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Riser Systems
www.aquaterraenergy.com
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Aquaterra Energy is renowned for innovation in its analysis
and development of riser systems, pushing the boundaries of
shallow and deepwater technology and enabling international
customers to efficiently, safely and cost effectively tap into
offshore reservoirs.
Our dedicated in-house team of riser engineers is experienced
in delivering high pressure riser systems, surface riser systems,
pipeline risers, VIV suppression systems, tieback engineering
and centralisers. The team handles the complete scope of
riser system supply, including analysis, structural design, FEA,
project management, QHSE, inspection, testing, offshore
procedure optimisation and offshore installation.
INTRODUCTION
3 Riser Analysis
4 Subsea Riser Systems
5 Connectors (Subsea and Surface)
Surface Riser Systems
6 Pipeline Risers
VIV Suppression Systems
7 Tieback Engineering
Centralisers
8 Contact Us
CONTENTS
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Aquaterra Energy Riser Systems
Riser Analysis
Riser Analysis Services
Strength and stability analysis.
Vortex induced vibration (VIV).
Wave and VIV induced fatigue life.
Thermal expansion analysis.
Snag loading / trawl board impact.
LRFD and WSD methodology.
Pipe in pipe capability.
Pile / soil modelling.
Operations
Exploration wells jack-up drilled.
Appraisal wells jack-up drilled.
Platform drilled wells jack-up
drilled, platform based drilling
package and tender assist rigs.
Pre-drilled and tieback wells jack-
up drilled, platform based drilling
package and tender assist rigs.
High pressure drilling and workover
rigs jack-up drilled.
Subsea wells jack-up drilled.
Combined drilling riser and conductor
floating drilling rigs (semi-
submersible and drill ships).
Features and Benefits
Best industry practice.
Detailed report complete
with results, conclusions and
recommendations.
Operational review.
Full product and service range
available to provide a solution for
any result outcome.
Aquaterra Energy offers a
comprehensive riser analysis
service, designed to meet
the highest regulations and
requirements, delivered
across a variety of offshore
environments.
Our highly qualified and experienced
engineering team provides in depth
analysis, highlighting specific project
needs and building bespoke models
to replicate situations in offshore
environments, meeting the individual
operational requirements of our
customers. Using multiple recognised
programs to ensure accurate results
for both deep and shallow water
studies.
The analysis department also has
Aquaterra Energys operational
expertise and product ranges to
assist clients with practical solutions,
when analysis conclusions require.
This operational expertise is utilised
on every analysis, with the input
data being reviewed to ensure the
modelling approach is consistent with
the actual design and a detailed review
of the analysis report to ensure the
practicality of any recommendations
made. It is our aim to develop practical
solutions for our clients.
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The highly skilled engineering team
at Aquaterra Energy has a proven
track record in specialist design,
fabrication and installation of high
pressure, full bore drilling risers,
around the world. Acknowledged
pioneers of riser system technology,
we are considered market leaders in
the field and supply riser services for
international customers, including
Apache and Petrofac.
Our dedicated in-house team of
riser engineers can provide on the
ground services at a moments
notice. The teams understanding of
high pressure risers, from analysis to
installation, equips them to oversee
and implement the complete scope
of supply, including riser analysis,
structural design, FEA, project
management, QHSE, inspection,
testing, offshore procedure
optimisation and offshore installation.
Our fatigue management is unique
and essential in ensuring system
integrity and reliability. The team
knows the running history, location
Subsea Riser Systems
and fatigue life of every system
component and guarantees that
extensive fatigue testing has been
performed on all critical areas.
Our technical team has a reputation
for innovation with successful projects,
such as the worlds first 10,000 psi
system developed in conjunction with
Oil States. The design enables us to
provide all high pressure riser systems
with Merlin connectors, instead of
flanged connectors, for easier offshore
handling. In addition, the speed
at which the Merlin connector can
be assembled means that run and
retrieval times can be greatly reduced,
saving in excess of two to three rig
days.
The Merlin is a tried and tested, field
proven design, used thousands of
times on rigs around the world. Its
high bending and tensile capacities,
repeatable make up and break out
capability and extremely high fatigue
performance are essential to ensure
integrity and longevity in the harsh
environments in which it is used.
5k System 10k System
Connector Type Oil States Merlin Oil States Merlin
Outer Diameter
Pipe 24" (nom) 25" (nom)
Connector 26" (nom) 28.7" (nom)
Inner Diameter 21" (nom) 20" (nom)
Wall Thickness 1.5" (nom) 2.5" (nom)
Operating Pressure 5,000 psi 10,000 psi
Test Pressure 7,500 psi 15,000 psi
Coating Thermally Sprayed Thermally Sprayed
Aluminium Aluminium
Yield Bending Capacity
Pipe 3,700 kips ft 6,000 kips ft
Connector 3,700 kips ft 6,000 kips ft
Yield Tension Capacity
Pipe 8,480 kips 14,130 kips
Connector 8.480 kips 14,130 kips
Subsea H4 Connector Vetco ExF Vetco DWHD
FMC Torus IV
Vetco DWHD
Quick Connects FMC Speedloc Vetco NT2
Vetco NT2
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Aquaterra Energy Riser Systems
Aquaterra Energy offers a choice
of connector variants which can
maximise operations across a variety
of applications and environments.
These include the market leading,
field proven, deep water, heavy duty
H4 subsea connector, for use on its
own or as part of Aquaterra Energys
high pressure riser system, providing
the connection between the risers
stress joint and the subsea wellhead.
The models exceptionally high
bending capacity means it is suited
to most offshore operations. All our
subsea connectors can be fitted with
a standard ROV hot stab panel for
secondary control in the failure of the
surface control unit.
Aquaterra Energys hydraulic power
units (HPUs) allow the control
and functioning of all our subsea
connectors.
