Advantages of Polyester Mooring for Deepwater Floaters

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixin Xu ◽  
Jieyan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Water Depth ◽  
Production System ◽  
Steel Wire ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Restoring Force ◽  
Production Platform ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Lock In

Since first installed at a water depth of 4,660 feet in 1997, polyester mooring systems have now been used on floating platforms in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Brazil and other regions. The Mad Dog Spar was the first floating production system (FPS) with permanent deepwater polyester moorings in the GOM. After the Mad Dog Spar, the deepest water depth is 7,800 feet in which a polyester mooring system was installed on the Perdido Spar. The polyester mooring systems have performed favorably, e.g., in the GOM, experiencing hurricanes without incident. The polyester rope in general is more advantageous than steel wire in deeper water due to reduced weight (and tension), high strength, durability (better fatigue and no corrosion), and improved floater global performances (less offset, etc.). Moreover, while a floating production platform is designed to support riser systems, fatigue damage of risers due to Vortex Induced Motions (VIM) of the platform are important design drivers particularly in the GOM. The polyester mooring system has a higher restoring force in horizontal (thus a higher lateral stiffness) in currents resulting in a significantly better fatigue performance (less current bins with VIM lock-in) than the steel mooring system does. The paper herein presents a comparative study with two kinds of mooring systems (polyester ropes and steel wires) for the same platform. Differences between the polyester and steel mooring systems are evaluated for various aspects, such as the mooring system configuration and performance, installation risks, operations, and impact on hull and riser system design and performance. The results also indicate cost savings for the polyester mooring equipment and the overall production system.

Dropped Polyester Mooring Line Qualification for Reuse

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig R Gage ◽  
Pierre F Liagre ◽  
Caspar N Heyl ◽  
Cesar Del Vecchio
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Mooring Line ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Minimal Damage ◽  
Recovery Effort ◽  
The Impact

The Perdido platform is a spar located in a water depth of 7,825 feet in the Alaminos Canyon Block 857in the Gulf of Mexico. The mooring system consists of nine mooring lines in three groups of three, spacedapproximately 120 degrees apart between each group. Each mooring line is composed of a platform chain,a multi-segment polyester rope including a 120 feet long test insert at the top, a ground chain, a pile chainand other associated connectors. The mooring lines are connected to suction piles. The Minimum BreakStrength for the Perdido polyester mooring line is 4,000 kips. Installation of the spar hull was completed inSeptember 2008 and the topsides was set in March 2009. The spar and its mooring system were originallydesigned for a twenty (20) year life. On May 4, 2019, mooring line # 6 (ML6) was contacted by a marine vessel down line and was severed.Contact occurred along the polyester test insert. A recovery effort was planned, and the mooring line wasreplaced in early June. The original ML6 was recovered from the seafloor on June 4, 2019 as a part of thatcampaign and submitted to an initial inspection. This paper is not intended to go into either the cause of the incident or the replacement of ML6 but willlook to the inspection of the recovered mooring line and explore its suitability for reuse. Initial inspection ofthe lines suggested minimal damage to the polyester rope segments and raised questions to the impacts of 10years of use. Testing was envisioned as a learning opportunity for the impact of service on polyester mooringand was reinforced by the potential cost savings that could be attained though reuse. A methodology wasdeveloped, supported by initial inspections and a suite of testing was performed. The results of these testsare presented in the following, along with a proposed process for assessing and considering reuse of a linefollowing a drop. Additionally, conclusions will be shared for the process, the results, and the potentialramifications for the industry.

Subsurface Buoy Configuration for Rigid Risers in Ultra Deepwater

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Franciss
Keyword(s):  
Model Test ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Production System ◽  
Field Trial ◽  
Production Department ◽  
Campos Basin ◽  
Production Platform ◽  
Exploration And Production

The Exploration and Production Department of Petrobras asked the R&D Center the development of a production system for 1800 m water depth, in Campos Basin, which would allow the installation of Steel Caterany Risers (SCR) in the starboard side of a production platform. The subsurface buoy concept was chosen as one of the alternatives. This concept has being developed since the preliminary studies conducted in the first phase of JIP Deepstar. This concept has an advantage of uncoupling the movements of the platform from the risers, reducing the loads due to the risers in the platform and allowing the installation of this system before the installation of the production vessel, anticipating the production of the field. This article shows the main characteristics of the buoy, its sizes, results of structural analyses and installation procedures for a buoy which sustains 14 SCR and 5 umbilicals in one side and 14 flexible jumpers and the same 5 umblicals in the opposite side. This concept was tested in two model test tanks, where it was verified that this concept is feasible. Also, information related to a field trial with a prototype installed in Brazilian waters will be presented.

scholarly journals Manufacturing and development of a bolted GFRP flange joint for oil and gas applications

2021 ◽  
pp. 095440542198951
Author(s):  
Muhsin Aljuboury ◽  
Md Jahir Rizvi ◽  
Stephen Grove ◽  
Richard Cullen
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Polyester Resin ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Adhesively Bonded ◽  
Acceptable Quality ◽  
Composite Pipe ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Composite Pipes

