Offshore Installation of Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe (RTP)

摘要

This paper aims to study the installation of Reinforced ThermoplasticrnPipe (RTP) in offshore applications. RTP is a flexible pipe whichrnconsists of a thermoplastic liner, two-layer reinforcement and arnthermoplastic protective outer covering. Thus it can be supplied onrnlong-length coils and installed quickly. Due to RTP’s uniquernconstruction, behaviors under axial loading and bending loading arernanalyzed in advance. A theoretical model is proposed to deal with thernconfiguration and internal loads along the pipeline during the layingrnprocess. The total pipeline configuration from the lay-barge to thernseabed is divided into two parts: one part suspended in water, the otherrnpart laid on the seabed. The effect of seabed stiffness is considered inrnthe model. The continuity of the two parts at touch down point (TDP) isrnapplied as the control condition to get the reliable top tension. Arnnumerical iteration program based on the model is developed to get thernpipeline configuration, axial tension and bending moment distribution.rnThe results from the theoretical model show good agreement with thernfinite element model using ABAQUS.