From detailed operational review and
riser analysis, through to procurement
and delivery of complete surface riser
systems, Aquaterra Energy has the
expertise, personnel and equipment
to provide a highly responsive, time
saving, tailored solution, across a
variety of projects.
Connectors
(Subsea and Surface)
Surface Riser Systems
Aquaterra Energy also offers a
range of surface connectors, such
as the NT2, Speedloc and Fastlock
connections. These are used to
minimise rig time for riser applications,
providing the connection between the
rig BOP and the surface riser tension
joint.
Analytical ability, combined with a
detailed operational understanding
of standard and non-standard riser
operations, enables us to provide a
fully optimised equipment selection
service, and through the use of
dedicated BOP and wellhead quick
connectors, the team can reduce
running times saving valuable rig time
per deployment.
Using Aquaterra Energys dedicated
handling and running tools, all riser
systems can be constructed and
pressure tested offline. All surface
systems are also fully NACE compliant
and come in a variety of sizes and
pressure ratings.
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Aquaterra Energys in-house riser
engineers have the knowledge and
experience to design, manufacture and
install offshore pipeline riser systems.
Our team of riser engineers has been
involved in the design and installation
of numerous riser systems on a
worldwide scale.
Throughout the pipeline riser design
process, we use both our operational
and design experience to accurately
define and model specific
situations during the risers
operational lifespan. Particular
attention is given to both
the installation and in-place
Aquaterra Energy recommends the
implementation of vortex induced
vibration (VIV) suppression systems
across all its operations, to minimise
structural damage, increase structure
lifetime and reduce system costs.
Our suppression systems are an
affordable solution to preventing or
delaying separation and reducing
the number of vortices produced,
minimising the possibility of
Pipeline Risers
VIV Suppression Systems
analyses to ensure the stresses in the
riser caused by installation methods
or environmental loading during
operation are considered.
Giving careful consideration to the
installation methodology allows us
to be flexible in our design approach
and adjust either the operation or the
risers design to achieve the optimal
solution to a specific challenge.
In addition to the design of the
pipeline riser, our in-house engineers
can look at the design and interface
concerns between the pipeline
support clamps and the platform
jacket, and are also experienced in
the design and specification of pig
launchers and receivers.
Our experienced in-house project
team will liaise with the client to
develop the most efficient means of
installing the riser, and has experience
managing the installation of projects
where the riser has been deployed
from both heavy lift barges and jack-
up drilling rigs.
The project teams aim is to ensure
that the riser is installed as safely
and efficiently as possible, and is
commissioned on time and within
budget.
resonance, helping to reduce riser
fatigue damage, eliminating adverse
pressure gradients and preventing
alternate vortex shredding motion.
Systems can be produced quickly, are
simple to construct and install, and
come in a variety of sizes and coatings
to suit different marine conditions.
Pre-existing data for performance
verification is available.
Aquaterra Energy Riser Systems
At Aquaterra Energy, our primary
focus when assisting in the pre-
planning of well tieback operations
is to maximise efficiency and cost
effectiveness, without compromising
attention to detail, while minimising
rig time and reducing risk.
With over 40 years of in-house
experience, we understand the
variety of issues surrounding these
delicate operations. We appreciate
that managing operations and
communicating with all parties
involved can prove challenging
and our experience has shown that
being involved from the outset can
add significant value to the entire
programme. So, we work closely
with clients throughout programme
development to identify equipment
Aquaterra Energy is experienced
in providing complete centraliser
packages, from design through to
project management and installation,
including bespoke centraliser designs
across a variety of operations.
Our team of experienced engineers
provide stringent finite element
modelling to present an optimum
design which meets industry
codes and standards, requires no
Tieback Engineering
Centralisers
requirements, address eventualities
and contingency plans to ensure that
an effective programme is provided.
Our team of experienced specialist
tieback operation supervisors ensure
that records are current and reporting
is accurate.
maintenance and lasts for the full life
of the asset.
The use of centralisers across
operations reduces conductor
movement, prevents contact with the
jacket guide, significantly reduces
flowline and tree movement, improves
fatigue life, provides concentricity,
assists in tool location, ensures
more accurate driving and improves
strength and stability.
We are also able to provide the
specified specialist tieback equipment
required for customers operations, via
our rental equipment service.
For bespoke requirements we
provide designs for fixed blade
conductor centralisers, drop-in retrofit
centralisers, offset retrofit centralisers,
inner casing centralisers, adjustable
cellar deck centralisers, polymer
centralisers and remotely adjustable
centralisers. All designs can be varied
dependent on service life, expected
conductor / casing string movement
and environmental loading.
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Contact Us
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www.aquaterraenergy.com
4 Albyn Terrace
Aberdeen, AB10 1YP
Aquaterra Energy Limited
t: +44 (0)1224 651250
e: aberdeen@aquaterraenergy.com
ABERDEEN
Al Riyadh # 1, 19 Corniche El Nile
Maadi, 11431, Cairo, Egypt
Aquaterra Energy Egypt LLC
t: +202 2528 3356
e: cairo@aquaterraenergy.com
CAIRO
St Johns Innovation Centre
Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS
Aquaterra Energy Limited
t: +44 (0)1223 422475
e: cambridge@aquaterraenergy.com
CAMBRIDGE
Unit C-8-3, 8th Floor, Block C
Megan Avenue II, No.12, Jln Yap Kwan Seng
50450, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Aquaterra Energy Limited
t: +603 2164 4889
e: kualalumpur@aquaterraenergy.com
KUALA LUMPUR
Innovation House, Alkmaar Way
Norwich, NR6 6BF
Aquaterra Energy Limited
t: +44 (0)1603 788233
e: norwich@aquaterraenergy.com
NORWICH