Topic Indices and Site Maps Search - Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Home - Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
 
 
Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R) Projects Listed by Number
Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R) Program
Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R) International Activities
Oil Spill Response Research Program
Renewable Energy Research
Renewable Energy Test Tank
Operational Safety and Engineering Research
Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R) Projects Listed by Category
Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R) Workshops
How to Request Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R) Reports
How to Submit Research Proposals
Offshore Energy and Minerals Management Homepage
5-Year OCS Leasing Program
Environmental Stewardship
ECON
GOMESA Revenue Sharing
International Activities
Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP)
Jobs
Leasing
Mapping and Data
Leasing Moratorium Information
Offshore Safety
Offshore Stats & Facts
Operations
Past 5-Year Programs
Penalties
Regulatory Compliance
Renewable Energy Program
Research
Resource Evaluation
2006 National Assssment
2006 National Assessment Map
Contact Us
Navy Spacer
Alaska Region
Atlantic
Gulf of Mexico
Pacific Region
Navy Spacer
 
 Hot Topics:

   NEW Reforms

   Ocean Energy
   Safety Advisory
   Committee

   Notice to Lessees

    Well Permits and
   Plans

    Investigations and
   Review Unit

   Deepwater Horizon
   Library & Reading
   Room
  
Navy Spacer
 
 Contact:
    OEMM Web Team
  
Navy Spacer
 
Technology Assessment & Research (TA&R) Program
 
Project Number 304
Date of Summary January 24, 2007
Subject Avoidance of Vibration Fatigue Failure in Process Piping Systems
Performing Activity Marine Technology Directorate (MTD)
Principal Investigator Rob Barrett
Contracting Agency Minerals Management Service
Estimated Completion Completed
Description This JIP was formed to investigate the recent increase in early vibration fatigue failures to welded connections in thin-walled piping on offshore installations. The project included data collection, fatigue testing, and formulation of design guidelines. Current design procedures for offshore piping considered static stress levels, and sometimes, low frequency resonance modes. New materials used in piping made these design criteria obsolete. Increasingly, thin walled piping, made of new materials such as duplex* or stainless steels, was being installed offshore. This piping not only weighed less (a very important consideration for floating production facilities), but also permitted higher flow rates and has increased resistance to erosion.

* Duplex steels are a family of stainless steels. These steels have a high chromium content that makes them suitable for applications requiring high corrosion resistance and high stress corrosion cracking resistance.

Progress MTD completed an assessment of the problem and developed a set of guidelines. The guidelines are split into four sections. The first section outlines the different vibration mechanisms and their effect on piping systems and small bore pipe connections. The second section is the methodology to assess the likelihood of failure of a piping system and the third section outlines possible design solutions or best practices. The fourth section outlines a simple way of determining if a small bore connections is susceptible to vibration by the use of standard vibration measurement tools and a series of simple nomograms.

MMS has received an electronic copy of the developed guidelines. These guidelines may be purchased from the Marine Technology Directorate (MTD).

The project was completed in 2000.

Since MMS co-funded this study along with multiple participants, the information generated remains proprietary.  However, you may be available for purchase the final reports and other information by contacting the contractor, Marine Technology Directorate, Limited (MTD).  At the time of this study was funded in 1998, MTD's contact information was:

Marine Technology Directorate, Limited (MTD)
19 Buckingham Street
London WCIN 6EF
Tel: 44 (0) 171 321 0674

During the study, MTD was integrated into the Centre for Marine Petroleum Technology (CMPT) and operated through a Management Services Agreement.  CMPT's contact information at the time of study was:

Centre for Marine Petroleum Technology (CMPT)
Offshore Technology Park
Aberdeen, AB23 8GX UK
Tel:  44 (0) 1224 706600
e-mail:  cmpt@cmpt.co.uk
web: www.cmpt.co.uk 

Last Updated: 12/22/2010, 09:37 AM Central Time