Seismic Design Challenges of High Pressure Riser Systems on Gravity Based Structures
EVENT: OMAE
1 Jun 2019
This paper presents two case studies of the seismic analysis of high pressure riser and conductor systems used on shallow water fixed platforms (approximately 120m water depth) offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The case studies presented consider the Hebron and White Rose extension Husky gravity-based concrete platforms. A methodology is presented to assess the dynamic and resonant response of each conductor and riser system to seismic loading using a fully integrated conductor and platform interaction model. Seismic loading is an application of an earthquake-generated agitation to a structure. This occurs at contact surfaces either with the ground, or with adjacent structures, or with gravity waves. Nonlinear time history analyses of the riser system subjected to various ground motion records are performed to simulate the seismic load. Design considerations that drive the HP riser design are discussed.
The paper addresses the intricacies of the gravity base concrete platform-riser system interaction, initial configuration and dynamic seismic response. The riser and conductor system response is used to determine HP riser connector and centralization requirements. The learnings taken from the detailed modeling method are presented along with the advantages of this methodology.
Authors
Phil Ward
Principal Engineer
About
Phil is a principal engineer in 2H’s Houston office. He holds a master’s degree in Engineering from Cambridge University and has 14 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry with various types of pipeline and riser designs, subsea structural monitoring systems, and late-life assessment techniques. Phil started his career with 2H in Aberdeen, and held the director position there before relocating to 2H Houston in 2019 with the goal of cross-populating experience with shallow and deep water systems. He has held numerous project management and technical leadership roles on a variety of projects from concept through to detailed design, including subsea wellhead fatigue mitigations, platform well design optimisation and thick-wall SCRs. Phil is a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
Expertise
Mahesh Sonawane
Technical Advisor - Drilling & Completions
About
Mahesh Sonawane is a Technical Advisor for Drilling and Completions with 2H Offshore in Houston. He has a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University, Mahesh had over 15 years experience in global riser analysis and specialized in drilling and completion risers, HPHT equipment and riserless well intervention systems for offshore applications.
Expertise
Rohit Vaidya
Senior Engineering Specialist
About
Rohit Vaidya is a Sr. Engineering Specialist at 2H Offshore Engineering in Houston, US with 10 years’ experience in riser, conductor and subsea engineering. His experience includes engineering design of offshore riser systems, integrity management of platforms, conductors and risers and fatigue analysis of drilling riser systems. He specializes in drilling and completion riser analysis and worked on several drilling and completion projects all around the globe. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University in USA.
Expertise
Ronak Kadakia
Senior Systems Engineer - BHGE
Hunter Haeberle
Lead Engineer - BHGE