bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Removal of Topside Units in a Single Lift: The Repsol Yme Field Case Study
Authors: Alonso Castro Beatriz , Birkenes Terje , Oosterveld Huib 
Published: September 2018

Decommissioning is an emerging sector in the UK and Norway, accounting for 2% of total industry expenditure in 2010 increasing to 8% in 2017. In accordance with existing regulations in the North Sea (OSPAR), dumping, and leaving wholly or partly in place disused offshore installations within the maritime area is prohibited. Over the next eight years, 200 platforms are expected to be removed in the North Sea.
There are a number of methods to remove offshore installations: Piece small, Reverse installation and Single lift. In the Single lift approach the jacket or the topside is removed in one piece, minimizing significantly the time offshore and therefore the safety and health incidents. But the Piece Small and Reverse Installation are the most common methods and are established and secure although are time consuming and labor intensive [1].
Several potential candidates for single lift technology at varying levels of technical readiness were considered in the past. The majority of the concepts remained on the drawing board, while some were awaiting project commitment. The only that was matured further than this is the Pioneering Spirit. Yme, its first commercial lift, gave this concept the “proven” status.
The Yme MOPU, owned by Repsol, was a jack-up type platform standing on three steel legs of 3.5 m diameter. The dry weight of the MOPU was approximately 13,500 t. The Yme MOPU was a challenging unit to remove mainly for three reasons: The platform motions due to the lack of stiffness in the leg support, its position in contact with the caisson wellhead platform, and the fact that the legs could not be pre-cut before the operation. The method selected to remove the platform was Single lift, using the dynamically positioned platform installation and removal vessel Pioneering Spirit.
The lifting arrangement consisted of 12 lift beams combined and connected in pairs to yokes. Five specifically designed yokes were installed. The yokes connect the TLS with the MOPU. The structural integrity of each interface was assessed with FE analysis. The Ballast system was used to provide additional clearance. Pioneering Spirit has a total of eighty-seven ballast water tanks, including four so called ‘Quick Drop Ballast Water Tanks’. The removal of the MOPU was performed successfully the 22nd August 2016, after two days work offshore.
Towards a Novel Type of Ice for Model Tests With Vertically Sided Structures
Authors: Ziemer Gesa 
Published: September 2018

Model tests in ice are well-established to assess ice loads acting on ship-shaped structures. Model basins worldwide have elaborated different types of model ice over the past decades and gained confidence in e.g. predicting ship’s resistance which is validated by full scale data. Driven by industrial needs, the model ice was invented and modified with emphasis on the failure observed on ship hulls: Mostly flexural failure with only limited influence of crushing, i.e. against a vertical stem contour. Nowadays, the same model ice is occasionally used for structures exposed to ice action which are far from being ship-shaped, such as vertical sided monopiles or artificial islands. This approach is often questioned as the currently used model ice is usually insufficiently brittle, overstates out-of-plane deformation and flexural failure of the ice sheet, and transfers most of the ice load by a hard top layer rather than creating a wedge-shaped ice edge with a line-like contact approximately at middle height of the ice thickness as observed in full scale indentation tests. Therefore, results from tests with vertical structures in model ice have to be treated cautiously and not all observations are directly scalable. In an attempt to overcome the most severe issues with HSVA’s model ice in tests with vertically sided structures, a new way of initiating the formation of a model ice sheet was tested as a part of the IVOS project. Instead of spraying a top layer, the water in the basin was kept in motion by a wave maker while crystals formed. When the waves were stopped, an ice sheet with larger crystals in the top layer grew. A compliant vertical structure was pushed through this ice sheet and global and local loads were measured. The measurements were compared to tests with the same structure in conventional columnar model ice. Various ice properties were measured throughout the tests.
This paper introduces an alternative way to create a model ice sheet for tests with vertically sided structures utilizing a wavemaker, and discusses the findings from first model tests.
The Application of Reliability Based Methods in the Optimisation of Reeled Rigid Pipeline Wall Thickness Requirements
Authors: Smith Daniel , Peters Craig , Lahiri Subhajit 
Published: September 2018

