The Effect of Mooring System and Sheared Currents on Vortex Induced Motions of Truss Spars

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radboud R. T. van Dijk ◽  
Arjan Voogt ◽  
Paul Fourchy ◽  
Saadat Mirza
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Current Profile ◽  
Scaled Model ◽  
Production Platform ◽  
Helical Strakes ◽  
Truss Spar ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Program Show

Since 1996 Spars have been used as production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Spar Vortex Induced Motions (VIM) in strong currents like the hurricane and loop currents are an important consideration for the design of the mooring system and risers. This is important for the extreme offsets as well as fatigue in risers and the mooring system. This paper compares the VIM behavior of a truss Spar in sheared currents, like the Hurricane current in the Gulf of Mexico, with tow test results. Experiments have been carried out on a scaled model in both a complete mooring system and in a towing set-up with a simplified horizontal mooring. The Spar model consists of a hard tank with removable helical strakes, a truss section and a square soft tank. The results of this model test program show that both the choice of the mooring system and current profile have a significant influence on the VIM response of the Spar. The paper discusses the results of this research and also addresses important issues and considerations for VIM model tests.

Benchmarking of Truss Spar Vortex Induced Motions Derived From CFD With Experiments

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Halkyard ◽  
Senu Sirnivas ◽  
Samuel Holmes ◽  
Yiannis Constantinides ◽  
Owen H. Oakley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scale Up ◽  
Vertical Cylinder ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Current Direction ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Helical Strakes ◽  
Truss Spar ◽  
Scale Data

Floating spar platforms are widely used in the Gulf of Mexico for oil production. The spar is a bluff, vertical cylinder which is subject to Vortex Induced Motions (VIM) when current velocities exceed a few knots. All spars to date have been constructed with helical strakes to mitigate VIM in order to reduce the loads on the risers and moorings. Model tests have indicated that the effectiveness of these strakes is influenced greatly by details of their design, by appurtenances placed on the outside of the hull and by current direction. At this time there is limited full scale data to validate the model test results and little understanding of the mechanisms at work in strake performance. The authors have been investigating the use of CFD as a means for predicting full scale VIM performance and for facilitating the design of spars for reduced VIM. This paper reports on the results of a study to benchmark the CFD results for a truss spar with a set of model experiments carried out in a towing tank. The focus is on the effect of current direction, reduced velocity and strake pitch on the VIM response. The tests were carried out on a 1:40 scale model of an actual truss spar design, and all computations were carried out at model scale. Future study will consider the effect of external appurtenances on the hull and scale-up to full scale Reynolds’ numbers on the results.

Improved Strake Design for Vortex Induced Motions of Spar Platforms

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehernosh Irani ◽  
Lyle Finn
Keyword(s):  
Model Test ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Test Program ◽  
Test Set ◽  
Test Methodology ◽  
Spar Platforms ◽  
Truss Spar ◽  
Set Up

An extensive model test program was conducted to explore the effectiveness of alternate strake designs to reduce Truss Spar VIV response. Different strake configurations were tested to minimize VIV response. The paper presents results of the model tests. The model test set-up is described, important parameters that are modeled (including hull and truss geometry, strake configuration, mass and mooring properties) and considerations of instrumentation and test methodology are discussed. The paper also describes the analysis of the test results and shows the effectiveness of new strake design. The present results are compared with VIV response of existing Truss Spars with conventional strake design.

Model Testing for Vortex Induced Motions of Spar Platforms

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehernosh Irani ◽  
Lyle Finn
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Model Test ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Model Testing ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
The State ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Test Set ◽  
Vortex Induced Vibrations ◽  
Set Up

The state-of-the art in model testing for Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV) of Spars is presented. Important issues related to Spar VIV model testing are highlighted. The parameters that need to be modeled including hull geometry, strake configuration, mass and mooring properties and, considerations of test set-up and instrumentation are discussed. Results are presented from model tests of an as-built Spar deployed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is shown that the model test results compare well with the VIV responses measured in the field.

