Session: 04-01-04 Flexible Pipes and Umbilicals IV

Submission Number: 157605

Analysis of Subsea Umbilical Installation Under Radial Compression and Axial
Tensile Loading 

Recent developments in oil and gas exploration and production in ultra-deep waters have heightened the need for design analysis to install umbilical cables. In these scenarios, such structures are installed under high tensile and crushing loads being important to correctly model the cable response in view of the generated stress and strain fields. Most studies from the area have only focused on analysing the concept and the design project of these umbilical. The failures caused by the passage of the umbilical through the tensioners of the ships, maximum number of permissible installation/removal operations and the functional failure conditions of the tested systems were not satisfactorily evaluated. This paper describes the experimental tests and the results that were obtained in samples of umbilical of TPU and STU types, to evaluate the traction, radial compression, displacement, friction, and resistance to collapse, in similar conditions to field installation. The experimental tests were carried out in a mechanical apparatus and in a hyperbaric chamber by monitoring the functionality of each umbilical layer. These tests were used to calibrate a two dimensions nonlinear FE models, to determine physical parameters that cannot be measured in an experiment, considering the complexity of those structures. Among the results obtained are the resulting deformed sections after the application of combined installation loads as long as the validation of the radial strength previously assumed to model such structures. It is concluded that the effect of installation loads can be more severe than predicted.

Presenting Author: Ilson Pasqualino COPPE/UFRJ

Presenting Author Biography: Ilson Paranhos Pasqualino graduated as a Naval Engineer in February 1989 by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. In March 1990, he joined the Graduate School of the same University, where he completed his master’s degree in Ocean Sciences in April 1993. He continued his studies at COPPE / UFRJ, where he received a PhD in Sciences in Oceanic Engineering, in October 1998. His main areas of interest are experimental tests for the qualification of subsea and well completion equipment, structural integrity analysis with focus on fatigue and limit resistance and the use of non-metallic materials for naval and offshore engineering applications. He is currently Associate Professor at the Polytechnic School of UFRJ, Full Professor at COPPE / UFRJ for the Ocean Engineering Department and coordinator of the experimental area of Subsea Technology Laboratory at COPPE/UFRJ. He is a member of the Experimental Tests Committee of the International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress and a member of the Standing Committee of the Congress Practical Design of Ships and Other Structures.