Presented is the performance analysis of annular blowout preventer (BOP) reciprocating elastomer hydraulic seals operating in subsea environments. The method is based on a systems-level model that combines the effects of friction, material mechanical properties of the seal, installation compression, subsea hydrostatic pressure, and control system dynamics into one model. The model is calibrated using data from tests conducted on the surface and then validated on subsea operational data. Through model simulations, it will be shown that insufficient installation squeeze of the seal in combination with low elasticity seal material results in cases where the seal does not leak at the surface but show substantial internal leakage in subsea conditions. Leakage is also observed under dynamic operation when the walls of the seal groove do not energize the seal. The proposed model-based analysis method in conjunction with surface level testing offers a new paradigm in evaluating reciprocating seal subsea performance a priori of subsea operation thereby avoiding costly downtimes and subsea failures.
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December 2018
Research-Article
Dynamic Performance of Annular Blowout Preventer Hydraulic Seals in Deepwater Environments
Mete Mutlu,
Mete Mutlu
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
N207 Engineering Bldg. 1,
4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: mmutlu@uh.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
N207 Engineering Bldg. 1,
4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: mmutlu@uh.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Yingjie Tang,
Yingjie Tang
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: ytang23@central.uh.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
N207 Engineering Bldg. 1
,4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: ytang23@central.uh.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Matthew A. Franchek,
Matthew A. Franchek
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: mfranchek@central.uh.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
N207 Engineering Bldg. 1
,4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: mfranchek@central.uh.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Jose A. Gutierrez
Jose A. Gutierrez
Search for other works by this author on:
Mete Mutlu
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
N207 Engineering Bldg. 1,
4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: mmutlu@uh.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
N207 Engineering Bldg. 1,
4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: mmutlu@uh.edu
Yingjie Tang
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: ytang23@central.uh.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
N207 Engineering Bldg. 1
,4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: ytang23@central.uh.edu
Matthew A. Franchek
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: mfranchek@central.uh.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Houston,
N207 Engineering Bldg. 1
,4726 Calhoun Road,
Houston, TX 77204
e-mail: mfranchek@central.uh.edu
Rob Turlak
Jose A. Gutierrez
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Ocean, Offshore, and Arctic Engineering Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF OFFSHORE MECHANICS AND ARCTIC ENGINEERING. Manuscript received August 2, 2017; final manuscript received May 8, 2018; published online June 28, 2018. Assoc. Editor: Lizhong Wang.
J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng. Dec 2018, 140(6): 061301 (12 pages)
Published Online: June 28, 2018
Article history
Received:
August 2, 2017
Revised:
May 8, 2018
Citation
Mutlu, M., Tang, Y., Franchek, M. A., Turlak, R., and Gutierrez, J. A. (June 28, 2018). "Dynamic Performance of Annular Blowout Preventer Hydraulic Seals in Deepwater Environments." ASME. J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng. December 2018; 140(6): 061301. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4040391
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