Structural analysis of control lines of offshore platforms using the finite elements method

Abstract

The increase of oil demand has brought with it the need of look for it in increasingly deep and complex waters to be exploited. Due to this challenge there was a huge technological development enabling explorations in difficult access spots. However, these are involved in major risk situations that can cause environmental damages and partial or total production loses. Bearing this in mind, this project aims to anticipate structure failure of umbilical cables due the movement of the offshore platforms induced by external environmental character actions. Three-dimensional computational analysis (3D) using the finite elements method is one way to test the cables reliability however if to consider its complete length this analysis becomes economically unfeasible. For this reason, analysis considering its partial length were done to enable the process.