No abstract

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) provide a useful means of collecting detailed oceano-graphic information. The hull resistance of an AUV is an important factor in determining the power requirements and range of the vehicle. This paper describes a procedure using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for determining the hull resistance of an AUV under development, for a given propeller rotation speed and within a given range of AUV velocities. The CFD analysis results reveal the distribution of the hydrodynamic values (velocity, pressure, etc.) around the AUV hull and its ducted propeller. The paper then proceeds to present a methodology for optimizing the AUV profile in orderto reduce the total resistance. This paper demonstrates that shape optimization of conceptual designs is possible using the commercial CFD package contained in Ansys™. The optimum design to minimize the drag force of the AUV was identified for a given object function and a set of constrained design parameters.

No abstract

No abstract

The mitigation of gap between technology and it's applicability in the oil and gas industry has led to a rapid development of deepwater resources. Historically, subsea wells have good track records. However, an ever increasing water depths and harsher environments being encountered are currently posing challenges to subsea production. Complex subsea systems are now being deployed in ways rarely encountered in previous development schemes. These increasingly complex systems present a number of technical challenges. This study presents the challenges in subsea production systems, considering the technical and safety issues in design and installation associated with current development modality.