• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.287-312
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• 2023

The global performance of a 15 MW floating offshore wind turbine, a newly designed semisubmersible floating foundation with multiple heave plates by CNOOC, is investigated with two independent turbine-floater-mooring coupled dynamic analysis programs CHARM3D-FAST and OrcaFlex. The semisubmersible platform hosts IEA 15 MW reference wind turbine modulated for VolturnUS-S and hybrid type (chain-wire-chain with clumps) 3×2 mooring lines targeting the water depth of 100 m. The numerical free-decay simulation results are compared with physical experiments with 1:64 scaled model in 3D wave basin, from which appropriate drag coefficients for heave plates were estimated. The tuned numerical simulation tools were then used for the feasibility and global performance analysis of the FOWT considering the 50-yr-storm condition and maximum operational condition. The effect of tower flexibility was investigated by comparing tower-base fore-aft bending moment and nacelle translational accelerations. It is found that the tower-base bending moment and nacelle accelerations can be appreciably increased due to the tower flexibility.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.153-172
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• 2014

In order to investigate the effect of different perforation angles (the angle between the perforation direction and the maximum horizontal principal stress) on the fracture initiation and propagation during hydraulic fracturing of highly deviated well in oil & gas saturated formation, laboratory experiments of the hydraulic fracturing had been carried out on the basis of non-dimensional similar criteria by using 400^3 $mm^3$ cement cubes. A plane fracture can be produced when the perforations are placed in the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress. When the perforation angle is $45^{\circ}$, the fractures firstly initiate from the perforations at the upper side of the wellbore, and then turn to the maximum horizontal principal stress direction. When the well deviation angle and perforation angle are both between $45^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$, the fractures hardly initiate from the perforations at the lower side of the wellbore. Well azimuth (the angle between the wellbore axis and the maximum horizontal principal stress) has a little influence on the fracture geometries; however it mainly increases the fracture roughness, fracture continuity and the number of secondary fractures, and also increases the fracture initiation and propagation pressure. Oriented perforating technology should be applied in highly deviated well to obtain a single plane fracture. If the well deviation angle is smaller, the fractures may link up.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.465-481
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• 2017

Thermal effect has great influence on wellbore stability in Dongfang 1-1 (DF 1-1) gas field, a reservoir with high-temperature and high-pressure. In order to analyze the wellbore stability in DF1-1 gas field, the variation of temperature field after drilling was analyzed. In addition, the effect of temperature changing on formation strength and the thermal expansion coefficients of formation were tested. On this basis, a wellbore stability model considering thermal effect was developed and the thermal effect on fracture pressure and collapse pressure was analyzed. One of the main challenges in this gas field is the decreasing temperature of the wellbore will reduce fracture pressure substantially, resulting in the drilling fluid leakage. If the drilling fluid density was reduced, kick or blowout may happen. Therefore, the key of safe drilling in DF1-1 gas field is to predict the fracture pressure accurately.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.77-89
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• 2015

As the exploitation of oil and gas resources advances into deeper waters and harsher environments, the design and analysis of the flexible risers has become the research focus in the offshore engineering filed. Due to the complexity of the components and the sliding between the adjacent layers, the bending response of the flexible risers is highly non-linear. This paper presents the finite element analysis of the flexible risers under bending loads. The detailed finite element model of the flexible riser is established in ABAQUS software. This finite element model incorporates all the fine details of the riser to accurately predict its nonlinear structural behavior. Based on the finite element model, the bending moment-curvature relationships of a flexible riser under various axisymmetric loads have been investigated. The results have been compared with the analytical ones obtained from the literature and good agreements have been found. Moreover, the stress of the tendon armors has been studied. The non-linear relationship between the armor tendons' stress and the bending loads has been obtained.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.53-57
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• 2007