A Comparison of Radial Wellbay and Traditional Truss Spar Designs

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Murray ◽  
Edmund Muehlner ◽  
Guibog Choi
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Performance Comparison ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Production Platform ◽  
Truss Spar ◽  
Motion Performance ◽  
Made In

The Spar continues to be a popular drilling and production platform design for ultra-deep water. In recent years, developers have introduced a number of design variations such as the Arctic Spar, closed centerwell Spar, and long Spar. As the industry moves production into ultra-deep water, the escalation in drilling costs, particularly for deeper more complicated wells, prompts the need to look for new deepwater floater designs, including Spars. This paper introduces some new features to the Truss Spar, including a radial wellbay layout and an adjustable buoyancy centerwell device. This new Radial Wellbay Spar design is investigated and compared to the traditional Truss Spar for the same topside and riser weights and subjected to the same environments. The base case assumes a drilling and production platform with the performance comparison made in terms of hull weights and dimensions and hull motions for post-Katrina Gulf of Mexico conditions. In general, the Radial Wellbay Spar offers a smaller hull with fewer mooring lines for the same payload while maintaining the Spar’s low motion performance.

The State of Dry-Tree Semi-Submersible Platforms for Deepwater Gulf of Mexico

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Yao Lee ◽  
Jack Zeng ◽  
Philip Poll
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Model Test ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Scaled Model ◽  
Size Limits ◽  
Long Stroke

The use of semi-submersible platforms has become increasingly popular due to its ability to carry large topsides and the possibility for quayside integration. With recent exploration successes in ultra-deepwater fields of the Gulf of Mexico, major oil and engineering companies are keen to look for a safe, reliable and cost-effective dry-tree option to maximize the value of deepwater field developments. Dry-tree semi-submersible (DTS) emerges as such an option to overcome the water depth and size limits imposed by TLP and Spar, respectively, and enables the platform to carry a large well array and payloads in ultra-deep water. This paper presents the offshore industry’s multi-year efforts to mature two promising semi-submersible platform concepts that can accommodate long-stroke dry-tree risers and have large drilling and production capabilities. Results of technology development and qualification will be highlighted with details on hull performance and hull/riser interfaces. Key structural, mooring and riser analyses and scaled model test results including the long-stroke riser tensioning system will be presented. Remaining challenges that need to be overcome to advance the DTS concepts from “technology acceptance” to “project readiness” will also be discussed.

Model Test Data Correlations With Fully Coupled Hull/Mooring Analysis for a Floating Wind Turbine on a Semi-Submersible Platform

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonjun Koo ◽  
Andrew J. Goupee ◽  
Kostas Lambrakos ◽  
Ho-Joon Lim
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Model Test ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Scaled Model ◽  
Floating Wind Turbine ◽  
Mooring Dynamics ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Fully Coupled ◽  
Turbine Model

The DeepCwind floating wind turbine model tests were performed at MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands) with a model set-up corresponding to a 1:50 Froude scaling. In the model tests, the wind turbine was a scaled model of the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) 5MW, horizontal axis reference wind turbine supported by three different generic floating platforms: a spar, a semi-submersible and a tension-leg platform (TLP) (Ref. [1] and [2]). This paper presents validation of the MLTSIM-FAST [3] code with DeepCwind semi-submersible wind turbine model test results. In this integrated program, the turbine tower and rotor dynamics are simulated by the subroutines of FAST [4], and the hydrodynamic loads and mooring system dynamics are simulated by the subroutines of MLTSIM. In this study, fully coupled hull/mooring dynamics and second-order difference-frequency response are included in MLTSIM-FAST. The analysis results are systematically compared with model test results and show good agreement.

Simulation and Validation of a Numerical Model of a Full Aquaculture Net-Cage System

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Christian Endresen ◽  
Jens Birkevold ◽  
Martin Føre ◽  
Arne Fredheim ◽  
David Kristiansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Data Series ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Fish Farms ◽  
Scaled Model ◽  
Physical Experiments ◽  
Net Cage ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Main Components

Numerical simulation models are useful tools for the design and capacity analyses of cage-based fish farm systems. To ensure that such tools produce realistic estimates on forces and deformations experienced by fish farms, it is important to validate the models through comparison with experiments. A recent experiment investigated the response of a scaled model of a full aquaculture net cage placed in a mooring system when exposed to waves and current. In this study, a numerical model of this system containing the main components used in the physical experiments was set up and simulated. After simulations the tension in anchor lines, bridles and buoys were compared to the corresponding data series obtained in the experiments. The comparison indicated that FhSim was able to reproduce the main dynamics and responses of the physical model when exposed to currents and waves. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted, aimed at investigating how much model output is affected by variations in the stiffness of the mooring system.

