bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resident AUVs: Enabling Efficient Operations and Improved Asset Integrity Through the DeepStar AUV Docking Station Standardization Program
Authors: Mehta S 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Resident Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) reduce the associated vessel days and Green House Gas (GHG) emissions of offshore operations. Hosted subsea, resident AUV's would provide improved asset integrity through early identification of integrity issues and increased availability for inspection and intervention. Developers offer customized solutions for docking, power and communication. While customized stations offer bespoke advantages, each installation requires significant cost and design effort for integration into a Subsea Production System (SPS). This is a barrier to adoption. DeepStar®, an operator-funded Research & Development joint industry consortium, sanctioned several programs on accelerating the industry to a unified set of standards and operating practices for the integration and utilization of field resident AUVs within offshore fields. DeepStar CTR: 18302 - Standardization of AUV Docking, was focused on harmonizing existing AUV docking stations concepts to enable implementation at scale. As part of this project, existing information was gathered and critically reviewed a to highlight discrepancies and propose recommendations to API 17H to achieve alignment among other standards and the industry. There are several standards which relate to AUV docking station interface design and were the original foundation documents used in this study: API 17H, DeepStar CTR 11304, and ongoing work from SWiG.
The team defined the project framework including the attribute definitions to be used for comparison and the classification of the information. API 17H 3rd Edition was used as the baseline standard. Therefore, attributes were classified ‘in agreeance’ or ‘discrepancy’. A second level of classification was also attributed to comparisons which were ‘Numerical’ or ‘Qualitative’. The project team had to agree on the credible sources of information to be input into this assessment. The Subsea Wireless Group (SWiG) a Joint Industry Project (JIP) dedicated to developing standards for subsea wireless communications was identified early as a contributor. The SWiG JIP were developing the first industry standard defining the power and communications requirements for inductively recharging an AUV at a subsea docking station. Other contributors included leading resident AUV developers. Their feedback had to be carefully managed to avoid conflicts of intellectual property and competitive advantage. Equinor was also a key contributor due to their development of the UIDTM Subsea Docking Station.
From the analysis performed within this project, several gaps and recommendations were identified to be incorporated within the next revision of API 17H. Attributes where API 17H deviates from DeepStar have supported reasoning. For the most part, these discrepancies have been marked as "Keep API as is". Due to API 17H 3rd Edition having minimal requirements for power and data transfer, a significant percent of SWiG input was considered as additional attributes.
Detailed Modelling of Displacement and Hot Oiling of a Waxy Non-Newtonian Fluid in a Mature West Africa Deep Water Production Facility
Authors: Seal H. , Alborzi G. , Watson M. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
This study investigates the feasibility of a changeover of displacement and hot oiling fluid from diesel to dead crude in a mature West Africa deep-water production facility from a flow assurance perspective. It addresses the practical challenges associated with the dead crude displacement and hot oiling procedures as well as the technical challenges of transient modelling of a waxy non-Newtonian fluid through both insulated and uninsulated piping. Modelling was performed using commercial software packages to simulate the existing diesel displacement and hot oiling procedures and to tune the model of the system to data from the field. The non-Newtonian behavior and wax precipitation and deposition properties of the dead crude were then characterized and tuned based on laboratory rheology and flowloop testing. Cases of dead crude treated with different levels of wax inhibitor were also considered. Multiple cycles of displacement and hot oiling were then modelled to evaluate the wax buildup over time and the ability of topside pumps to provide sufficient flowrate to displace production fluid. Modelling in commercial software packages was performed in parallel with modelling of the system using correlations found in literature. The modelling of uninhibited dead crude showed strong non-Newtonian behavior when under flow through pipe without insulation as the fluid rapidly cooled below the wax appearance temperature. The uninhibited fluid also showed gelling behavior when cooling down from hot oiling, and was therefore not considered a feasible option. Crude dosed with a wax inhibitor showed a reduced pour point and viscosity, which also reduced gelling effects. The fluid was able to be circulated by the pumps at a sufficient flowrate to remove production fluid from the pipe but also exhibited significant wax deposition due to rapid temperature changes when entering uninsulated pipe. The resulting wax deposit poses the risk of interfering with pipe integrity assessment. Further work is now ongoing to identify more effective wax inhibitors and alternative methods of assessing pipeline integrity. This study offers further insights into wax deposition and non-Newtonian fluid modelling in both insulated and uninsulated flowlines as well as the effectiveness of modelling non-Newtonian frictional pressure drop and wax deposition in parallel with commercial software packages to develop more effective models.