High oil prices and high demand supporting IOC move to frontier and NOC evolution. Most frontier area reserves are in NOC territory. IOCs need to be able to manage relationships with NOCs in order to be successful. They need to tune into what NOC priorities are. NOCs have different priorities depending on whether they are resource rich or resource poor. IOCs need to recognize $NOCs^{\circ}{\emptyset}$ priorities and differentiate themselves by using them when talking to NOCs.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.129-141
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• 2016

Due to the structural complexity, the response of a flexible riser under axisymmetric loads is quite difficult to determine. Based on equilibrium conditions, geometrical relations and constitutive equations, an analytical model that can accurately predict the axisymmetric behavior of flexible risers is deduced in this paper. Since the mutual exclusion between the contact pressure and interlayer gap is considered in this model, the influence of the load direction on the structural behavior can be analyzed. Meanwhile, a detailed finite element analysis for unbonded flexible risers is conducted. Based on the analytical and numerical models, the structural response of a typical flexible riser under tension, torsion, internal and outer pressure has been studied in detail. The results are compared with experimental data obtained from the literature, and good agreement is found. Studies have shown that the proposed analytical and numerical models can provide an insightful reference for analysis and design of flexible risers.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.289-303
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• 2016

With more than 100 years exploration and development of offshore oil, more and more offshore oil fields will gradually lose the economic profit to operate. In this article, to take the target oil field for example, the procedure of decommissioning for FPSO, TCMS, subsea system and well abandonment have been analyzed. Meanwhile, the environment impact and mitigation measure have been proposed. The successful project experience will provide a guide line for the offshore facilities decommissioning and abandonment.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.463-483
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• 2013

Considering the influences of fluid penetration, casing, excavation processes of wellbore and perforation tunnels, the seepage-deformation finite element model of oil and gas well coupled with perforating technique is established using the tensile strength failure criterion, in which the user-defined subroutine is developed to investigate the dynamic evolvement of the reservoir porosity and permeability. The results show that the increases of perforation angle and decreases of perforation density lead to a higher fracture initiation pressure, while the changes of the perforation diameter and length have no evident influences on the fracture initiation pressure. As for initiation location for the fracture in wellbore, it is on the wellbore face while considering the presence of the casing. By contrast, the fractures firstly initiate on the root of the tunnels without considering casing. Besides, the initial fracture position is also related with the perforation angle. The fracture initiation position is located in the point far away from the wellbore face, when the perforation angle is around $30^{\circ}$; however, when the perforation angle is increased to $45^{\circ}$, a plane fracture is initiated from the wellbore face in the maximum horizontal stress direction; no fractures was found around perforation tunnels, when the angel is close to $90^{\circ}$. The results have been successfully applied in an oilfield, with the error of only 1.1% comparing the fracture initiation pressure simulated with the one from on-site experiment.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.599-616
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• 2021

The semi-submersible with three circular columns is an original concept of efficient multifunctional platform, which can be used for marginal oil, gas field, and Floater of Wind Turbines (FOWT). However, under certain flow conditions, especially in uniform current with specific velocities, the eddies will alternatively form and drop behind columns, resulting in the fluctuating lift force and drag force. Consequently, the semi-submersible will subject to the Flow-Induced Motions (FIM). Based on the Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) method, the numerical studies were carried out to understand the FIM characteristics of the three-column semi-submersible at two different parameters, i.e., current incidences (0°, 30°, and 60°-incidences) and reduced velocities (4 ≤ U_r ≤ 14). The results indicate that the lock-in range of 6 ≤ U_r ≤ 10 for the transverse motions is presented, and the largest transverse non-dimensional nominal amplitude is observed at 60°-incidence, with a value of A_y/D = 0:481. The largest yaw amplitude A_yaw is around 3.0° at 0°-incidence in the range of 8 ≤ U_r ≤ 12. The motion magnitude is basically the same as that of a four-column semi-submersible. However, smaller responses are presented compared to those of the three-column systems revealing the mitigation effect of the pontoon on FIM.