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JIP Phase 1
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Phase 1 Objectives
Phase 1 CTRs
Awareness document
Aero-elastic interaction
Questionnaire
Offshore measurements
Acoustic simulation
Scale testing
Numerical modelling
Summary

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1.

JIP Phase 1 - Objectives

To increase awareness and understanding of the

phenomena

To provide guidelines for assets with existing flexible risers

To provide guidelines for operators looking to use flexible

risers
To develop a generic acoustic block
To assess possible remedial modifications to existing risers
To provide the industry with the information necessary to
redesign riser carcasses such that the phenomena no
longer occurs

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2.

JIP Phase 1 CTRs

Activity no.: 1

Description: Production for issue of a general awareness

document

Objectives:

Issue a general awareness document based on experience to date of

the phenomenon, to help operators determine whether they have the
flow induced pulsation problem, and if so, what immediate mitigation
measures can be employed.

Activities:

Using knowledge gained from recent investigation work, develop a

general awareness document, e.g. what are the risks, what immediate
measures can be taken, if you have the problem who to contact etc
Produce an article for publication on:
(i)the HSE website - Offshore Research Focus
(ii)UKOOA Bob Kyle (BV to contact)

Deliverables:

A short, concise document describing the phenomenon, what the risks

are, what to do about it, and what expertise you need to source.

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2.

JIP Phase 1 CTRs

Activity (CTR) Sheet
Activity no.: 2

Description: Assessment of Topsides and subsea measurement

data

Objectives:

To issue guidelines on what processing techniques and assessment

criteria should be used to analyse data recorded on subsea and
topsides pipework.

Activities:

Using knowledge gained from recent investigation work, summarise

measurement and analytical techniques for both subsea and topside
pipework.
Clearly specify what to measure, where to measure it, effect of
transducers on measurement, what data processing should be carried
out etc
Discuss with BP Aberdeen any progress they have made with regard to
subsea pipework measurement (hardware) systems.
Include an assessment of current subsea measurement system, i.e.
potential issues such real-time measurements, stress measurements,
cable-less data transmission.

Deliverables:

A concise report describing current and potential future measurements,

their analysis and assessment criteria.

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2.

JIP Phase 1 CTRs

Activity (CTR) Sheet

Activity no.: 3

Description: Riser vortex shedding theory development

Objectives:

Generate a comprehensive understanding of the flow induced pulsation excitation mechanism, for a range of
representative riser internal geometries, and the effect of process parameters and pipework configuration.

Activities:

1. Flow visualisation
2. Combined simulation and scale testing, to identify and characterise the source strength and pulsation,
(evaluate the Howe Integral and Strouhal number), as a function of riser geometry and gas process properties.
3. Carry out an analytical assessment of aero-elastic interaction.
4. Extend analytical modelling to riser systems where there has not been a problem.
5. Compare scale models results with data measured on offshore installations.
6. Scale testing using 4 and/or 6 riser carcass sections; at ambient and higher pressures; using different riser
profiles/suppliers; using air and natural gas; evaluate properties of carcass sections, e.g. damping; include any
ideas from brainstorming meeting (CTR 5); evaluate effect of line pressure is it gas specific?.
7. Analytical assessment of acoustic pulsation interaction with the topsides and subsea pipework, e.g. the effect
of source strength on whether lock-on occurs, and the effect of the topside pipework length (connected to riser).
A series of technical reports detailing the work undertaken, results, sources of data, any key assumptions,
conclusions and recommendations:
(i) flow visualisation tests;
(ii) scale test and analytical model results for standard 4 and 6 riser carcass sections;
(iii) aero-elastic interaction;
(iv) comparison of scale testing with offshore results;
(v) Final document to give guidelines as to when you are likely to have the problem, e.g. flowrates, riser
geometry, gas dryness, riser length, gas pressures etc.

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2.

