确性。     

大长细比柔性杆件涡激振动实验

涡激振动(vortex-induced vibration,VIV)是导致深海细长柔性立管发生疲劳破坏的重要因素。采用实验观测手段研究了长细比为1 750的柔性立管多模态涡激振动特性。实验中,通过采用拖车拖拉立管模型在水池中匀速行进来模拟均匀流作用下的涡激振动响应。利用光纤光栅传感器测量立管模型在横流向(cross-flow,CF)和顺流向(in-line,IL)的应变,进而通过模态分解的方法,获得立管模型涡激振动的位移。在此基础上,研究了CF以及IL方向的响应频率、位移标准差的平均值和最大值等随流速的变化规律,并分析了立管模型上测点的运动轨迹及其影响因素。     

Experimental investigation of the effects of the coverage of helical strakes on the vortex-induced vibration response of a flexible riser

The effects of different helical strake coverage on the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a model flexible riser were studied experimentally, with the aim of further improving the understanding of VIV responses. Uniform and linearly sheared currents were simulated to study response parameters such as non-dimensional displacement, fatigue damage, suppression efficiency, and the comprehensive evaluation is further studied. Test results of the bare model for a uniform current showed that the behavior of both the standing wave and traveling wave dominated VIV displacement. However, for a linearly sheared current, traveling wave behavior dominated VIV displacement in the high-velocity range. The results of the straked model tests indicated that the response was strongly dependent upon the amount of coverage of helical strakes. The flexible riser with 75% strake coverage gave the best comprehensive evaluation in a uniform current, and 50% strake coverage gave the best comprehensive evaluation in a linearly sheared current.     

Analysis and prediction of vortex-induced vibrations of variable-tension vertical risers in linearly sheared currents

Many studies have tackled the problem of vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of a vertical riser with a constant tension and placed in uniform currents. In this study, attention is focused on the cross-flow VIV modelling, time-domain analysis and prediction of variable-tension vertical risers in linearly sheared currents. The partial-differential equation governing the riser transverse motion is based on a flexural tensioned-beam model with typical pinned-pinned supports. The hydrodynamic excitation model describing the modulation of lift force is based on a distributed van der Pol wake oscillator whose nonlinear equation is also partial-differential due to the implementation of a diffusion term. The variation of empirical wake coefficients with system parameters and the water depth-dependent Reynolds number is introduced. Based on the assumed Fourier mode shape functions obtained by accounting for the effect of non-uniform tension, the Galerkin technique is utilized to construct a low-dimensional multi-mode model governing the coupled fluid-riser interaction system due to VIV. Numerical simulations in the case of varying sheared flow profiles are carried out to systematically evaluate riser nonlinear dynamics and highlight the influence of fluid-structure parameters along with associated VIV aspects. In particular, the effects of shear and tensioned-beam (tension versus bending) parameters are underlined. Some comparisons with published experimental results and observations are qualitatively and quantitatively discussed. Overall parametric analysis and prediction results may be worthwhile for being a new benchmark against future experimental testing and/or numerical results predicted by an alternative model and methodology.     

考虑非线性管-土接触模型的钢悬链线立管触地区动态曲率分析

钢悬链线立管(SCR)具有特殊的结构型式,循环载荷作用下,由于海床模型的不确定性易导致触地区产生较高的弯曲应力,引发疲劳损伤。基于非线性P-y曲线管-土接触模型,运用大挠度曲线梁模型来模拟SCR与海床土的相互作用,研究SCR在浮体二维运动和海床作用下,触地区的动态曲率变化情况。由计算结果可知:1)由于在立管的有效张力中考虑局部曲率的影响,导致立管触地区的有效张力显著增加,并产生较高的弯矩; 2)动态分析中,分别运用线弹性海床和非线性海床模型,研究立管触地区的相对曲率随相对时间的变化曲线,表明非线性海床将使触地区的相对曲率具有明显的非线性,且有多个峰值,变化幅度较大,并出现反向曲率; 3)垂荡运动比纵荡对曲率的影响大,且运动幅值越大,影响越明显。     

Nonlinear Static Finite Element Stress Analysis of Pipe-in-Pipe Risers

Owing to the complexity of the pipe-in-pipe (PIP) riser system in structure, load and restraint, many problems arise in the structural analysis of the system. This paper presents a new method for nonlinear static finite element stress analysis of the PIP riser system. The finite element (FE) model of the PIP riser system is built via software AutoPIPE 6.1. According to the specialties of a variety of components in the PIP riser system, different elements are used so as to model the system accurately. Allowing for the complication in modeling the effects of seabed restraint, a technique based on the bilinear spring concept is developed to calculate the soil properties. Then, based on a pipeline project, the entire procedure of stress analysis is discussed in detail, including creation of an FE model, processing of input data and analysis of results. A wide range of loading schemes is investigated to ascertain that the stresses remain within the acceptable range of the pipe material strength. Finally, the effects of the location of flanges, the thermal expansion of submarine pipelines and the seabed restraint on stress distribution in the riser and expansion loop are studied, which are valuable for pipeline designers.     

Numerical and experimental analysis of the static behavior of highly deformed risers

This paper models a slender, flexible structure used as a drill string or riser in the offshore oil and gas industry that connects the well-head with a floating control vessel. These systems are used in deep-water drilling applications and present considerable design challenges due to their extreme flexibility and susceptibility to buckling and vibration. Two typical configurations are used (Bai and Bai, 2005), with a common feature involving the attachment of a buoy designed to relieve some of the axial forces acting on the riser, especially at the attachment points. Previous work by the authors studied numerical results of small-amplitude vibrations and two other equilibrium configurations using parameter values that closely resemble the full-scale application (Santillan et al., 2008). Here, two new configurations are considered, and experiments are designed and conducted to verify these equilibrium results.     