The goal of this experimental study is to manufacture a bolted GFRP flange connection for composite pipes with high strength and performance. A mould was designed and manufactured, which ensures the quality of the composite materials and controls its surface grade. Based on the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section X, this GFRP flange was fabricated using biaxial glass fibre braid and polyester resin in a vacuum infusion process. In addition, many experiments were carried out using another mould made of glass to solve process-related issues. Moreover, an investigation was conducted to compare the drilling of the GFRP flange using two types of tools; an Erbauer diamond tile drill bit and a Brad & Spur K10 drill. Six GFRP flanges were manufactured to reach the final product with acceptable quality and performance. The flange was adhesively bonded to a composite pipe after chamfering the end of the pipe. Another type of commercially-available composite flange was used to close the other end of the pipe. Finally, blind flanges were used to close both ends, making the pressure vessel that will be tested under the range of the bolt load and internal pressure.

Crack Pattern and Ductility of Steel Reinforced Ultra High Strength Concrete Composite Joint Subjected to Reversal Cycle Load

2009 ◽  
Vol 417-418 ◽  
pp. 845-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Wang Yan ◽  
Jin Qing Jia ◽  
Ju Zhang
Keyword(s):  
High Strength Concrete ◽  
Plastic Hinge ◽  
Engineering Application ◽  
Load Ratio ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Strength Concrete ◽  
Weak Beam ◽  
Composite Joint ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Beam Plastic Hinge

In order to investigate the seismic damage and performance of steel reinforced ultra high strength concrete composite joint subjected to reversal cycle load, six interior strong-column-weak-beam joint specimens were tested with various axial load ratio and volumetric stirrup ratio. A discussion on the crack mode and ductility was presented. It was found that all joint specimens failed in bending with a beam plastic hinge in a ductile manner, with crack propagation different from the weak-column-strong-beam joint. The experimental results indicated that test parameters of the steel reinforced ultra high strength concrete composite joint with good seismic performance may be referred for engineering application.

Qualification and Certification of Polyester Rope for Seabed Contact

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Øystein Gabrielsen ◽  
Kjell Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Water Flow ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Qualification Test ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Norwegian Sea ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Full Scale Tests ◽  
Certification Requirements

The Aasta Hansteen spar in the Norwegian Sea is designed to be moored with a taut polyester rope mooring system. The water depth at the field is 1300 meters, and due to the short installation season the most efficient hookup is with pre-installed mooring lines, which require the mooring lines to be laid down on the seabed. DNV certification does not allow seabed contact for polyester ropes unless proven that no soil ingress and damage takes place. To be able to certify the ropes Statoil developed a test method including contact with soil, rope movement and forced water flow through the filter construction. Full scale tests were performed with actual rope and Aasta Hansteen soil, both in laboratory and at site. This paper discusses the certification requirements and presents adequate qualification test together with results from testing.

How Much Do Consumers Value Fuel Economy and Performance? Evidence from Technology Adoption

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-45
Author(s):  
Benjamin Leard ◽  
Joshua Linn ◽  
Yichen Christy Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Economy ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Fuel Savings ◽  
Unique Data ◽  
Consumer Benefit ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
High Valuation ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Historical Periods

Abstract During historical periods in which US fuel economy standards were unchanging, automakers increased performance but not fuel economy, contrasting with recent periods of tightening standards and rising fuel economy. This paper evaluates the welfare consequences of automakers forgoing performance increases to raise fuel economy as standards have tightened since 2012. Using a unique data set and a novel approach to account for fuel economy and performance endogeneity, we find undervaluation of fuel cost savings and high valuation of performance. Welfare costs of forgone performance approximately equal expected fuel savings benefits, suggesting approximately zero net private consumer benefit from tightened standards.

High Holding Power Torpedo Pile: Results for the First Long Term Application

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jairo Bastos de Araujo ◽  
Roge´rio Diniz Machado ◽  
Cipriano Jose de Medeiros Junior
Keyword(s):  
Water Depth ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Free Fall ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Holding Power ◽  
Campos Basin ◽  
Anchoring System ◽  
Very High

Petrobras developed a new kind of anchoring device known as Torpedo. This is a steel pile of appropriate weight and shape that is launched in a free fall procedure to be used as fixed anchoring point by any type of floating unit. There are two Torpedoes, T-43 and T-98 weighing 43 and 98 metric tons respectively. On October 2002 T-43 was tested offshore Brazil in Campos Basin. The successful results approved and certified by Bureau Veritas, and the need for a feasible anchoring system for new Petrobras Units in deep water fields of Campos Basin led to the development of a Torpedo with High Holding Power. Petrobras FPSO P-50, a VLCC that is being converted with a spread-mooring configuration will be installed in Albacora Leste field in the second semester of 2004. Its mooring analysis showed that the required holding power for the mooring system would be very high. Drag embedment anchors option would require four big Anchor Handling Vessels for anchor tensioning operations at 1400 m water depth. For this purpose T-98 was designed and its field tests were completed in April 2003. This paper discusses T-98 design, building, tests and ABS certification for FPSO P-50.

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