Global Pipeline Buckling Symposium

 

23–24 February 2011 SUT Perth Two-day Symposium, Subsea Australasia Conference 2011, Perth, Australia

 

Overview

SUT Perth Branch organised their 1st International Symposium on the comprehensive
review of the non-linear bases and advanced analysis methods used in the design and installation of Subsea Pipelines on the 23rd and 24th February 2011 in Perth in conjunction with the Australian Oil and Gas (AOG) Exhibition. The central theme for the 2011 Symposium was pipeline susceptible to lateral buckling.

The assessment of HPHT subsea pipelines considering the mechanisms and effects of lateral buckling is a central feature of a large proportion of new pipeline systems. There is a trend to higher temperatures that may result in the design for lateral buckling methods that are valid only for more moderate temperatures. Research and development programmes, in the form of individual efforts and JIP’s have provided guidance on analysis methods. The use of limit state methodology, based on load-controlled and displacement-controlled criteria are now available to pipeline designers for FEED and detailed design.

Much of the design analysis is carried out using computer based methods, including finite element modelling. There is some guidance on these but as time goes on the pipeline systems, geotechnical modelling and incorporation of new materials become more complex and the current analysis methods may become invalid.

• This two-day Symposium aimed to provide a forum for leading exponents and interested pipeline engineers to meet and to present papers and participate in discussions related to the practice, current development and future research supporting design for lateral buckling.
• Enabled a comprehensive review of the current state of lateral buckling analysis and assessment.
• Provided a forum to enable interchange of views on future developments in design, installation and operation of HTHP pipeline systems.

 

Presentations

 

General

Global Pipeline Buckling – An Operator’s Perspective

Andrew Pearce, Woodside Energy Ltd

 

Measurement Techniques to Monitor Structure Settlements and Pipeline Movements

Bill Russel-Cargill, DOF Subsea

 

The Suitability of CRA Lined Pipes for Flowlines Susceptible to Lateral Buckling

Duncan Wilmot, Cladtek International

 

Design Guidance

Limit State and Lateral Buckling

Dr Andrew Palmer, National University of Singapore

 

SAFEBUCK – Lateral Buckling and Pipeline Walking Overview

David Leslie, Atkins Boreas

 

What Is Out There of Guidance: Pros, Cons and Future Development

Leif Collberg, DNV

 

Design Experience

Lateral Buckling Design and Field verification

Lim Kok Kien, J P Kenny

 

Experiences in Buckling Design of Pipeline Laid on Very Irregular Seabed

Knut Tørnes J P Kenny

 

Experiences and Learning Applied to Current Global Buckling Analyses

Emil Maschner, J P Kenny

 

Numerical Modelling Technique

Advanced Finite Elements Analysis of Pipe-in-Pipe Lateral Buckling in Deep Water Environments

Philip Cooper, IntecSea

 

Assessment of Numerical Modelling of HTHP Pipeline lateral Buckling with complex Soil Friction

Alastair Walker, IntecSea

 

Prediction and Mitigation of Pipe Walking on Flowline on Soft Soils and Sloping Seabeds

Colin McKinnon, J P Kenny

 

Mechanics of Pipe-Soil Interaction

SMARTPIPE Second Offshore Deployment: Observations of Axial Pipe/Soil Response

Hans Hanse, Fugro Survey Pty Ltd

 

Numerical Modelling of Pipe-Soil Interaction for Lateral Buckling

Prof David White, University of Western Australia

 

Two Geotechnical Aspects of Lateral Buckling Design: On-bottom Embedment, and Of-bottom Support Design

George Zhang, Advanced Geomechanics

 

Pipe-soil Force-Resultant plasticity models for analysis of lateral buckling: are they really needed?

Hendrik Falepin, Cathie Associates

 

Weld Fracture

Strain Capacity of CRA Lined Pipe Girth Welds for HPHT Flowline Applications

Philip Cooper, IntecSea

 

Global Offshore Prospects

 

17 February 2011 London Evening Meeting

Chairman Dr Bob Allwood, Chief Executive, SUT

Sponsored by Douglas-Westwood

 

Report

 

Flyer

 

Overview

Douglas-Westwood presented their latest annual ‘Global Offshore Prospects’ outlook. Director Steve Robertson and Senior Analyst Thom Payne examined the macroeconomic outlook for 2011 and beyond and presented the firm’s latest forecasts for activity and expenditure within the subsea and associated offshore sectors and technologies.

