Session: 04-01-06 Flexible Pipes VI

Submission Number: 176413

Global and Local Finite Element Analysis of Thermoplastic Composite Pipe Installation As Production Tubing 

In the offshore oil and gas industry, new technologies are continuously explored to overcome the limitations of conventional solutions. In this context, Thermoplastic Composite Pipes (TCPs) have gained increasing attention as alternatives to traditional steel-based pipes, offering benefits such as reduced weight, improved corrosion resistance, and the potential for longer continuous lengths. While TCPs have been investigated for various subsea applications, their use as production tubing inside wells remains relatively new, requiring detailed investigation to ensure structural integrity during installation and operation. The installation of TCPs presents challenges, including the interaction between top tension requirements, local crushing effects, and dynamic environmental loads. This work presents a global finite element (FE) analysis of TCP installation as vertical production tubing, modeled in the in-house Anflex® software to simulate static and dynamic scenarios under different wave and current conditions. Local models are used to extract mechanical properties, such as axial, bending, and torsional stiffness, and to verify failure indices at critical sections. The analysis also incorporates a crushing model to represent the interaction with the tubing and tensioner. Key parameters investigated include minimum bending radius (MBR), instability points, tensile forces, and dynamic amplification factors. In addition, the influence of different lay-up configurations and the effect of additional equipment weights at the upper and lower sections are evaluated. The results highlight the importance of combining global installation analysis with focused local analyses to establish safe installation ranges for TCP production tubing. The proposed methodology contributes to advancing the design reliability and safety of TCP applications in deepwater environments.

Presenting Author: Inês Freitas Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ

Presenting Author Biography: Civil Engineer and Ph.D. candidate at COPPE/UFRJ, where she conducts research at the Laboratory of Offshore Structures Analysis and Reliability (LACEO). Her work focuses on the structural analysis of thermoplastic composite, flexible, and hybrid pipes for offshore oil and gas applications.

Authors:

Inês Freitas Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ
José Renato Sousa Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ
Alexandre Cunha Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ
Winston Gama Petrobras
Charlton Souza Petrobras