Improving Safety, Risk Mitigation, and Efficiency for Installation, Repair, Maintenance, and Decommissioning of Subsea Equipment
Authors: Nordhauser Alyssa , Knudsen Jay , Shannon Michael , Hartwig Christian 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Working offshore in maritime operations is dangerous, making it key to mitigate risks as much as possible. The environment is extreme and challenging - even small changes to current operations and equipment can significantly improve safety and lower can the probability of a negative outcome should an incident occur. This paper will discuss some of those dangers as well as how utilizing a reaction washer (RW) for hydraulic bolting operations is a practical and safer alternative to using bolting tools with reaction arms.
Diving in general is inherently risky as humans enter a world for which they are neither designed, nor naturally equipped to be in. Commercial diving (offshore, inland, or industrial facility) is an especially hazardous job that requires working long hours in dangerous and unpredictable conditions while donning bulky and expensive equipment. Both equipment and human divers may be subject to water temperatures that range from 80°F to sub-zero. Divers and ROV's are exposed to a variety of marine hazards like low visibility, plant life, marine animals, current or sea state. Concerning issues for divers specifically include the risk of drowning, respiratory and circulatory complications, and hypothermia. Often the water at these depths is murky, sometimes with a only foot or two of visibility (or none at all), making it difficult to be fully aware of one's surroundings (pipelines, structures, hoses, tools, and other equipment). This can result in a diver hitting their back, head, or equipment on any number of subsea obstructions. When a diver surfaces too quickly they risk Decompression Sickness (DCS or The Bends), which is one of the most critical and potentially deadly risks of working underwater.
ROV's are another option for subsea bolting operations. They are subject to many of the risks mentioned above for human divers, and face hazards of their own. ROV's are expensive and extremely complicated pieces of equipment requiring lots of support and maintenance for their many systems (hydraulic, electrical, computer, sonar, navigation, lights, and cameras). There is a high rate of maintenance time per hour of operation, and repairs or replacement can be very costly. A key piece of equipment, the arm-like manipulator (there are typically two per ROV), ranges from $500,000 to $650,000 (each), in addition to the high cost of the ROV itself.
Using Ecological Risk Assessment to Assess EMF Impacts to Marine Life From offshore Wind Infrastructure
Authors: Preziosi D. , Dawson D. , Flanary C. , Raghukumar K. , Eikenbary S. , Hull D. , Schultz C. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Offshore wind is a focal point of U.S. strategy for renewable energy, with several projects along the East, West and Gulf coasts slated to achieve a federal wind target of 30 gigawatts by 2030. Offshore wind projects will generate and transmit renewable energy, and certain components (e.g., buried cables) will generate both electric and magnetic fields, collectively referred to as EMF. Research has demonstrated that marine species across various taxa interact with EMF produced from both natural and anthropogenic sources. For species known to be sensitive to EMF (including certain finfish, the elasmobranch group, and benthic invertebrates), interaction with anthropogenically generated EMF may influence the detection of electric and magnetic fields used in foraging, avoidance, mate selection and migration. To evaluate the potential for impacts, we apply the standard framework for ecological risk assessment (ERA). This framework offers a systematic approach and appropriate context for assessing exposure and potential hazards to characterize risk. A conceptual model is used to describe sensitive species with the greatest potential for exposure, and the spatial and temporal scales of exposure. To estimate exposure, we use both open-source (EMF Python package) and commercially available software (COMSOL Multiphysics®) to mathematically model applicable direct current and alternating current EMF generated by various components (e.g., inter-array cables, export cables). Field strengths decline with distance from conductors but vary with parameters such as voltage, amperage, conductor diameter, and shielding. For each component, we then take predicted field strengths at different distances and compare them to effect screening levels for marine life. Application of the ERA framework dramatically improves the information used to inform preconstruction impact assessment for offshore wind. The method provides quantitative estimates of risk and allows for the comparison of how different management options, such as different burial depths and spacing of components, influence risks. An additional advantage of the approach is that it can be used to identify important areas where more information is needed, such as the need to better define the spatial and temporal scale of populations relevant to individual offshore wind projects and cumulative projects. We recommend the ERA framework be adopted more widely as a systematic process for capturing and integrating context-dependent information necessary for characterizing EMF risk for marine life.
