Develop a cathodic protection design protocol for deep water petroleum production compliant rises. Results should provide for an Interactive software package on anode/pipeline design, final report and a presentation to industry on software demonstration and project results.
The project was designed to evaluate, develop, and improve project readiness of technologies for solutions for the Touch Down Zone (TDZ) region of Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs) used for deepwater development. There is often insufficient time during the system selection phase for a project team to undertake a comprehensive investigation of potential SCR performance and therefore any selection often later requires timely and costly alterations to other parts of the system in order to mitigate difficulties with the SCRs.
This project had been cancelled by mutual agreement between the OTRC and MMS.
The objective of this project was the risk assessment of submarine slope failures, including the prediction of the subsequent extent of sliding once a slope failure is initiated. Submarine slides are known to often travel much larger distances than typical subaerial slides. These large potential travel distances pose some of the greatest uncertainty and, thus risk, in assessing submarine slope stability. This project was focused on slide movements where the slide mass hydroplanes by moving along a layer of water.
The primary purpose of the project was to develop and document design guidance for composite production risers based upon the results of the Comparative Risk Analysis (CRA) of Steel and Composite Risers and other recent industry experiences with composite risers. Design guidance focuses on the design considerations that are unique to composite risers, while incorporating the established design and analysis procedures for metallic risers.
Hydrogen cracking is a major problem associated with in-service pipelines, especially high strength steel pipelines. high concentrations of hydrogen in steel can lead to damage in the form of internal pores and structural flaws, formation of hydrides, and hydrogen-assisted cracking, all of which reduce the physical and mechanical properties of linepipe. Hydrogen can be introduced into the linepipe in numerous ways; for example, through manufacturing, welding procedures, cathodic protection, corrosion reactions with the environment, and interaction with the pipe's internal media.
Effect of ocean turbulence on the hydrodynamic forces is currently an important issue for offshore installations in the GOM. The two focus areas are; 1 - completion of the CFD study in 2-D of the effect of upstream turbulence on the hydrodynamic forces exerted on cylinders, and 2 - study of the effect of upstream turbulence using 3-D CFD simulations. The project developed techniques for the simulating prescribed turbulence structures in the upstream flow field, as well as on simulations of flows around cylinders with and without turbulence being present in the current profile.
Cooperative project with OTRC on VIM/SPAR Industry Forum. The workshop forum led to sharing data and experiences that have been gained to date. Focus on objectives as follows: Initiate a path for development of an industry-acceptable design practice/ methodology on Spar VIM; Identify uncertainties and technical needs in Spar VIM and a path forward to fill the identified gaps;
Educate industry on the technical challenges involved.
Vortex-induced vibration (VIV) is an important issue in the design of deepwater riser systems, including drilling, production and export risers. The VIV can produce a high level of fatigue damage in a relatively short period of time for risers exposed to severe current environments. The wake interference between various risers in the same riser array may also lead to collisions between adjacent risers. Suppression devices, such as helical strakes or fairings may be needed to prevent unacceptable levels of fatigue damage.
When a subsea pipeline reaches the end of its useful life, it must be abandoned or removed. Currently, subsea pipelines are de-inventoried and purged until the hydrocarbon levels are undetectable before abandoning them in place or the pipeline is de-inventoried and purged until the hydrocarbon levels are undetectable before recovering the pipe as scrap. The common practice in both the U.S. waters and the North Sea is to abandon the pipeline in place which, for this study, was used as a baseline for comparison against other removal options currently used around the world.
