Guidelines on Composite Flexible Risers: Monitoring Techniques and Design Approaches

Abstract

The increasing energy demand has led to more explorations in the oil and gas industry. To achieve this, marine risers and pipelines are used to convey fluid and other resources to meet the increasing demand. In recent years, hybrid flexible composite risers have become more adaptable. Flexible risers have already proven to be a popular riser solution for various floating production systems in shallow to deepwater in many parts of the world due to their good dynamic behaviour and dependability. The hybrid flexible composite riser is made up of numerous layers of plastics, flexible pipes, composites, and steel. Some innovative monitoring methods, such as Fiber Optics Bragg Gratings (FBG), are based on a clamped composite structure with embedded optical fibre. This study presents characteristics of the monitoring techniques of composite flexible riser technology. The advantages of the monitoring techniques include aiding composite riser measurements, recording data from riser deformation, improving integrity assurance, and dependability of design from stable readings. It also proposes some design approaches as guidelines that are advised, with some policy implications.

Guidelines on Asset Management of Offshore Facilities for Monitoring, Sustainable Maintenance, and Safety Practices

“…However, more attention is required on aging structures and structures that are under life extensions or are undergoing structural integrity assessments. Sensors are also used to access the integrity and monitor different devices that are applied on offshore structures [ 109 , 171 ], such as marine risers, as seen in Figure 2 .…”

“…The potential places where it is safe to erect such a platform structure are largely limited by these forces [ 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 ]. Designing the platform system for unshielded offshore areas is important to maintain a large number of potential locations [ 169 , 170 , 171 ]. This calls for extremely high force resistance in the connection elements as well as consideration of the motion hydrodynamics [ 157 , 350 ].…”

“…However, another aspect of sensor application is presented in recent reviews on condition monitoring and fault diagnosis (CMFD) on offshore structures which include state-of-the-art applications and limitations of CMFD [ 121 , 363 ]. Some other reviews have been presented on structural health monitoring (SHM) systems for offshore platforms [ 171 , 364 , 365 , 366 , 367 ]. Different field monitoring projects can be seen in offshore platforms [ 367 , 368 ].…”

“…These offshore structures and their component attachments can be made from different construction materials, ranging from steel, composites, concrete, titanium alloys, and aluminium, to additive manufactured components [ 145 , 146 , 147 , 148 , 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 , 153 ]. Steel grades are used to construct most oil and gas platforms, hence the need for robust designs [ 154 , 155 , 156 , 157 , 158 , 159 , 160 ], skilled personnel for drilling/production activities [ 161 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 165 , 166 , 167 , 168 , 169 , 170 , 171 ], reliability analysis [ 172 , 173 , 174 , 175 , 176 , 177 , 178 , 179 ], and adequate corrosion control measures [ 180 , 181 , 182 , 183 , 184 , 185 , 186 , 187 , 188 ]. Offshore operations are conducted using industry standards like ISO, BS, NIS, API, ASTM, NORSOK, etc.…”

Review on Fixed and Floating Offshore Structures. Part II: Sustainable Design Approaches and Project Management

“…To ensure the integrity of the structure is maintained, monitoring is essential for the design [158,159]. Furthermore, the scale of an offshore structure is considered during the design for its stability and hydrodynamics [159][160][161][162][163]. The material density is also taken into account in the design.…”