 

Global Offshore Prospects

 

17 February 2011 London Evening Meeting

Chairman Dr Bob Allwood, Chief Executive, SUT

Sponsored by Douglas-Westwood

 

Report

 

Flyer

 

Overview

Douglas-Westwood presented their latest annual ‘Global Offshore Prospects’ outlook. Director Steve Robertson and Senior Analyst Thom Payne examined the macroeconomic outlook for 2011 and beyond and presented the firm’s latest forecasts for activity and expenditure within the subsea and associated offshore sectors and technologies.

 

Meteorology

 

16 February 2011 Aberdeen Branch Evening Meeting

Chairmain David Kaye, Aquamarine Power

Sponsored by Aerospace & Marine International, Amarcon and StormGeo

 

Report

 

Flyer

 

Overview

Meteorological conditions have a huge impact on the offshore industry, through all of the design, construction, operation and decommissioning phases of an offshore development. This evening meeting looked at some of the key principles of offshore meteorology, including extreme weather forecasting for design and short-term forecasting for construction and operations, the new meteorological issues facing the emerging renewable industry and the topical issue of climate change. The meeting closed with a presentation and demonstration of weather monitoring and decision support system to optimise offshore operations.

 

Presentations

Forecasting for Design and Operations

Keith Thomson, Aerospace & Marine International (AMI)

For offshore operations the presentation gave a brief outline of weather forecast providers and their relationship to users of the forecasts, before explaining how global numerical models operate and how they are initialised with observational data. For design criteria an explanation of how observations of wave height are averaged and processed was given.

 

Meteorology for Renewables

Hilde Holdhus and Alan Binley, StormGeo

The presentation focused on meteorology for the offshore renewables industry. Accurate meteorological data and forecasting is essential to determine the optimum location of renewable devices and the expected revenue. Renewable devices are generally located in the inshore region with different meteorological characteristics and less operational experience than the more conventional offshore industry locations. This presentation addressed the key aspects of meteorology for renewables, including offshore wind and marine renewable sectors.

 

Climate Change, Variability and Data Trends

Ian Leggett, OceanExpert Ltd

Climate change continues to be a source of public debate. The principles are well known, however the impact on the offshore industry is less understood, even within the industry itself. This presentation addressed temperature changes through time, key concerns and impacts of climate change, trends/changes, science and perception and natural variability, and trends in North Sea wave heights.

 

Monitoring and Decision Support System for Weather-Sensitive Operations

Leon Adegeest, Amarcon

Once you have the weather forecast available, what will be the impact of the weather on the vessel? And how can you optimise the performance in the expected weather?

 

 

 

 

 

Salvage and Decommissioning

 

26 January 2011 North of England Branch Evening Meeting

Chairman Ian Frazer, GL Noble Denton

Sponsored by GL Noble Denton

 

Report

 

Flyer

 

Overview

The very term ‘Design Life’ predicts a precipice at some future date against which all engineering and financial calculations are derived – and yet what shall actually be involved in removing the structures, that were often a feat of ingenuity to install in the first place, is all too frequently considered as a distant problem. Decommissioning, however, is already taking place and increasing in volume. There is disquiet within the oil and gas industry which has been caught largely unprepared for the challenge, let alone the opportunity.

The SUT’s newly formed Salvage and Decommissioning Committee and its interactive Special Interest Group were established in February 2010 to help address this situation, by bringing together the offshore, marine salvage and scientific sectors in order to exchange technologies, methodologies, ideas and information.

This evening meeting began with a brief overview of aims of the Committee and the means by which it intends stimulate activity, before highlighting specific aspects of practical work.

 

Presentations

Global Decommissioning Opportunities

Brian Twomey, Managing Director, Reverse Engineering Limited

Brian gave a global market overview which contained a summary of the structures to be decommissioned and an estimate of market value and timing.

