A Computational-Based Comparative Fatigue Analysis of Composite and Steel Risers

Morrison Inegiyemiema, Sidum Adumene () and Mohammad Yazdi
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Morrison Inegiyemiema: Rivers State University, Department of Marine and Offshore Engineering
Sidum Adumene: Rivers State University, Department of Marine and Offshore Engineering
Mohammad Yazdi: Macquarie University, School of Engineering

A chapter in Data-Driven Methods for Reliability and Safety Engineering: Applications in Industrial Systems, 2026, pp 625-653 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The extraction of crude oil and natural gas from offshore environments is a crucial operation that helps meet global energy demands. Traditionally, steel risers have been used for decades to transport crude from the seabed to floating vessels. While steel risers offer some advantages, they also present significant drawbacks compared to newer composite risers, which are made of a combination of steel and flexible materials. This research aims to provide reliable data on the properties of composite risers, including fatigue life and dynamic performance, through a comparative analysis. Using ORCAFLEX software, steel and composite risers were evaluated under identical environmental conditions in the Gulf of Guinea. Additionally, a MATLAB program was developed for a validation analysis. The results were then compared with findings from FLEXCOM software, previously obtained by the renowned marine research institute 2H Offshore in the North Sea. The analysis revealed that composite risers exhibit a fatigue life 100 times greater than steel risers, with a 50% reduction in bending moments, and a 43% decrease in the required tension for buoyancy tanks. These findings align with the 2H Offshore results, reinforcing confidence in the offshore industry’s transition toward composite risers for production operations. The research provides the offshore industry with valuable insights and data, reassessing the applicability and suitability of composite risers for deployment in the Gulf of Guinea.

Keywords: Riser; Wave; Fatigue analysis; Orcaflex; System reliability; Composite (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:ssrchp:978-3-032-22873-4_44

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-22873-4_44

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