Riser Systems – Latest Design Challenges and Developments

17 September 2009 London Evening Meeting

Chairman Dr Hugh Howells, Principal Director, 2H Offshore Engineering
Sponsored by 2H Offshore and SRP

Report by Dr Bob Allwood

Flyer

Overview

Risers are used for the development of offshore hydrocarbons from exploration drilling though to production. Challenges are constantly arising from the increasing design requirements of deeper water, more extreme fluid properties and the demands placed on the vessels. Some of the issues being faced and the engineering design and equipment solutions derived to address these challenges were presented.

Presentations

Freestanding Riser Systems

John McGrail, Director, 2H Offshore Engineering

The freestanding riser has become a commonly used configuration for transporting between the seabed and production vessel in deepwater developments. John gave an overview of the systems developed to date, the changing applications, main design challenges and details of some recently developed methods to simplify the design, fabrication and installation.

Monitoring and Instrumentation

Sandip Ukani, Instrumentation Manager, 2H Offshore Engineering Ltd

Many attempts to minitor riser systems have proved both costly and unreliable. However, against a background of aging and novel systems, an increasing need to monitor response in service has arisen, to ensure ongoing integrity. This has led to the development of more robust and reliable systems, which are used routinely. Sandip gave an overview of the different types of monitoring devices and systems being used together with details of new equipment that is being developed to assist in riser integrity management.

Novel Drilling Riser Connection Systems

Simon Luffrum, Managing Director, Subsea Riser Products (SRP)

The need to install drilling risers on a joint by joint basis presents many design and operational challenges. Connection systems must be reliable under repeated use, resistant to rough handling and simple and safe to make-up. Simon described the design and development of two novel drilling riser connection systems that have been developed, based around the conventional flange, that offer simplified installation and high pressure applications.