Numerical Prediction of Spar Motions Considering Top Tension Riser Stiffness

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Yo Chen ◽  
Prahoro Nurtjahyo
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Model Test ◽  
Pitch Angle ◽  
Motion Prediction ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Comparison Results ◽  
Truss Spar ◽  
Righting Moment ◽  
Delta Model

Spar motions are often predicted without explicitly considering the stiffness effect of the buoyancy can of top tension risers (TTRs). This may result from the inability of most motion prediction programs to take this effect into consideration. The forces exerted by the TTR buoyancy can on the spar provide a net beneficial righting moment. Hence, neglecting the effect of TTR stiffness could produce excessive predicted spar motions, particularly maximum pitch angle. The derived spar configurations based on such predicted motions are likely to be conservative and not optimal. This paper proposes a simple “Linearized P-Delta” model to account for the effect of TTR stiffness on spar motions. The predicted motions using the proposed model are compared with the model test results for a production truss spar in the Gulf of Mexico. The comparison results indicate that the proposed model is quite rigorous and correlates reasonably well with the model test results.

Hybrid Verification of a Deepwater FPSO Using Truncated Model Tests and Numerical Simulations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangbo Liu ◽  
Ching Theng Liong ◽  
Nitesh Kumar ◽  
Kie Hian Chua ◽  
Allan Ross Magee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Numerical Modelling ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Return Period ◽  
Line Length ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Mooring Line ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Set Up

Abstract This paper presents verification of a deep water FPSO with a semi-taut mooring system using model tests and numerical modelling commonly referred to as the hybrid method. The vessel under investigation is a FPSO of 310m in length and 47m in beam with an internal turret mooring system of 12 lines in 2000m water depth. Two configurations of the mooring systems i.e. inline and bisecting are investigated for sea-states up to 1000yr return period. A full depth mooring system has been developed for the FPSO and model tests will be carried out to verify the model. Due to limitations to the size of the model basins, the model tests will be carried out for a truncated mooring setup. Non-linear horizontal stiffness of a single mooring line and the complete mooring system with truncation is compared to that of the existing full depth mooring system. Discrepancies in the vertical forces due to truncation of line length will be discussed in the paper. A numerical model of the truncated set-up will be calibrated using model test results.

Improving the Motions of a Semi by the Addition of Heave Plates

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Yo Chen ◽  
Yun Ding ◽  
Trevor Mills ◽  
John Murray
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Model Test ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Analytical Prediction ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Truss Spar ◽  
Heave Plate ◽  
Motion Characteristics ◽  
Plate System

Similar to the manner in which heave plates provide a Truss Spar with low global motions, a heave plate system can be used to significantly mitigate the motions of a conventional semi-submersible. This paper will focus on the global performance of a conventional semi-submersible that has been properly configured with heave plates. The design case is a Gulf of Mexico deepwater environment similar to that for a Spar located in 5,600 feet of water. The system has eight top-tensioned risers (TTR) supported on the top of the semi hull with tensioners, a spread mooring and a 10,000-ton operating payload. Extensive global motion analyses and comprehensive model testing have been carried out to validate the in-place behavior of such a solution. This paper presents the validation results from the analytical prediction and the model test. A semi-submersible with properly configured heave plates can be used as a viable deepwater dry-tree floating solution in such harsh environments as in the Gulf of Mexico. Because of its superior motion characteristics, this solution is also more SCR friendly and can be a better wet-tree application as compared to conventional semi-submersibles. The analytical and model test results demonstrate that the excitation of a semi-submersible hull by wind, wave and current can be adequately mitigated by the proper placement and sizing of a heave plate system. The analysis and testing also indicates that to achieve suitable motions in a cost effective manner requires incorporating fabrication and installation issues into the heave plate system. The in-place behavior of this solution has been validated and thus proving the concept provides a viable cost effective dry-tree floating solution for deepwater developments.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document