Objective The object of the project is to develop the design of a production riser linking the riser base on the sea bottom to the floating production facility (which could be either a tanker or a semisubmersible platform)in water depths ranging from 1000 to 3000 meters. Since the weight of the riser is a major parameter in such water depths, the riser is made of lightweight tubulars called "composite pipes"using newly developed technology of carbon and glass fibers. The composite pipes are suspended from a subsurface buoy, which is linked by flexible pipes to the surface facility to accommodate its motions.The results of the design effort is a compliant production riser for water depths ranging fro 1000 to 3000 meters.The main features of the riser are :- the lower section includes carbon/glass fiber composite pipes- installation and maintenance do not require deep diving- the riser is designed to stay connected in the most severe environment- each tubular and flexible are individually retrievable.The riser has been fully engineered by a detailed analysis and by prototype testing of newly developed components.The riser is divided into two sections :- The lower vertical rigid section is made of tubes and installed using typical drilling methods. This section includes a central core and some 11 peripheral lines made of composite pipes. The central core is the structural element of the riser. It is made of steel,the present degree of development of composite pipes being not compatible with the required specifications. All lines are hydraulically connected to a riser base and held in tension by a subsurface buoy. Tubular transition pieces couple the pperipher lines to the flexible pipes of the upper section.- The upper flexible section consists of a linear arrangement of flexible pipes terminating at the floating production facility. For a shipshape vessel, this termination is into a buoy plug mechanically latched in the ship turret.The project consisted in three phases:- an overall study to determine the main parameters governing the behaviour of the riser and establish the specifications for all its elements. This study included the development of new numerical tools and adaptation of existingones.- the preliminary design of the riser elements and their installation procedures:bottom connectors..- the design of the composite pipes for all functions:gathering, water injection, gas injection, gas lift, etc.. and tests of representative prototypes. Programme(s) ENG-HYDROCARB 1C - Programme (EEC) of Community projects in the hydrocarbons sector, 1973-1985 Topic(s) 1.9 - PRODUCTION SYSTEMS Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme DEM - Demonstration contracts Coordinator GERTH EU contribution No data Address 232 AV. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE 92500 Rueil Malmaison France See on map Total cost No data
