Modeling the Mechanical Behaviour of a Subsea Guide Base Subject to Installation and Operations Loads

Abstract:

Historically, the guide cable system for installation of subsea oil production equipment has proven its efficiency. These cables extend from the rig to the wellhead, which are fixed to the guide base posts and will be subject to loads during the installation and operation of the production equipment. The majority of guide base designs have been calculated by analytical methods, although they allow obtaining exact answers in all infinite points of a structure, they are not applicable to all cases. This motivated the application of finite element analysis method (FEA) in this work, which from the development of approximate procedures can be applied regardless of the structure shape and loading conditions. This paper consists of a structural analysis of the guide base frame model, generated in Autodesk Inventor® software and analyzed in ANSYS® Workbench. The study brings a diagnostic research using a quantitative and exploratory approach. Different mathematical models were generated to obtain the results at the most critical points of the structure in order to determine its resistance to the loads applied during installation and operation, taking into account the criteria laid down in DNV 2.7-3, API 17D 1st Ed and von-Mises equivalent stress.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 268-270)
• Pages: 741-748
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.268-270.741
• Online since: December 2012
• Authors: José Felipe Braz, Luiz Eduardo Nicolini do Patrocínio Nunes, Francisco José Grandinetti, José Rui Camargo, Valesca Alves Correa
• Keywords: ANSYS^®, Finite Element Analysis Method, Structural Analysis, Subsea Guide Base

References

[1] API 17D 1st Ed. - Specification for Subsea Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment, 1992.

[2] Filho, A. A. Elementos Finitos: A Base da Tecnologia CAE, 5a Ed., 2008.

[3] Lotti, R. S. et. al – Aplicabilidade Científica do Método de Elementos Finitos, 2006.

[4] Kanarachos, S.; Demosthenous, G. Modeling the mechanical behavior of composite metal plastic pipes subject to internal pressure and external soil and traffic loads, 2006.

[5] Defilippo, F .B. Geração automática de modelos de elementos finitos para análise de estruturas reticuladas na exploração de petróleo offshore, 2007.

DOI: 10.11606/d.3.2005.tde-24102023-100750

[6] DNV No. 2.7-3 - Standard for Cerification - Portable Offshore Units, 2006.

[7] Beer, F.P.; Johnston JR, E. R. Resistência dos Materiais, 3a Ed., 2007.

[8] Documentation for ANSYS® Workbench – Release 11.0, 2007.