Madhusuden Agrawal

Coupled Transient CFD and Diffraction Modeling for Installation of Subsea Equipment/Structures in Splash Zone

In development of deep water oil and gas fields, successfully and economically installing subsea equipment and structure is critically important. This paper presents a state-of-the-art methodology for predicting the motions and loads of subsea equipment/structure during such operations basing on time domain simulations of the combined installation vessel and subsea equipment/structure. The time domain diffraction simulation of the moving lifting vessel is coupled with multiphase CFD simulation of subsea equipment/structure in splash zone. Transient CFD model with rigid body motion for the equipment/structure calculates added masses, forces and moments on the equipment/structure for diffraction analysis, while diffraction analysis calculates linear and angular velocities for CFD simulation. This paper has many potential applications, such as, installation of pile, manifold, subsea tree, PLET/PLEM, or other subsea equipment/structure. This coupled approach has been successfully implemented on a cylindrical structure. The results show that total load level, and dynamics of the subsea equipment/structure due to waves in splash zone are predicted. Current practice of installation analysis in accordance with the recommendations from DNV-RP-H103 [1] cannot determine in detail the wave loads either during the passage through splash zone, or added mass and damping when the equipment/structure is submerged. In order to determine wave loads in detail, model tests are needed. In the absence of tests, simplified equations or empirical formulations have to be used to calculate/estimate these hydrodynamics coefficients as recommended in DNV-RP-H103. Steady-state CFD simulations on a stationary equipment/structure are usually used to predict drag and added masses on submerged structures. However the steady-state assumption in CFD ignores the resonating motion of equipment/structure in calculating hydrodynamics coefficients, which can severely affect the accuracy of these predictions. The above methods often give overly conservative results for allowable sea state which results in uneconomical vessel time or inaccurate results for installation. The methodology of this paper gives more accurate results, and provides potentially economical vessel time during installation. The intent of this paper is to demonstrate the solution and methodology.Copyright

Numerical Simulation of Piggyback Risers Under Steady Current Loading

With elevated interest in offshore drilling, transportation of production fluid to surface facilities are under heavy scrutiny. Particularly, design of marine risers either in standalone or in a piggyback configuration continues to dominate the focus of the research community in assessing the influence of hydrodynamic drag on its operation. In this study, full three dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to estimate the flow induced drag on piggyback risers under steady current configurations. The turbulent structures generated in the flow domain are resolved using SST k-omega turbulence modeling approach.Effect of flow velocities and circumferential position of the smaller cylinder with respect to the larger cylinder, were investigated on drag coefficient. Two different piggyback riser models, with varying cylinder diameters were considered. The predicted drag coefficients under a wide range of Reynolds number were in good agreement with the experimental data. The effect of diameter ratio of the two cylinders and the position of smaller cylinder were identified to play an important role in the generation of flow structures within the domain. Numerical simulations identify and capture key hydrodynamics interference such as drag reduction and vortex shedding patterns that are critical in the design of piggyback riser configurations. For example, the drag coefficient of the largest cylinder is lowest value when it is placed in the wake of the smaller cylinder and the drag on the small cylinder depends significantly on the diameter ratio of the cylinders and their relative position. Further, detailed discussions pertaining to vortex shedding patterns under various model configurations are elaborated. This study clearly demonstrated the applicability of numerical tools to gain insight into the hydrodynamic interaction between two cylinders placed under close proximity.Copyright

A Parametric Study of Wave - Structure Interaction Using the Coupled Transient CFD and Diffraction Methodology

This paper is a continuation of our previous paper [1] (OMAE2013-11569) where we demonstrated a state-of-the-art methodology for predicting the motions and loads of subsea equipment and structures during offshore operations basing on time domain simulations of subsea equipment and structures. Instead of relying on simplified equations or empirical formulations to calculate and estimate the hydrodynamics coefficients, or using steady-state CFD simulation on a stationary equipment and structure to predict drag and added masses on submerged structures in traditional approaches, this methodology couples the transient CFD with diffraction analysis. The time domain diffraction simulation is coupled with multiphase CFD simulation of subsea equipment and structures in waves. Transient CFD model with rigid body motion for the equipment and structure calculates added masses, forces and moments on the equipment and structure for diffraction analysis, while diffraction analysis calculates linear and angular velocities for CFD simulation. In this paper, parametric studies are performed to investigate effect of wavelength, wave amplitude and wave current on the motion of a hollow cylinder in waves. The results of the parametric studies in this paper show wave-structure interaction of a hollow cylinder in waves, and the effect of waves and current on the motion of the cylinder and the associated forces. The results provide better understanding of structure motion and associated forces in waves using this coupled methodology. The coupled methodology eliminates the inaccuracy inherited from assumed or calculated hydrodynamic properties that are obtained by using simplified equations or empirical formulations [2], or by using steady-state CFD analyses in traditional decoupled approaches. The results show that the coupled physics of wave and cylinder motion is captured by using this methodology, otherwise is not captured by traditional approaches. This coupled methodology has potential applications in analyses of the motions of subsea equipment and structures in wave during offshore operations.Copyright

Numerical Modeling of Released Subsea Buoyancy Module for Reliable Prediction of its Trajectory and Velocity Using Transient CFD Analysis for Risk Assessment

Buoyancy modules are widely used in offshore and subsea fields, such as on pipelines, risers, umbilicals, and ROVs, etc. in operation and installation. Accidental release of subsea buoyancy modules due to broken or damaged parts may pose a potential risk and hazard to offshore vessels, floating platforms and risers & surrounding umbilicals. A released buoyancy module rises and may collide with any floating structures or pipes above it. For offshore and subsea field development, it is important to assess such potential risk to offshore vessels, floating platforms, and risers & umbilicals around them. Accurate prediction of the trajectory and the impact speed of the released buoyancy module is the key component for risk assessment in offshore and subsea field development. This paper presents a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solution for prediction of the trajectory and velocity of the released buoyancy modules from subsea. Six Degree of Freedom (DOF) rigid body motion of buoyancy module is modeled using an efficient moving mesh approach in transient CFD simulation. The effect of ocean currents at different water depths is considered in the motion of buoyancy modules.This methodology has potential applications in many areas, such as, offshore vessel and floating platform protection, riser and umbilical protection, offshore and subsea field planning and layout, etc.This transient CFD approach has been successfully implemented on typical buoyancy modules and demonstrated effect of ocean currents on the trajectory of the buoyancy modules. Hydrostatic forces, 6DOF motion and the velocities of the buoyancy module were predicted with different ocean current velocities.The approach proposed in this paper captures the physics of released buoyance module in transient CFD and provides a practical tool for determining the trajectory and velocity of the released buoyancy modules from subsea and quantifying the risk for such an event. It can potentially be used for assessing the risk to offshore vessels and floating platforms, risers and umbilicals, as well as for offshore and subsea field planning and layout.Copyright

Computational Fluid Dynamics Study for Modeling Vortex Induced Vibrations Using High Fidelity Turbulence Models

Flow over smooth cylinder at very high Reynolds number, ReD = 2×106, is simulated using the unsteady Scale Adaptive Simulation (SAS) turbulence model. Flow structures and vortex shedding were accurately captured. Grid sensitivity study was performed to compare averaged drag coefficient for a conformal fine mesh as well as non-conformal coarse mesh. Predicted value of drag coefficient was within 8% of the experimental value and Strouhal number compared well with the experimental observations.Copyright