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VISUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY

Visualizing operations in Technip’s model lab

By Nina Rach Thunder Horse model hysical modeling deep water Thunder Horse production-drilling-quar- projects can be a very useful tool. ters (PDQ) is the world’s largest produc-

P

Despite the advent of computer tion semi-submersible, installed over the modeling and immersive computer deepwater Thunder Horse oil feld in the visualization environments, physical 3D Gulf of Mexico, about 150mi. southeast models help vessel operators, riggers, and of New Orleans. It’s moored in 6075ft feld engineers fnd potential problem (1852m) of water in Mississippi Canyon areas and resolve spatial issues. Blocks 778, was completed in 2005, and Robert (R.J. “Bob”) Brown builds delivered frst oil in June 2008. Thunder intricate 3D physical models to map the Horse is a joint venture of BP plc (75%) installation of complex subsea systems and ExxonMobil (25%).

with many risers and mooring lines. Technip’s suspended model of the

Brown runs R J Brown Deepwater, a Thunder Horse PDQ includes catenaries subsidiary of Technip that specializes and work vessels at a scale of 1:650. in deepwater energy engineering. His A catenary is the curve that an ideal- models incorporate subsea system com- ized hanging cable assumes under its ponents such as pipelines, manifolds, own weight when supported only at its risers, mooring lines, as well as foating ends. Bob Brown said the shapes of all facilities and support vessels. the suspended lines in the model are Brown reviewed the benefts of physi- accurate catenaries. Although the moor- cal modeling for deepwater pipeline and ing lines, umbilicals, production, water, riser installations in a paper presented at test, and export risers are modeled the OTC in May 2009 (OTC 19962). Brown with different lightweight cords, they and Arash Razavinejad, a senior staff respond to gravity in the same way as Bob Brown, left, and Arash Razavinejad member at Genesis Oil and Gas, explained the actual risers. The only difference is manipulate the Thunder Horse deepwater models and systems in the vertical load in the hanging point of subsea model at Technip facilities

Technip’s Houston model lab in October. each catenary.

Photos: Nina Rach. in Houston.

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