Hydrate Non-Plugging Evaluation of Crude Oils in Varying Shear Environments
Authors: Greener O. V. , Castrejon-Miranda R. , Delgado-Linares J. , Koh C. , Palermo T. , Fidel-Dufour A. , Mateen K. , Afra S. , Turner D. , Johnston B. , Teixeira A. , Valim L. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Establishment of the tendency of crude oils to disperse hydrates formed during slurry transport is of foremost importance when designing and implementing mitigation strategies in the field. In this work, high pressure quantitative rheological measurements were compared with visual qualitative agglomeration rocking cell results to quantify the impact of shear on the non-plugging performance of a crude oil. Shear rate in the rocking cell apparatus was modeled using computational fluid dynamics simulations and allowed acquired rocking cell data to be compared to rheological data on the basis of shear rate. Rocking cell visual agglomeration data were found to agree qualitatively with measured rheology results using this crude oil. It was found that increasing shear rate in rheology experiments lowered the final value of relative viscosity of the slurry. Contact angle and film growth measurements allowed for an improved mechanistic agglomeration understanding to be developed in this work. The use of variable shear comparisons provide important insight into not only the capability of oils to transport hydrates naturally, but also the range of applicability of data acquired using various benchtop experimental equipment.
Considerations with Respect to the Technology and Economics of Nodule Offloading from a Deep-Sea Mining Production Vessel to a Transport Vessel in the Open Ocean, and Transportation to a Port for Offloading
Authors: Wodehouse Jim , Halkyard John , Anderson Michael Rae 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Application of Proven Technology to Nodule Offloading and Transport from a Deep-Sea Mining Production Vessel to a Transport Vessel in the Open Ocean, and the Evaluation of the Most Cost-Effective Overall Project Configuration for Typical Commercial Deep Sea Mining Scenarios.
Anchor Project: Best Practices and Lessons from Delivering the Offshore Installation Scope
Authors: Reiners, P. E. J. M. , Cheatham B. , Dampman B. A , Gaudet K. , Nakhle F. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The Anchor floating production unit (FPU) is a Chevron Gulf of Mexico (GOM) facility located in about 5,000 ft. of water with a nameplate capacity of 75,000 bopd and 28 mmscfd with future expansion capability. The Anchor development plan consists of seven high pressure wells tied back to the FPU through dual flowlines from two drill centers with produced oil and gas transported via export pipelines. This paper will touch on best practices and learnings from FPU transportation and installation, hook-up and commissioning (HUC), as well as subsea flowlines, export pipelines and subsea equipment installations.
This paper will explore the keys pillars that enabled the successful execution of the offshore scope. These include a carefully established contracting strategy, detailed multifunctional planning and management of interfaces, high performance focus in design and execution, disciplined scope and progress management and development of a strong project and safety culture.
The Anchor offshore installation campaigns commenced in the second quarter of 2021 with all major work scopes completed by end of 2023. HUC will be completed by the first half of 2024. By establishing broad installation windows, the project was able to adjust execution campaigns for optimal weather conditions and vessel availability. Additionally, this flexibility enabled the project to mitigate impacts caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic. The contracting strategy and focus on core contractor competencies further reduced potential risks.
Innovative solutions and actions taken to address the many challenges of executing a major capital project (MCP) that includes new technology during a global pandemic and market downturn will be discussed.
For clarity, the following terms are used throughout this paper. High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) refers to equipment rated to pressures greater than 15,000 psi and/or temperatures equal to or greater than 350°F. Anchor is a high pressure project under the HPHT category. 20K refers to the Anchor project's technology development and qualification program.
