Apparatuses and methods for monitoring stress in steel catenary risers
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsDenby MORRISON, Jeremy Dean
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention describes apparatuses and methods of monitoring fatigue, structural response, and operational limits in structural components. More particularly, the present invention relates to fatigue, response, and operational monitoring systems on steel catenary risers using optical fiber sensors. The sensors can be pre-installed on new risers, or post-installed sub-sea on existing risers, using a variety of methods
Claims16
An apparatus for monitoring fatigue, structural response, and operational limits on steel catenary risers comprising:
- a multi-strand optical cable that extends down the length of the riser;
- and
- a plurality of optical fiber strain sensors spaced circumferentially about a cross-section of the riser and attached to the outer surface of the riser, said sensors being connected to said optical cable.
An apparatus for monitoring fatigue, structural response, and operational limits on steel catenary risers having vortex suppression devices comprising:
- a multi-strand optical cable that extends down the length of the riser;
- and
- a plurality of optical fiber strain sensors spaced circumferentially about a cross-section of the riser and attached to the outer surface of the riser, said sensors being connected to said optical cable.
A method for monitoring fatigue, structural response, and operational limits on steel catenary risers comprising:
- providing a multi-strand optical cable that extends down the length of the riser;
- and
- installing a plurality of optical fiber strain sensors spaced circumferentially about a cross-section of the riser and attached to the outer surface of the riser, said sensors being connected to said optical cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.