An installation system of deepwater risers by an S-lay vessel

Along with the consumption increase of the petroleum products,more countries have transferred their attentions to the offshore fields,especially the deepwater oil and gas reserves.For deepwater exploitation,the risers must be installed to act as the conduits connecting surface platforms to subsea facilities.In this paper,the typical risers sorted by different classes are introduced,and the correspondent installation methods are presented.By investigating the recent projects performed in the deepwater hot spots,and combining the challenges of HYSY201 for riser installation,a lifting device developed for assisting riser installation is proposed and detailed to satisfy the installation of deepwater risers in the LW3-1 Gas Field of in the South China Sea.Tests on both the functions and performances of such a new system exhibit the satisfaction of meeting all challenging requirements of HYSY201 for application to riser installation in waters up to a depth of in the South China Sea.     

自由站立式立管总体运动疲劳分析

由于良好的疲劳特性,自由站立式立管(FSHR)正广泛应用于深海油气田的开发当中。首先根据设计参数建立FSHR详细的有限元模型,然后利用谱分析方法对FSHR进行总体运动疲劳分析,以确定FSHR总体设计参数是否满足运动疲劳要求。最后对工作于相同环境下的钢悬链立管(SCR)进行总体运动疲劳分析,探讨哪种立管系统的疲劳性能更为优良。计算结果表明FSHR系统中刚性主管最大运动疲劳损伤出现在刚性主管顶部,FSHR总体设计参数满足规范要求;FSHR总体运动疲劳寿命要远大于SCR,体现了FSHR系统对浮体运动与刚性主管之间具有良好的解耦作用。     

沧东断裂山岭子东段地质构造分析

依据钻井、MT测深、地震剖面资料对沧东断裂山岭子东段地质构造进行了研究,认为该段沧东断裂断面形态呈“阶形”,自沧县隆起至北塘凹陷由高、中、低三个台阶组成断阶构造。中生代白垩纪末期,在南东-北西向压扭应力作用下形成褶皱及逆断层,新生代古近纪反转为正断层,断阶带内发育北东及北北西向共轭剪切断层,它们是沟通不同热储层的重要通道。     

Control of sediment dynamics by vegetation as a key function driving biogeomorphic succession within fluvial corridors

Riparian vegetation responds to hydrogeomorphic disturbances and environmental changes and also controls these changes. Here, we propose that the control of sediment erosion and deposition by riparian vegetation is a key geomorphological and ecological (i.e. biogeomorphic) function within fluvial corridors. In a 3 year study, we investigated the correlations between riparian vegetation and hydrogeomorphic dynamics along a transverse gradient from the main channel to the floodplain of the River Tech, France. Sediment erosion and deposition rates varied significantly along the transverse gradient as a function of the vegetation biovolume intercepting water flow. These effects, combined with the extremely strong mechanical resistance of pioneer woody structures and strong resilience of pioneer labile herbaceous communities, Populus nigra and Salix spp., explain the propensity of biogeomorphic succession (i.e. the synergy between vegetation succession and landform construction) to progress between destructive floods. This geomorphological function newly identified as an ‘ecosystem function’ per se encompasses the coupling of habitat and landform creation, maintenance and change with fundamental ecosystem structural changes in space and in time. Three different biogeomorphic functions, all related to the concept of ecosystem engineering, were identified: (i) the function of pioneer herbaceous communities to retain fine sediment and diaspores in the exposed zones of the active tract near the water resource, facilitating recruitment of further herbaceous and Salicacea species; (ii) the function of woody vegetation to drive the construction of forested islands and floodplains; and (iii) the function of stabilised riparian forests to act as ‘diversity reservoirs’ which can support regeneration after destructive floods. Overall, this study based on empirical data points to the fundamental importance of sediment flow control by pioneer riparian vegetation in defining fluvial ecosystem and landform organisation in time and in space. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

How do streamflow generation mechanisms affect watershed hypsometry?

Several studies have shown that the dominant streamflow generation mechanism in a river basin can leave distinct geomorphological signatures in basin topography. In particular, it has been suggested previously that basins generated by groundwater discharge tend to have a larger hypsometric integral than surface runoff basins because fluvial erosion is more focused in the valleys where groundwater discharge tends to occur. In this analysis, we aim to clarify this relationship by developing an alternative method to quantify the effects of streamflow generation mechanisms on basin hypsometry and by using a numerical model that can generate streamflow by different processes to evaluate the sensitivity of the results to the hydrological and geomorphological properties of the basin. The model results suggest that the hypsometric characteristics that are usually associated with groundwater discharge basins, such as a larger hypsometric integral, occur primarily when drainage networks are still advancing in the watershed. During later stages of development, an additional factor such as lithological controls or a distinct geomorphological process would be needed to preserve these features. The model results also show that the hypsometric effects are stronger when the parameters of the fluvial erosion process promote the influence of small discharge rates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fatigue reliability analysis of deep water rigid marine risers associated with Morison-type wave loading

