Hybrid Buoyed Stayed Tower Riser Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hybrid towers face challenges in deepwater applications due to thermal insulation, structural integrity, weight control, and corrosion issues, which complicate maintenance, repair, and expansion of flowlines and risers, impacting operational flexibility and increasing costs.

Innovation Solution

The hybrid buoyed and stayed tower and riser assembly features a support structure with radially extending dividers, isolation valves, and syntactic foam for buoyancy, allowing for remote operation and coupling/uncoupling of riser lines using a remote-operated vehicle, and can be coupled with other towers via a structural truss for enhanced stability and expansion capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hybrid towers are used in deepwater applications, then operational flexibility is improved, but thermal insulation and structural integrity become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tower is divided into multiple sections with modular components that can be independently maintained and replaced. The flowline system is segmented into multiple risers that can be individually isolated and serviced without shutting down the entire operation, enabling deepwater applications while maintaining structural reliability through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material constructions for the tower structure and risers, combining materials with different properties to simultaneously achieve thermal insulation, structural integrity, and corrosion resistance. The hybrid construction integrates various materials to address the多重 challenges of deepwater operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If hybrid towers are used in deepwater applications, then operational flexibility is improved, but weight control becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidweight control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tower structure is segmented into multiple modular sections that can be assembled in a stepwise manner. This segmentation allows for optimized weight distribution and enables the use of lighter materials in non-critical areas while maintaining overall structural integrity, thus achieving weight control without sacrificing operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If hybrid towers are used in deepwater applications, then operational flexibility is improved, but corrosion issues increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidcorrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes composite material constructions for the tower and risers, combining materials with corrosion-resistant properties. The hybrid construction integrates materials that provide both the operational flexibility needed for deepwater applications and enhanced resistance to corrosion from corrosive products produced in these environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Duration of action of stationary object

If maintenance and repair of flowlines and risers is performed in deepwater fields, then production life is extended, but operational interruptions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction lifeVSAvoidcontinuous product flow

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flowline system is divided into multiple independent risers that can be individually isolated using isolation valves. This segmentation enables maintenance and repair operations on specific risers without interrupting flow through other risers, thereby extending production life while maintaining continuous product flow and avoiding operational interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

5Adaptability or versatility

If expansion of production capacity is desired in deepwater fields, then field development is enhanced, but cost-effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capacityVSAvoidcost-effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tower and flowline system are designed with modular, segmented components that can be independently added or removed. This modular architecture allows for incremental expansion of production capacity by adding individual risers or sections without requiring complete system replacement, thereby enhancing field development capabilities while maintaining cost-effectiveness through phased implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enables simplified construction and installation, maintains operational flexibility, allows for addition/removal of riser lines without interrupting production, and reduces environmental impact, while providing cost-effective expansion options for deepwater field developments.

Implementation Method 1

the syntactic foam is applied in an amount effective to provide buoyancy to the at least one of the riser line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS9121228B2Hybrid buoyed and stayed towers and risers for deepwater

Publication Date: 2015.09.01 FLUOR TECH CORP

AI summary

Contemplated hybrid riser towers are configured such that individual riser lines can be added or removed via submarine ROV. Most preferably, riser lines are made from a housing and syntactic foam that encloses a riser pipe to so provide insulation and buoyancy. In further preferred aspects, hybrid riser towers are coupled to each other via a truss to allow expansion via SCR and/or to provide a riser porch.