66 / 2021-10-15 17:48:34

Dimensional Analysis Modeling of the Riser Interference Behavior for a Novel Deepwater Artificial Seabed (DAS) Production System

Artificial seabed, riser interference, wake interference, dimensional analysis, deepwater

A novel deepwater artificial seabed (DAS) production system is developed to overcome limitations for petroleum production in deep and ultra-deep waters, where the challenges are characterized by the depth of water and harsh environmental conditions. Top tensioned risers (TTRs), which bridge the subsurface wellheads on the artificial seabed and subsea wellheads on the geological seabed, are pivotal structures of the DAS production system. Nonetheless, owning to the compliant nature of TTRs, interference between neighboring risers is a critical design challenge and thus of great operational concern. This paper presents a dimensional analysis modeling approach for investigating the riser interference behavior of the novel DAS production system, taking into account the effects of a mass of key design, environmental and operational parameters. An entire list of dimensionless groups containing input and output parameters are established firstly on the basis of the Vaschy-Buckingham theory. Further, a series of numerical models are established in order to valid the established dimensionless groups. On this basis, a large number of numerical simulations are carried out to investigate the effects of each dimensionless parameter on the riser interference behavior. The results of this study determine the relative importance of various parameters on the riser interference behavior, which lays the foundation for the further optimum design of TTRs on the DAS production system. The proposed approach provides an effective tool for key parameters control, and has a wide ranging applicability in reference to the parametric sensitivity analysis of existing offshore structures.