Low hydrocarobon prices have raised concerns over the viability of offshore field development and maintenance over next several years. These oil and gas prices have called for engineering efforts to innovate new technologies to reduce the operational costs and improve the life span of the subsea exploration and production (E&P) systems in inhospitable environments like deep water. Subsea pipeline and jumpers are among these subsea E&P systems and it is crucial for operators to have these systems function in smarter and more efficient way, to adapt the inhospitable environment while generating profits. Due to their geometry and location, these pipelines are typically susceptible to vibrations induced by multiple factors, such as flow-induced vibrations (FIV) and vortex-induced vibrations (VIV). FIV and VIV can cause excessive stress on pipeline joints, thus limiting the operational lifespan of pipelines, specifically jumpers and risers. Every year, oil and gas operators spend significant amounts of money analyzing the cause and effect of these vibrations on the fatigue life of jumpers and pipelines, and installing traditional vibration mitigation devices like strakes and shrouds that have proven to be only partially effective. In most situations, these devices fail to suppress the vibrations and force operators to choke the flow from the well for safety, resulting in lost revenue. This paper introduces the pounding tuned mass damper (PTMD) - a novel device developed in a joint collaboration between OneSubsea and the University of Houston to absorb and dissipate the undesired vibrations in subsea pipelines and jumpers. The PTMD is based on principles of both the tuned mass damper and the impact damper. The tuned mass in the PTMD absorbs the kinetic energy of the structure and dissipates the absorbed energy through collisions on viscoelastic material. During development, detailed numerical analysis and experimentation were performed to study the effectiveness of the PTMD on the jumper. In the experiment, a full size M-shaped jumper was tested in both air and shallow water conditions for VIV at NASA's Natural Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL). The experiment also examined the robustness of PTMD for different frequency VIVs. Experimental results showed that the PTMD effectively reduced the in-plane and out-plane vibration of the jumper up to 90%. The observed reduction in vibration amplitude can reduce fatigue damage to jumpers, thus enabling operators to optimize spending on vibration mitigation devices, minimize lost revenues, improve system lifespan and availability, and enhance operational flexibility. Reduction in stress also means improved reliability and reduction in costs associated with inspection, maintenance, and repair of subsea jumpers and pipelines. These long-term financial benefits and ability to be installed on existing and new jumpers (pipelines) makes the PTMD a desired solution for vibration suppression in deep water environments.
Long-distance tiebacks are becoming more prevalent for subsea projects and present many unique challenges for successful operation. Flow assurance challenges arising from different operational regimes as well a high capital cost for enabling reliable production pose a unique challenge for long-distance tiebacks. A potential mitigation is the use of a pipe-in-pipe system for insulating purposes. The multifunctional pipeline system (MFPS) aims to provide further functionality and flexibility to the pipeline system by utilizing the annulus of the pipe-in-pipe system as an additional transportation line thus, providing the flexibility and added functionality to the pipe-in-pipe system to increase operational flexibility, reduce capex and opex, and improve system availability to drive capital efficiency. The MFPS station can also be used to detect a plug location, monitor pressure on both sides of a plug, circulate hot fluid in the annulus and bypass the affected section. This technology was developed in joint collaboration with Chevron and Schlumberger. This paper will highlight the overall functionality of the MFPS, the concepts that were investigated during the development of the MFPS, and the benefits that each unique concept provides to the overall field architecture.
The downturn has impacted our industry in many ways, not only in terms of budget cuts and headcount reductions but also in changing the way organizations work. The downturn has enabled the creation of novel technologies and efficient development plans such as phased development and early production systems that are transforming the industry, and the increased collaboration between operators and suppliers has been unprecedented. This paper discusses recent technology developments that have and will continue to reshape the approach to phased field developments. For many years, the concept of phased field development has focused on reducing the expense of reaching first oil while planning the development for maximum recovery and deploying technology blocks that enable future add-ons for optimal asset return on investment (ROI). Game-changing efficiency resulting from earlier engagement with customers, paired with the latest technology and tools, can maximize the potential of a phased field development. Using real-world development data as a basis, this paper details how operators can use current technology and tools to enable efficient phased field development. The case study discusses the benefits of using integrated field development and planning solutions that provide operators and suppliers a robust cloud-based collaboration solution for planning and evaluating various field development options and associated cost and schedules estimates at the click of a button. The paper then shows the impact that technology such as all-electric solutions, boosting and compression, pipeline solutions, and modular product solutions can have on the decision-making process for upcoming projects.
Subsea pipelines play a significant role in E&P systems and are often called the lifelines of offshore oil and gas fields. These pipeline systems now cover greater areas and therefore traverse greater distances, go to deeper regions, and use larger-diameter pipelines. These developments present several challenges, including: ■ geohazards due to scarp or canyon crossings ■ multidiameter requirements ■ reduced-diameter risers to interface with large bore pipelines ■ ultra-deepwaters where top tensions become installation limitations ■ piggability of varying pipeline diameters, branching, and materials Most current approaches for these new frontiers rely on stretching the current design and installation practices that involve pushing materials and equipment to their limits, which increases risks and leads to very expensive solutions (high capex and high opex) for developing, installing, maintaining, and operating subsea pipeline systems. A subsea pipeline smart crossing system was developed to be a cost-effective solution that enables interconnectivity of different types and sizes of pipes to address the previously mentioned challenges and simplify subsea field architecture. This paper presents the challenges and constraints for two different field architectures, outlines the subsea pipeline smart crossing solution, and presents its associated technical and commercial benefits that allow operators to optimize their spend on development, installation, and operation of subsea pipeline systems.
This paper discusses the pounding tuned mass damper (PTMD) — a novel device developed in a joint collaboration between OneSubsea, a Schlumberger Company and the University of Houston to absorb and dissipate the undesired vibrations generated due to VIV and FIV in subsea pipeline and jumpers. The PTMD is based on principles of both the tuned mass damper (TMD) and the impact damper. The tuned mass in the PTMD absorbs the kinetic energy of the structure and dissipates the absorbed energy through collisions on viscoelastic material. During development, detailed numerical analysis and experimentation were performed to study the effectiveness of the PTMD on the jumper. In the experiment, a full size M-shaped jumper was tested in both air and shallow water conditions for VIV at NASA’s Natural Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL). The experiment also examined the robustness of PTMD for different frequency VIVs. Experimental results showed that the PTMD effectively reduced the in-plane and out-plane vibration of the jumper up to 90%. The observed reduction in vibration amplitude can reduce fatigue damage to jumpers, thus enabling oil and gas operators to optimize spending on vibration mitigation devices, minimize lost revenues, improve system lifespan and availability, and enhance operational flexibility. Reduction in stress of these pipelines also means improved reliability and reduction in costs associated with inspection, maintenance, and repair of subsea jumpers and pipelines. These long-term financial benefits and ability to be installed on existing and new jumpers (pipelines) makes the PTMD a desired solution for vibration suppression in deep water environments.
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