JIP Phase 1 CTRs

Activity (CTR) Sheet

Activity no.:4

Description: Full scale testing data analysis

Objectives:

Identify common trends from actual recorded data

Activities:

Carry out detailed analysis of data recorded on Schiehallion and Asgard

(and other examples?), to identify common trends, for comparison with
theory development and scale testing results etc.
Develop a list of critical parameters

Deliverables:

A concise written technical report describing:

the work undertaken,
results and comparison with CTR 3 results
conclusions.
Quantitative results will be provided in graphical format, wherever
appropriate.

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2.

JIP Phase 1 CTRs

Activity (CTR) Sheet
Activity no.: 5

Description: Remedial riser modifications

Objectives:

Identify possible riser modifications to reduce the level of flow induced

pressure pulsation.

Activities:

Brainstorming meeting to include a mixture of practical and

theoretical experts from outside the JIP, experts within BP, Statoil and
Exxon, and suitable representatives from the flexible riser
manufacturers.
BV to generate E-mail describing problem, to be sent out to potential
experts for comment/review.
Participants to then propose experts for involvement in meeting.
Meeting to happen at second steering committee meeting (before scale
testing is complete).

Deliverables:

A short document listing potential options, and detailing those

considered investigating further.

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3.

Awareness document

Production of a general awareness document

on public side of website

widely distributed
referred to in issued questionnaires
requirement to re-issue at project end?

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4.

Aero-elastic interaction

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4.

Aero-elastic interaction
Conclusions
Structural modes (Ovaling and Longitudinal) of the riser
carcass do exist in the frequency range observed in
offshore testing

It is considered unlikely that aero-elastic interaction is part of the

primary excitation mechanism, but may play a part in mode
selection

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5.

Questionnaire analysis
Information

Information on 22 Risers
Flow information for 19
Full flow and riser details for 12 risers, such that detailed
analysis can be undertaken.

Comments
There are no clear trends based on riser gas velocity,
corrugation gap width or depth as to why one riser
resonates and not another

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Offshore measurements

Offshore data has been acquired for six flexible risers

Typical survey included:

Topside and subsea vibration

Topside dynamic stress at critical
locations
Topside dynamic pressure (where
achievable)

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Offshore measurements
Riser A Response vs Flow
600

20
18

500

14
400
12
300

10
8

Pressure (kPa rms)

Stress (MPa pk-pk) - vibn (mm/s rms)

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Vibn
Stress
Pres

200
6
4
100
2
0

0
0

10

12

14

16

18

20

Riser velocity, m/s

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Offshore measurements
Example Frequency vs Velocity
600

Response Frequency, Hz

500

400

300

200

100

0
0

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Riser Velocity, m/s

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Acoustic simulation
Analytical assessment of acoustic pulsation
Topsides
Subsea
To try and identify possible pipework sections with acoustic natural
frequencies that match the pressure pulsation frequencies

Results show good match between both topsides and subsea

natural frequencies, and frequencies of concern
Often simultaneously!
Also predicts modes which dont occur

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10. JIP Phase 1 summary
1. Increased general awareness of the problem
2. The source of the pressure pulsations is vortex shedding from
the corrugations of the carcass.
3. Identified that topsides and subsea piping acoustics are the
principal feedback mechanism.
4. In some cases, aero-elastic interaction possibly contributes to
the phenomenon.
5. At least 8 facilities worldwide are, or have been, subject to the
problem: also more may experience the problem in the future.
6. Have agreement from outside experts on the excitation and
response mechanisms.

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10. JIP Phase 1 summary
7. Able to reproduce effect in scale tests, in air at atmospheric
conditions, using machined profiles.
8. Starting to establish effect of carcass profile design, i.e. which
parameters are the most important in the vortex shedding
mechanism.
9. Numerical modelling has been able to predict parametric
trends observed in scale testing.
10. Understand that Boundary layer thickness is significant this
is dependent on pressure and gas composition.

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