Vibration damping subsea tubular system
AssigneeMitchell Z. Dziekonski
InventorMitchell Z. Dziekonski
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Abstract
A subsea tubular system comprises extended sections of a first material and interposed sections of a second, different material that aids in damping vibration resulting from subsea dynamic conditions such as current. The vibration damping sections may make up a portion of the overall system significantly less than the sections of the first material. The number, length, and positions of the vibration damping sections may be selected based on factors such as the diameter, overall length, profile, and so forth. The system may be used as a riser or other conduit for the production of minerals such as oil and gas.
Claims18
A subsea tubular system comprising:
- a plurality of tubular sections made of steel and joined end-to-end to form a flow path for liquids from a subsea well;
- a plurality of vibration damping tubular sections made of a titanium alloy interposed between the tubular sections to form part of the flow path;
- wherein titanium alloy has mechanical properties that damp vibration of the tubular system when subjected to underwater currents;
- and
- wherein the tubular sections have a first wall thickness and the vibration damping tubular sections have a second wall thickness different from the first wall thickness.
A subsea riser system comprising:
- a plurality of steel tubular sections joined end-to-end to form a flow path for liquids from a subsea well;
- a plurality of titanium alloy vibration damping tubular sections interposed between the tubular sections to form part of the flow path;
- wherein the steel tubular sections have a first wall thickness and the titanium alloy vibration damping tubular sections have a second wall thickness different from the first wall thickness.
A method for reducing vibration in a subsea riser system comprising:
- connecting a plurality of steel tubular sections end-to-end to form a flow path for liquids from a subsea well;
- connecting a plurality of titanium alloy vibration damping tubular sections interposed between the tubular sections to form part of the flow path;
- wherein the steel tubular sections and the titanium alloy vibration dampening tubular sections reduce vibration in from subsea currents based on density and modulus of elasticity of the titanium alloy vibration dampening tubular sections;
- and
- wherein the steel tubular sections have a first wall thickness and the titanium alloy vibration damping tubular sections have a second wall thickness different from the first wall thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.