Objective
Preliminary design of the swops vessel (see project 03101-80) had indicated the magnitude of riser angle and tension and associated operational procedures that could be expected in routine and emergency situations. This project sought, by both onshore and offshore testing, to prove the capability of the prototype swops subsea re-entry equipment to meet those conditions.
The testing programme has indicated some undesirable contact at the mating faces. Further design of the swops concept has indicated that the number of control ports at the surface should be increased. New components are to be manufactured and tested onshore, taking into account these aspects, and the resulting assemblies shall form the basis of the equipment to be used on the swops project.
The project was devided into two parts: stage 1 using a purpose -built test structure, and stage 2 using a semi-submersible drilling rig and dummy wellhead in the central north sea area. Stage 1 was conducted onshore using the prototype re-entry equipment and loads were applied by means of levers and hydraulic cylinders. Stage 2 utilised purpose-built components intended to simulate the swops riser design and was conducted offshore on a suspended drilling wellhead.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
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DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
EC24 9BU London
United Kingdom