 

Synergies between Decommissioning, Wreck Removal and Cargo Recovery

Moya Crawford, Managing Director, Deep Tek Ltd

The international salvage community forms a responsive, risk-based industry that removes structures and recovers property from the seabed as part of its everyday work, using a wide range of equipment, cutting and lifting techniques. The presentation discussed the synergies and highlighted some of the applications.

 

Overview of North Sea Decommissioning Campaigns

Don Orr, Principal Engineer, GL Noble Denton

A substantial number of offshore facilities have now been removed from the North Sea. The presentation explored the variety of structures decommissioned and the range of techniques employed. This was demonstrated using experience from 3 decommissioning campaigns supported by GL Noble Denton over the last 3 years.

 

HPHT

 

20 January 2011 London Evening Meeting

Chairman Dr Bob Allwood, Chief Executive, SUT

Sponsored by Subsea Communities and supported by Acteon

 

Report

 

Flyer

 

Overview

HPHT fields and projects pose unique operating challenges that we believe the industry can overcome together. To address this, Acteon is building an industrial community where knowledge and experience can be shared for the benefit of all involved. This evening’s meeting is hosted by Will Rowley, Acteon Group, Analyst responsible for the Acteon Subsea Communities. The evening’s speakers presented information on HPHT (Seabed to Surface) that would typically be presented at a Community Event.

 

Presentations

HPHT Trends, Definitions and Issues

Will Rowley, Group Analyst, Acteon

Drawing on recently correlated data, this presentation provided an overview of current trends and influences in regards to HPHT projects and field developments. It  also introduced the Acteon led HPHT (Seabed to Surface) Industrial Community, highlighting the aims and benefits of working together to overcome the challenges that the industry will face in the future.

 

HPHT Subsea Design

John McGrail, Director, 2H Offshore

As a global engineering contractor that specialises in the design and structural analysis of risers and conductor systems, 2H has direct experience of the key challenges of designing subsea equipment for HPHT service. John identified and discussed the difficulties faced in the design of riser and flowline systems for HPHT conditions, highlighting the technologies and step changes required for future progress.

 

Riser Systems and Connection Options

Rick Moralee, Sales Manager, Claxton Engineering

Holding one of the largest jack-up drilling riser stocks in Europe, Claxton is at the forefront of HPHT riser system operation and deployment. This presentation provided an overview of HP drilling riser systems with particular attention to connection options and the associated operational advantages.

 

Global Market Outlook – The Energy Sector

19 January 2011 Aberdeen Branch Lunch Seminar

Chairman Alistair Birnie, CEO, Subsea UK

Sponsored by Infield and Quest Offshore

 

Overview

Over the past two years there has been significant fluctuations in the global energy market, caused by the financial situation/global recession, which in turn has affected energy prices.

However 2011 would appear to be the turning point and this evening meeting’s presentations reviewed the opinions of two major market analysts and their viewpoint for 2011 and beyond. This included a debate on the impact to the UK’s subsea industry but more importantly the overall global market.

 

Presentations

Kader Dicko, Analyst, Infield

As the oil and gas industry is slowly recovering from the global financial crisis and the Macondo disaster, albeit with a looming fear of a double dip recession due to the European sovereign debt crisis, the global subsea and offshore construction market shows some promising signs of revival in the near future. Strengthening oil prices and rising tendering activities for subsea production systems and offshore construction activities will eventually improve the market in the medium term on the back of higher project sanctioning. Whilst contract awards in the North Sea have been slow to pick up in 2010, we expect a more buoyant level of activity from late 2011/early 2012. The aim of this presentation was to illustrate the current state and medium term outlook of the subsea and offshore construction market on a global scope.

Caitlin Shaw, Director Market Research & Data Division, Quest

Quest Offshore, a leading provider for deepwater market intelligence, focused this presentation on the future of the global subsea market. The subsea market has been truly dynamic in the past few years as the industry adjusts to a number of global events, but with growing confidence in the future, activity is expected to regain significant momentum. THe presentation explained to attendees where the market has come from in recent years and how that will change in the future and the drivers behind those changes.