VIV response of a long flexible riser fitted with strakes in uniform and linearly sheared currents

An experimental investigation was conducted on a flexible riser with and without various strake arrangements. The aim of the present work was to further improve the understanding of the response performance of the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a riser with helical strakes. Two current profiles, including uniform and linearly sheared flows, were simulated. The uniform current was simulated by towing the riser model in one direction using the towing carriage, and the linearly sheared current was simulated by fixing one end of the riser and using a driven cantilever to traverse a circular arc. Based on the modal superposition method, the displacement responses were obtained from the measured strain. Strakes with different heights and pitches were analysed, and response parameters such as the displacement response and fatigue damage were studied. The results of the bare model test show that the lock-in phenomenon displays multi-order characteristics, and the VIV displacement decreases with an increased order of the lock-in regime. The results of the straked model test indicate that the response characteristics of a bare riser can be quite distinct from those of a riser with helical strakes, and the response performance depends closely on the geometry of the strake configuration.     

Optimization design on the riser system of next generation subsea production system with the assistance of DOE and surrogate model techniques

The Next Generation Subsea Production System (NextGen SPS) is a new concept for petroleum development in ultra-deep water (UDW) areas. It can improve the structural performance of riser as well as provide several operational benefits to subsurface well completion (SWC) equipment. The design of NextGen SPS’s riser system which includes rigid riser and flexible jumper—like the free standing hybrid riser (FSHR), is a very important issue for the definition of NextGen SPS. This paper details an optimization design on the NextGen SPS’s riser system, with the assistance of the design of experiments (DOE) and surrogate model techniques. The optimization model pertaining to riser system is formulated firstly. The DOE is a statistical technique that guides a sensitive study on the behavior of the riser system before the optimization analysis. Structural responses are obtained by the fully coupled methodology. Through such a preliminary study, the effective contribution of each design variable at the riser performance will be known and some general conclusive remarks will be obtained. Based on the DOE results, design variables are screened to improve the efficiency of optimization process. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) method is employed to conduct the optimization analysis. In this analysis, surrogate models, which are developed by back propagation neural network (BPNN), replace the time consuming dynamic analysis to predict structural responses. Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) method is adopted to generate training sample and testing sample for the BPNN. NextGen SPS that operates at a depth of 3000 m is used as the case for this investigation. The efficiency of optimization design is improved by DOE and surrogate techniques, and a reduction of approximately 46% for the riser system cost is achieved. The obtained conclusions have applicability in reference to the engineering design of FSHR and the study procedure will provide reference for study on other new structure concept.     

深水开发的新型立管系统——钢悬链线立管(SCR)

1种全新的深水立管系统——钢悬链线立管（Steel Catenary Riser，SCR）在翠西哥湾（Golf of Mexico）、坎普斯湾（Campos Basin）、北海（North Sea）和西非（West Africa）得到了成功应用。它的适用水深为300～3000m，且适用现有任何浮式结构，从浅水的固定式平台到极深水的浮式生产储运系统（FPSO）。因此，它取代了传统的柔性立管和顶张力立管，成为深水油气开发的首选立管，被认为是深水立管系统的成本有效的解决方案。     

Tension and Drag Forces of Flexible Risers Undergoing Vortex-Induced Vibration

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on the variation in the tension and the distribution of drag force coefficients along flexible risers under vortex-induced vibration (VIV) in a uniform flow for Reynolds numbers (Re) up to 2.2×10⁵. The results show that the mean tension is proportional to the square of the incoming current speed, and the tension coefficient of a flexible riser undergoing VIV can be up to 12. The mean drag force is uniformly and symmetrically distributed along the axes of the risers undergoing VIV. The corresponding drag coefficient can vary between 1.6 and 2.4 but is not a constant value of 1.2, as it is for a fixed cylinder in the absence of VIV. These experimental results are used to develop a new empirical prediction model to estimate the drag force coefficient for flexible risers undergoing VIV for Reynolds number on the order of 10⁵, which accounts for the effects of the incoming current speed, the VIV dominant modal number and the frequency.     

Review of flexible risers and articulated storage systems

The anchorage system for mid-ocean loading or production consists of an articulated tower for mooring the tanker. Flexible risers are also essential components of the anchorage system. The present paper provides a state-of-the-art review on articulated storage systems and flexible risers, giving theoretical background for the development of computer software for the static analysis of flexible risers.In the state-of-the-art review for flexible risers, various analysis techniques for elastic lines and flexible risers under self-weight, current and wave forces are presented. The dynamic response of the flexible riser, including vortex-induced oscillations, is also outlined.The literature concerning the articulated tower and tanker is relatively scarce. Available works related only to dynamic responses of articulated towers. The combined response of tower and tanker is only studied by Chakrabarti and Cotter [(1978), Analysis of a tower-tanker system. In Proceedings of the 10th Offshore Technology Conference, OTC 3202, pp. 1301–1310] in a limited sense. The review of these works is summarised relevant to this paper.In the end, the static analysis of the flexible riser under its self-weight and current is presented using a finite difference approach. The problem essentially involves geometrical non-linearity, which is tackled with the help of an iterative solution based on modified Newton-Raphson technique. The theoretical formulation presented is being used to develop the computer software for the static analysis of the flexible risers.