Session: 11-06-01 Production Systems and Subsea Operations

Paper Number: 126528

126528 - Computer Simulation of Laboratory Experiments With Two-Phase Slug Flow Induced Oscillations on a Submerged Flexible Catenary Pipe 

Experiments were conducted for the oscillations of a submersed suspended flexible pipe excited by the internal two-phase slug flow of liquid and gas. Computer simulations have been carried out with proprietary numerical tools to evaluate suitable modeling methods to deal with pipe oscillations. The experiment was conducted with a pipe set in a catenary configuration inside a two meters deep water tank. Water and air were injected into the pipe at its bottom end with various flow rates combinations, leading to the formation of horizontal slug flow patterns. The slug two-phase flow generated intermittent loads on the pipe promoting its oscillation, and cameras monitored the dynamic response of the pipe. Processing the video images frames generated time-history records of the movement of the pipe. In this paper, computer simulations were performed to determine the frequencies and amplitudes of the pipe oscillations, which were compared to those from the experiment. A proper scaling up of experimental results with the support of computer simulations should be helpful for the analysis and design of suspended risers employed in offshore petroleum platforms carrying up oil and gas from petroleum reservoir wells to floating production facilities.

Keywords: two-phase slug flow, petroleum production, subsea pipeline, riser, computer simulation, experimental work.

Presenting Author: Celso K. Morooka University of Campinas

Presenting Author Biography: Graduated in Mechanical Engineering Technology - Design at the Faculty of Technology of São Paulo (FATEC-SP / 2010) and is a Master's Degree Canditate in Sciences and Petroleum Engineering from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Has experience in Naval and Oceanic Engineering and Mechanical Design.

Authors:

Caio C. O. Trigo University of Campinas
Celso K. Morooka University of Campinas
Sergio N. Bordalo University of Campinas
Marcio Yamamoto National Maritime Research Institute