This work presents a simple and efficient framework for the fatigue reliability assessment of a vertical top-tensioned rigid riser. The fatigue damage response is considered as a narrow-band Gaussian stationary random process with a zero mean for the short-term behavior of a riser. Non-linearity in a response associated with Morison-type wave loading is accounted for by using a factor, which is the ratio of expected damage according to a non-linear probability distribution to the expected damage according to a linear method of analysis. Long-term non-stationary response is obtained by summing up a large number of short-term stationary responses. Uncertainties associated with both the strength and stress parts of the limit state function are quantified by a lognormal distribution. A closed form reliability analysis is carried out, which is based on the limit state function formulated in terms of Miner’s cumulative damage rule. The results thus obtained are compared with the well-documented lognormal format of reliability analysis based on time to fatigue failure. The validity of using the lognormal hazard rate function in predicting the fatigue life is discussed. A Monte Carlo simulation technique is also used as a reliability assessment method. A simple algorithm is used to reduce the uncertainty associated with direct sampling at small probability of failure values and a small number of simulations. Simulation results are compared with closed form solutions. A worked example is included to show the practical riser design problem based on reliability analysis.     

渭河西安高陵耿镇历史时期古洪水研究

根据高陵白家嘴剖面和马坊滩剖面渭河古河漫滩沉积中147个样品的颗粒分析和史书记载的年代资料,研究了西安高陵耿镇渭河距今1 500—1 100 a间洪水深度、洪水规模和气候变化。粒度分析表明,高陵渭河距今1 500—1 100 a间厚约3.4 m的河漫滩沉积物至少包括了9个粗细明显不同的沉积层,清楚地反映出至少发生了9个大洪水阶段;距今1 500—1 100 a间 的洪水深度比现今明显大,白家嘴剖面中9个洪水阶段发生时河漫滩上的洪水深度均明显大于2 m,其中第2、4、6、8阶段的洪水规模比第1、3、5、7、9阶段更大;第2、4、6、8大洪水阶段是降水量的明显增加造成的,当时年降水量应为800~900 mm;第1、3、5、7、9洪水阶段主要是降水集中或降水量有一定的增加造成的。     

网状河流和分汊河流的河型归属讨论

河流的河道平面形态分类有多种方案 ,其中Rust的分类因为分出了网状河流而得到沉积学家的更多关注。中国地貌学界和水利学界则更关注钱宁的分类 ,其中包括分汊河流。目前 ,许多研究人员把网状河流和分汊河流当作同一类型的河流。文中从河型的定义、河道平面形态、地下沉积物特征、水动力、新河道形成机理和发育的地貌部位等方面对分汊河流和网状河流进行对比 ,根据对比结果认为它们是不同的河型。为了便于沉积学家、水利学家以及地貌学家之间相互交流各自有关河流的研究成果 ,需要提出一个更符合实际的冲积河流分类方案。     

Physical and Human Factors Influencing Potential Fish Habitat Distribution along a Mountain River, France

Potential fish habitat along the Drôme River, France, is a function of the distribution of large woody debris, boulders, undercut banks, gravel substrate, and pools. The distribution of these features is, in turn, a function of channel geomorphology, watershed and riparian forest characteristics. We conducted field work and analysed aerial photographs for 190 elementary segments of 500 m length along the Drôme River's 95 km course from the Alps westward to its confluence with the Rhône River near Loriol. The Drôme River does not follow the classic pattern of a monotone downstream decrease in gradient and change in channel characteristics. Although channel gradient, braided index and channel incision all decrease downstream, stream power is independent of longitudinal distance. These variables are largely controlled by geomorphic, human or hydrologic factors at the reach scale. Potential fish habitat richness decreases downstream, but individual habitat variables affecting habitat richness do not necessarily decrease downstream, many being controlled by local factors rather than by position along the continuum. Large woody debris is more abundant in braided reaches located directly downstream of confluences with main tributaries or downstream input sites. Boulders are most abundant downstream of failed bank protection works or in gorges. To improve fish habitat in the Drôme River, we recommend taking a long-term and large-scale perspective. Because structures placed in this unstable channel are likely to be washed downstream, we propose to emulate natural river dynamics and to permit large woody debris to enter the channel in unstable reaches via bank erosion, and that this debris not be removed (as is routinely done now) but permitted to migrate downstream through the system, creating fish habitat en route.