Reel-lay is a fast and cost-effective means for the installation of subsea flowlines and Pipe-In-Pipe systems with outer diameters up to 18”. Pipelines installed by the reel lay method are plastically deformed during installation. The most critical step in the installation of a reeled pipeline occurs at the spool base, when the assembled pipeline is spooled on to the hub of the reel.
The nominal level of deformation is dictated by the vessel equipment geometry, applied back tension, and pipe dimensions. Localised increases in deformation are caused by mismatches in bending stiffness between adjacent pipes. The mismatch potential is dictated by the natural variation of yield strength and by dimensional variation that is inherent to linepipe manufacturing processes. Reliability based assessments are commonly applied in the assessment of minimum acceptable wall thickness for reeling. These assessments enable the minimum acceptable wall thickness to be determined with a defined target reliability level, assessing mismatches based upon distributions of wall thickness and yield strength.
The mismatch parameter calculation method and the definition of appropriate acceptance criteria are the two most important factors in reeling assessments. Neither of these two factors has been specified in a pipeline design code or a recommended practice available in the public domain. However, there is an increasing level of familiarity in industry; mismatch calculation methods and strain or ovality based acceptance criteria, defined by installation contractors are gaining widespread acceptance.
This paper presents a review of the application of reliability based methods currently under use, focusing on mismatch calculation methods, acceptance criteria, and probability of failure calculation methods. Minimisation of costs is of particular importance in the current oil and gas industry climate. Because of this, the ability to specify an optimum wall thickness enables installation contractors to provide more cost effective reeled rigid pipeline solutions.
After reviewing the subject matter and existing body of work this paper looks in detail at the deformation responses and failure modes for a range of sizes of reeled pipelines with mismatches. The assessment of deformation responses demonstrates a significant level of conservatism in recently proposed acceptance criteria that is based upon averaged axial strain levels. This conservatism is quantified by probability of failure calculations and provides a strong justification for further optimisation of the minimum wall thickness for reeling. Finally, the beneficial effect of increased reeling tension is quantified in terms of its effect upon probability of failure.
Low Frequency Excitation and Damping of Four MODUs in Severe Seastates With Current
Authors: Fonseca Nuno , Stansberg Carl Trygve , Larsen Kjell , Bjørkli Rune , Vigesdal Tjerand , Dalane Oddgeir 
Published: September 2018

Model tests have been performed with four mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) with the aim of identifying wave drift forces and low frequency damping. The MODUs configuration is different, namely on the number and diameter of columns, therefore the sample is representative of many of the existing concepts. The model scale is the same as well as the wave and current conditions. The experimental program includes irregular waves with systematic variations of the significant wave height, wave peak period, current velocity and vessel heading.
The test data is post-processed to identify the surge and sway quadratic transfer functions (QTFs) of the slowly varying excitation, together with the linearized low frequency damping. The post-processing applies a nonlinear data analysis technique known as “cross-bi-spectral analysis” to estimate characteristics of second-order (quadratic) responses from the measured motions and undisturbed incident wave elevation. The empirical QTFs are then compared with numerical predictions to conclude on the role of viscous drift and the applicability of Newman’s approximation for calculation of drift forces in irregular waves. Finally, the empirical drift forces, empirical low frequency damping coefficients and low frequency motions statistics are compared for the three MODUs to conclude on the relation between the Semi configuration and the low frequency responses.
Casing Removal Tests in Laboratory Setup
Authors: Taghipour Ali , Ytrehus Jan David , Stroisz Anna 
Published: September 2018

Through the life-time of a production field in the offshore petroleum industry it is normal to drill several new wells for both production and injection purposes. The initial well template, either at the platform or at a subsea installation, has space for a fixed total number of wells. When this limit is reached an old well needs to be plugged and the well slot reused to allow new wells to be drilled.
In order to re-use well slots and benefit from full diameter when constructing the new well, it is required to remove the tubulars in the upper part of the plugged well. The outside of these tubulars are normally in contact with cement or settled particles from shut-in drilling fluids. Removing the tubular through the cement or settled particle is always challenging and there is need for using new techniques.
In order to address the dominating effects in these operations, down-scaled laboratory tests are performed. The experiments reported here are performed by pulling steel pipes out of a cemented annulus. The pipes used in the tests are down-scaled from typical casing sizes. They are either normal pipes, grooved pipes or pipes with and without collars. Two setups with different geometries are used. The first is selected to study the de-bonding effect from the cemented annulus and the mechanical friction that must be overcome to remove the pipe. The other setup is designed to show the effect of collars when pulling out the tubulars. Since most tubulars in wells have collars between each stand with extended diameter, this effect is important to consider when comparing laboratory results to field operations.
Results show that the loosening force (de-bonding) and pulling force can be significantly reduced by manipulating the pipes with grooves prior to pulling them out. Further, the results show that the most significant resistance when pulling the tubulars are caused by the collars outside the pipe. It is also observed that the effect of collar is significantly reduced when the pipe is grooved between the collars. In total these results provide improved understanding on the dominating effects when pulling pipes from packed wellbore annulus.
Investigation of Bottom Slamming on Ships in Irregular Waves
Authors: Wang Shan , Rajendran Suresh , Guedes Soares C. 
Published: September 2018

