Effect of Mud Shedding on Riser Anti-Recoil Control at Emergency Disconnect

Abstract

With drilling capability extends to water depths up to 3000m, significantly increased is the risk associated with a failed riser recoil control in the event of an emergency riser disconnect due to loss of vessel station keeping. In deeper waters the tensioner system undertakes higher top tension due to the accumulation of riser length and mud weight. During emergency disconnect, the riser is disconnected between the blow-out preventer (BOP) and the lower marine riser package (LMRP), releasing the base tension and mud pressure. Impact between the top riser system and the diverter housing system should be avoided, and the clearance between the LMRP and BOP should be secured. Efforts have been continuously made in the industry to achieve a more accurate predict of the riser recoil response. The relevance of mud discharge to recoil control has been widely discussed but little quantitative data has been revealed in the literature. In this paper, effect of mud shedding on riser recoil response is discussed. The Herschel-Bulkley rheology model is utilized for mud flow and is considered the latest advance in the drilling industry. Water hammer theories with column separation are modified to account for mud discharge in laminar, transitional and turbulent flow regimes. As a case study herein, recoil response of a drilling riser attached to a dynamically positioned semi-submersible drilling vessel is assessed to present the mud discharge effect on riser anti-recoil control. At emergency events, the riser is disconnected above the BOP, which is located at a water depth of about 2150m for this study. Mud is generally preferred to be freely discharged during an emergency disconnect for ease of anti-recoil control and riser integrity. The density difference between drilling mud in the riser annulus and sea water outside the riser outer casing before disconnect induces a high pressure difference, which drives mud shedding at riser disconnect. Mud flow rate plays an important role in the speed control of the riser uplift. 3D finite element analysis is performed in time domain to simulate riser response before and after disconnect. 2HRECOIL software is integrated into ANSYS user programmable features to better model the riser response and mud discharge.

Two methods for simulating mud discharge after emergency disconnection of a drilling riser

“…Then, the results of the current two methods are compared with the results by Li et al(2012). Li's results were calculated by the 2HRECOIL software.…”

“…Grytoyr et al(2011) emphasized the influence of mud column on total weight and friction loads during riser recoil, and introduced a modified "slug column model" with considering a refill valve at riser top. Li et al(2012) discussed the effect of mud shedding on riser recoil response and utilized Herschel-Bulkley rheology model for flow friction computation.…”