Rezoning Approach to Nonlinear Problems for Sub-Sea Applications

Fasalu Rahman. B Mahesh Bhat

CHALLENGES
In deep-sea oil fields subsea metal seals play an important role to facilitate a smooth operation during drilling and production by withstanding high internal pressure and temperature. The metal seal is installed into the wellhead using a running tool, and the entire process is a complex phenomenon involving high plastic strains. FEA proves to be an indispensable method in accurately understanding the seal installation process.

TECHNOLOGY USED
ANSYS rezoning methodology used. Rezoning process was automated to avoid manual intervention.

SIMULATION METHODOLOGY
In a finite large-deformation analysis, mesh distortion reduces simulation accuracy, causes convergence difficulties, and can eventually terminate an analysis. Rezoning allows repairing the distorted mesh and mapping all solved variables (node and element solutions) to the new mesh. Automation of the manual rezoning avoids manual intervention and expedites the process.

BENEFITS and /or VALIDATIONS

Distortion issue was resolved and hence the seal installation process could be accurately captured. Considerable time was saved by avoiding to rerun the analyses and the APDL could be used to automate the rezoning process The FEA results matched very well with the test data.

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

February 28, 2014