Monopile Penetration Through Scour Protection – Full Scale Testing and Discrete Element Analysis
Authors: Barbuntoiu T. , Thijssen R. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
There is no established methodology available in literature to assess the penetration resistance of (Mono)Piles through pre-laid scour protection, as concluded by Barbuntoiu (2021). Due to the lack of available literature, standard practices or industry guidelines on this topic, the authors performed in-house research on the subject. This paper deals with full scale testing performed to investigate the load-penetration behavior of armor rock. Tests comprised penetration of a steel pile section of a monopile into armor rock of two different gradings, placed on a sand bed in a 20 ft container. A DEM model with an equivalent setup was built and calibrated against the experimental test results and subsequently used to model a full size monopile case. Insight into the variability of penetration resistance was acquired by conducting multiple tests during the experimental and numerical modelling phases. Next to estimating self-weight penetration, knowing the penetration resistance over depth relation for a given scour protection layer provides an understanding of the penetration behavior of the pile at the transition zone between scour protection and seabed (i.e. potential for punch-through) and answers the question about necessity to use a piling hammer to penetrate the scour protection.
Non-Intrusive Separator Level Measurement – Towards the First Offshore Pilot
Authors: Gorski D. , Lieske U. , Neubeck R. , Bindingsbø A. U. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Non-intrusive measurement of level in process vessels such as oil and gas production separators offers opportunities to significantly decrease installation and maintenance costs as well as to increase personnel safety and instrument reliability. This has a positive effect on process efficiency and reduces emissions. Provided the measurement technique can offer insights into levels of solids, emulsion, and foam layers, non-intrusive level measurement could potentially become an enabling technology for additional extensions of asset lifetime. This is because a non-intrusive profiler would be a game-changer for process and production control on assets in operation where retrofitting such an instrument is today prohibitively expensive due to its intrusive character.
A novel non-intrusive level measurement technique that utilizes Guided Elastic Waves (GEW) has shown very promising results in laboratory and pilot scale. This paper describes its development, starting with idea and leading towards the first full-scale trial on an offshore installation. The last experimental results, obtained towards a TRL4 qualification with an operator company, show excellent level detection of solids and liquid levels with virtually no error. Induced liquid flow had no influence on the measurement results and the signal did not drift when the system was left running for a month.
In addition to describing the experimental results and the technology qualification process, this paper also provides some reflections on the prioritization with respect to development and testing in the different stages of the qualification process. The prioritization is based on risk and cost benefit evaluation.
Enhancing Offshore Installation Decision-Making Through the Integrated Application of Vessel Motion Based Criteria (VMBC) Methodology and Digital Tools
Authors: Gueret R. , Cooper D. , Moen J. M. , Nilsen-Aas C. , Sjøvaag H. S. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Optimized decision-making processes for offshore installation operations is paramount to ensure both safety and efficiency, dependent upon reliable evaluations of prevailing environmental conditions. Traditionally, operational determinations have depended on the consideration of significant wave height (Hs) and wave period (Tp) limits. However, a shift in this domain has been challenged by Subsea 7 through the inventive "Vessel Motion Based Criteria, VMBC" methodology.
The VMBC methodology encompasses two central tasks, jointly contributing to an integrated decision support structure:
First and foremost, the identification of variables steering installation activities, such as the dynamic behavior of flexible risers, optimal gooseneck landing speeds, and critical crane top tension, forms the bedrock. Then by establishing correlations between these key parameters and the vessel's motion at predefined points of interest, termed as control variables, a well-defined threshold for maximum allowable vessel motions is derived. This threshold, represented through extreme value statistical parameters and indicative of operational limits, forms the cornerstone of safe and efficient operation planning.
The second is the development of a digital tool mirroring real offshore processes, ensuring that insights derived are directly applicable to operational scenarios. The digital tool streamlines the data collection process of the latest weather forecast and sensor data and automates the calculation of activity feasibility. This is done by utilizing the potential of metocean forecast reports, encompassing directional wave spectra and the vessel's response amplitude operators (RAOs), to numerically assess probable motions many days in advance. This empowers offshore stakeholders to plan and assess upcoming activities based on accurate prediction of vessel response with the objective of reduced waiting on weather without compromising safety.
This paper introduces an enriched understanding of how the VMBC method is used in real life operations. A methodology is presented that integrates applied theory with sensor technology and cutting-edge digital tools to deliver a more refined perspective on offshore operation planning and control. The paper culminates in a use case presentation, spotlighting the VMBC method in action and opportunities for more accurate determination of operability. This practical illustration shows the method's tangible benefits and the value of its integration with digital tools.