The bottom slamming of a chemical tanker and a LNG carrier advancing in irregular waves is investigated numerically and compared with experiments. The probability of slamming occurrence on longitudinal locations and the slamming induced pressures on the bottom of two ships are discussed. It is considered that slamming occurrence at a point is dependent upon two conditions: the relative vertical motion at the same longitudinal position of the ship being larger than the vertical distance from the still water to the concerned position, and the entry velocity exceeding some threshold velocity.
Ship motions in irregular waves predicted by a time domain seakeeping code and measured from the model tests are used to calculate the slamming occurrence statistically based on the two conditions mentioned above. Only heave and pitch motions are considered in the calculations. The seakeeping code combines body linear radiation and diffraction forces with body nonlinear Froude-Krylov forces, hydrostatic forces and shipping of green water on the bow. The effects of body nonlinearity are considered by a simplified method: the memory functions, infinite frequency added masses and the radiation restoring coefficients are assessed at each time instant as function of the instantaneous wetted surface. A similar procedure is used to calculate the diffraction forces.
The experimental data of the wave-induced loads on these two vessels in different sea states are analyzed statistically. Probability of exceedance of entry velocities and pressure peaks for the sections at the bow and stern are computed for various irregular sea states. The results of the slamming occurrence on longitudinal locations and wave induced loads on these two types of ships are discussed.
Instrumented FLIP Test and Static Pressure Influence on the Onset Velocity and Frequency on an Industrial Scale
Authors: Decuupere M. , Charliac D. , Roques JP. , Karnikian A. , Galeron G. , Mattei PO. , Amielh M. 
Published: September 2018

Since the early 2000, Flow Induced Pulsations (FLIP) has been more and more encountered on platforms. This phenomenon generates high acoustic pressure pulsations that may cause noises up to one hundred and ten dB and significant fatigue stress levels in small piping either at topside or subsea equipment. The source of the phenomenon is inside of the flexible pipe but FLIP has no effect on it. Nevertheless, in case of FLIP experience companies may have to reduce their flow rate. Therefore, FLIP must be understood in order for the companies to avoid this constraint.
In this frame, a FLIP test was performed with protagonists who are involved in the understanding of this phenomenon. The test was done in 2016 at CESAME Poitiers (France) in an eighteen meter-long and six-inch flexible pipe on an air open loop. The prototype was fully instrumented and pressures up to forty bars were tested and mass flow rates up to 6 kg.s−1 to reproduce the FLIP phenomenon.
The test setup and signals analysis are presented in this paper. Moreover, FLIP onset velocities and frequencies are compared with TechnipFMC models. As a conclusion of this paper pressure influence for the six-inch tested on the FLIP initiation will be presented.
Application of Morison Equation in Irregular Wave Trains With High Frequency Waves
Authors: Trubat Pau , Molins Climent , Hufnagel Philipp , Alarcón Daniel , Campos Alexis 
Published: September 2018

Most numerical models for the analysis of offshore wind platforms are based on one of two different approaches, depending on how waves forces are applied to the structure: 1) the potential flow theory, and 2) the Morison equation. Potential flow theory allows to compute the wave forces more accurately when diffraction is relevant. Otherwise, this kind of models assume a fixed position of the floating platform when computing the wave forces. Additionally, second-order effects, as the position and the spin of the structure relative to the incident wave can only be taken into account if second order potential flow is considered. On the other hand, Morison equation can apply the wave forces on a structure based on its spin and position which can be assessed at each time step, but is prone to overestimate the waves forces at the frequencies where diffraction is relevant.
In this paper, a modification of the implementation of the Morison equation is presented. This modification allows to reduce the forces in the diffraction frequency range based on the real response from MacCamy and Fuchs’s diffraction theory for cylinders. The implementation can be applied using a frequency-dependent coefficient of added mass, or modifying the amplitudes of the incident waves in the diffraction frequency range in a way that the accelerations derived from the regular wave theory used for the Froude-Krylov wave force computation in Morison equation are equivalent to those computed in the diffraction theory. The implementation is tested in the FloawDyn code, developed at the UPC, and FAST from NREL.
Relocatable Tide Prediction and Storm Surge Forecasting
Authors: Prime Thomas 
Published: September 2018

