Increased interest in deepwater and ultra-deepwater field development is leading the industry to revisit the standard design and testing methods of production risers. The main challenges involved in a deepwater project are the riser...
moreIncreased interest in deepwater and ultra-deepwater field development is leading the industry to revisit the standard design and testing methods of production risers. The main challenges involved in a deepwater project are the riser sizing, management of external pressure at maximum water depth with acceptable weight to keep low stress at riser-vessel interface, the riser/vessel dynamic interaction and riser installation. The most critical areas on the riser system are the top section, where most of the damage occurs, and the touchdown zone. While the second area can be addressed by effective riser design, the connection to the production facility is always required and it must be sufficiently strong to provide an appropriate fluid containment. A connector failure can lead to highly flammable fluid leakage, putting in danger the entire production vessel and the surrounding environment. Technological advancements are leading to new equipment layouts with more efficient materials selection. The top section and connector can be subjected to different kinds of loads and environment induced degradation. Applying the actual standards is sometimes difficult due to the fact that they generally are too conservative. With the objective
