Load Calculation and Strength Analysis of the Deepwater Landing Drill Pipe-Lowering Operation

Abstract

A landing string is directly exposed to seawater and subjected to significant stresses and complex deformations due to environmental loads such as wind, waves, and ocean currents during the phase in which the drill string carries the casing to the wellhead. Meanwhile, as the water depth increases, the weight of the drill string increases, leading to an increase in the tensile loads borne by the drill string, which can easily cause a risk of failure. Therefore, a quasi-static load calculation model for the deepwater insertion of the pipe column was established. Using the Ansys platform, simulations were conducted for average wind, wave, and ocean current conditions during different months throughout the year. The ultimate loads and stress distributions of the string were derived from theoretical analyses and numerical simulations for different operational sea states, and the suggested safe operating window and desired BOP trolley restraining reaction force for landing strings’ lowering are given according to the existing industry standards. The research findings can help in identifying the potential risks and failure modes of the deepwater landing string under different working conditions.