The marine environment represents a large and important resource for communities around the world. However, the marine environment increasingly presents hazards that can have a large negative impact. One important marine hazard results from storms and their accompanying surges. This can lead to coastal flooding, particularly when surge and astronomical high tides align, with resultant impacts such as destruction of property, saline degradation of agricultural land and coastal erosion.
Where tide and storm surge information are provided and accessed in a timely, accurate and understandable way, the data can provide:
1. Evidence for planning: Statistics of past conditions such as the probability of extreme event occurrence can be used to help plan improvements to coastal infrastructure that are able to withstand and mitigate the hazard from a given extreme event.
2. Early warning systems: Short term forecasts of storm surge allow provide early warnings to coastal communities enabling them to take actions to allow them to withstand extreme events, e.g. deploy flood prevention measures or mobilise emergency response measures.
Data regarding sea level height can be provided from various in-situ observations such as tide gauges and remote observations such as satellite altimetry. However, to provide a forecast at high spatial and temporal resolution a dynamic ocean model is used. Over recent decades the National Oceanography Centre has been a world leading in developing coastal ocean models. This paper will present our progress on a current project to develop an information system for the Madagascan Met Office. The project, C-RISC, being executed in partnership with Sea Level Research Ltd, is translating the current modelling capability of NOC in storm surge forecasting and tidal prediction into a system that will provide information that can be easily transferred to other regions and is scalable to include other hazard types The outcome, an operational high-resolution storm surge warning system that is easy to relocate, will directly benefit coastal communities, giving them information they need to make effective decisions before and during extreme storm surge events.
Analysis of Wellbore Instability in an Offshore Field: A Case Study
Authors: González Molano Nubia Aurora , Alvarellos Iglesias José , Vargas Mendoza Pablo Enrique , Lakshmikantha M. R. 
Published: September 2018

Several wellbore instability problems have been encountered during drilling a shale formation in an offshore field, leading to the collapse of the main borehole and resulting in several sidetracks. In this study, an integrated 1D & 3D Geomechanical model was built for the field in order to investigate the major factors that control the instability problems from a Geomechanical point of view and to design an optimum mud window for planned wells in the field. Effect of bedding on wellbore stability was the most important factor to explain the observed drilling events.
Optimized well paths for planned wells were proposed based on results of a sensitivity analysis of the effect of bedding orientation on wellbore stability. It has been observed that bedding exposed depends not only on well inclination but also on dip of the formation, attack angle, and azimuth.
Maximum Dissimilarity-Based Algorithm for Discretization of Metocean Data Into Clusters of Arbitrary Size and Dimension
Authors: Kanner Samuel , Aubault Alexia , Peiffer Antoine , Yu Bingbin 
Published: September 2018

In order to accurately estimate the fatigue life a floating structure, it is necessary to have a large set of discrete environmental conditions. If the damage to a structure largely stems from wave-induced forces, then the creation of a set of environmental conditions or ‘bins’ is trivial. However, when considering a floating platform supporting a wind turbine, it is necessary to consider not only the wave conditions, but also the wind conditions (and perhaps current, if possible). Thus, it is common to have greater than 5 dimensions in the timeseries (e.g., significant wave height, wave period, wave direction, wind speed, wind direction, etc). The creation of bins in two dimensions is quite easily solved by creating an arbitrary grid and taking the mean of all the observations which fall in a specific cell. In higher dimensions, a p-dimensional cell is not easily visualized and so the resulting set of bins cannot easily be graphically represented. In this paper, an iterative algorithm is developed to convert N observations, each with p-dimensions, into a set with M discrete bins, where M << N.
The algorithm presented borrows heavily from the maximum dissimilarity algorithm used in a wide array of fields. The benefit of using this algorithm is that there is no ‘bias’ introduced by an initial grid from the user. That is, given a desired final number of clusters and a certain distance tolerance, a unique set of cluster exists for a given data set. Inherently, the algorithm selects a diverse array of observations, usually including extreme events or outliers, which may have undue impact on the fatigue life of a structure. Although the algorithm is computationally expensive O(N2M), reductions in computational cost are possible. Most importantly, the algorithm can be written in such a way that memory constraints are not an issue even for N = O(105).
The clustering algorithm is described in both graphical and logical terms. A case study is presented, using publicly available data from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. The data is visualized in two dimensions with the final number of bins equaling approximately 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 bins. These bins are compared with a previous algorithm from these authors. Various measures are presented to assess the fidelity of a set of bins with respect to the initial observations. Each set of bins are analyzed and it is clear the MDA-based algorithm outperforms the previous algorithm.
Experimental Investigation on Resistance Reduction by Means of Air-Bubbling Technique
Authors: Ravina Enrico , Guidomei Sofia 
Published: September 2018

The paper refers on a research activity, focused at DREAMS Lab of the University of Genoa (Italy) and still under development, oriented to experimental application of air-bubbling techniques on flat plates and hull models. In this study the reduction in the frictional resistance by air bubbling generated by customized pneumatic circuits is tested, both on the lower surfaces of flat plates characterized of different geometries of holes and on a hull model tested in towing tank. The effective shape of air bubbles is observed, and changes in the local frictional drag are measured, using flexible and low cost thin sensors at different levels of flow rate and pressure of injected air. In towing tank tests the experiments compare hull without and with holes on the bottom, modifying the characteristics of speed, pressure, flow rate and areas interested to the air injection.
Systematic tests campaign has been developed, using also actuation pneumatic workbenches expressly designed for the experiments.