Research Article

Advances in Mechanical Engineering

2022, Vol. 14(7) 1–7
Ó The Author(s) 2022
Research on mechanical characteristics DOI: 10.1177/16878132221112498
journals.sagepub.com/home/ade
and safety of working platform in rod
pumping process

Feng Dehua1,2 , Yu Yanqun1,3, Liu Jinhai4, Wang Bensheng1

and Qi Yaoguang1

Abstract
Rod pumping on offshore platform provides a solution to low efficient extraction of offshore heavy oil and the safety of
working platform is the prerequisite for the implementation of this new technology. In this paper, a coupling dynamics
model of rod pumping system and the jacket platform is established, and the dynamic characteristics of the pumping unit
excitation, rod pumping system, and jacket platform is studied. Based on the analysis of the multi-body dynamics model,
the three frequencies (pumping unit excitation, rod pumping system, jacket platform) are far apart, so the dynamic effect
of rod pumping on the platform can be analyzed according to static load. Based on the limit working state and the cumu-
lative damage theory of the structure, the safety evaluation standard for the increased load of the jacket platform is
established. Under the extreme marine environment once in 50 years, the safety factor of the main structure of the plat-
form is greater than 4, and the overall safety factor is 3% lower than that before the rod pumping operation. Offshore
rod pumping has less influence on the jacket platform from analysis, and which lays a theoretical and safety foundation
for offshore oil pumping.

Keywords
Jacket platform, offshore rod pumping, multi-body dynamic model, mechanical analysis, safety evaluation

Date received: 13 April 2022; accepted: 22 June 2022

Handling Editor: Chenhui Liang

Introduction than 1% Of the annual oil and gas production of over

30 million tons in the Bohai Oilfield. The conversion of
The growth of China’s crude oil production depends on
the sea, and the growth of offshore crude oil production 1
College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, China University of
depends on the Bohai Sea. In 2021, the crude oil output Petroleum, Qingdao, China
of Bohai Oilfield reached 30.132 million tons, making it 2
School of Humanities and Law, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao,
the largest crude oil production base in China. The 3
China
increase in crude oil accounts for nearly 50% of the National Engineering Laboratory of Offshore Geophysical and
Exploration Equipment, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, China
increase in China. At present, 34% of oil production 4
CNOOC Energy Development Co., Ltd. Oil Production Service
comes from the ocean,1 and the main oil exploration Company, Tianjin, China
will gradually shift from land to offshore.2,3
The Bohai Sea has confirmed 4.4 billion tons of pro- Corresponding author:
Yu Yanqun, College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, China
ven crude oil reserves, and about 15% is heavy oil with
University of Petroleum, No. 66, West Changjiang Road, Huangdao
a crude oil viscosity greater than 350 MPas. The pro- District, Qingdao 266580, China.
duction of unconventional heavy oil accounts for less Email: yuyq_hdpu@126.com

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(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work
without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages
(https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
2 Advances in Mechanical Engineering

Figure 1. The small hydraulic pumping units for offshore platforms. 1-Platform wellhead cover, 2-Pumping unit mounting seat, 3-
Pumping unit bracket, 4-Polished rod connector, 5-Two-stage telescopic hydraulic cylinder, 6-Accumulator, 7-Electric control cabinet,
8-Hydraulic station. (a) Schematic diagram of pumping unit structure and (b) pumping unit prototype.

heavy oil reserves into real production is of great signif-
icance for Chinese oil exploration and development.
For heavy oil, viscosity is the key factor determining
the development regime. Heavy oil with the viscosity of
less than 300 MPas can be effectively developed by
water flooding, chemical flooding, well pattern thicken-
ing, and so on.4,5 While for heavy oil with viscosity
greater than 350 MPas, steam injection shows its
unique advantages and high recovery.6,7
Affected by the size limit of the offshore platform,
the offshore mechanical oil extraction mostly uses sub-
mersible electric pumps as the main lifting equipment.
Temperature rating of motors and cables in submersible
pump is much lower than the steam injection tempera-
ture of 350°C (or even higher).8 As a result, offshore
heavy oil wells must use two injection-production pipe
string operations to achieve thermal recovery develop-
ment. The conversion efficiency between heat and pro-
duction is low, and repeated replacement of the pipe
string increases the operation risk, which becomes a
bottleneck restriction for offshore heavy oil thermal
recovery technology.9–11 Therefore, the integrated
injection-production technology of thermal recovery
wells in offshore heavy oil fields can not only greatly
reduce the operating costs and improve the develop-
ment benefits, but also contribute to the development
of large-scale thermal recovery t in offshore heavy oil
fields.
Most heavy oil fields on the land use the ‘‘steam huff
and puff + rod pumping’’ method for mining, and the
process flow is simplified into ‘‘steam injection ! sim-
mering well ! blowout ! pumping.’’ The successful
migration of the mature ‘‘integrated injection-
production technology’’ for thermal recovery of
onshore heavy oil to offshore oilfields, which is an
effective solution to the low recovery degree and recov-
ery efficiency of offshore heavy oil fields.
Our team has successively developed/designed? key
equipment suitable for rod pumping system on offshore
platform, such as the small hydraulic pumping units
(shown in Figure 1), wellhead equipment and downhole
equipment, and eventually complete a ‘‘steam huff and
puff + rod pumping’’ technology suitable for offshore
platform heavy oil production.12–14
The development of heavy oil with high-efficiency is
a worldwide difficulty for offshore oil fields. The tech-
nology of rod pumping provides a possible effective
way for offshore heavy oil thermal recovery, but the
safety of working platform is the prerequisite for the
implementation of this new technology.
The multi-body dynamics model
Bohai Offshore Oil is the pioneer of Chinese offshore
oil development. In the six major marine oil and gas
sedimentary basins in China, the geophysical explora-
tion work is carried out the earliest, the number of wells
is the largest, and the fixed production platforms that
have been built account for more than 90% of the total
number of similar platforms in the country.15
Dehua et al.
Figure 2. Experimental model of rod pumping system on
offshore platform.
Figure 3. Schematic diagram of rod pumping on platform.
Experimental model of rod pumping system on off-
shore platform is shown in Figure 2.
From the analysis of Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen
that the hydraulic pumping unit is installed on the mid-
dle deck of the offshore platform, and the connected
structure includes the sucker rod string and the offshore
platform deck support beam. The simplified analysis
model is shown in Figure 3.
3
Figure 4. Multi-body dynamics model of rod pumping on
platform.
Multi-body dynamics model
According to Figure 3, the multi-body system of rod
pumping on offshore platform mainly includes: sucker
rod string subsystem, pumping unit and support sub-
system, offshore platform wellhead area support
subsystem.
The dynamic model of the multi-body system is
shown in Figure 4. Where, Fu(t) is the excitation of the
pumping unit, mi (i = u, g, j, r, p) is the concentra ted
mass of each subsystem, ki (i = u, g, j, r, p) is the equiv-
alent stiffness of each subsystem, ci ( i = r, p) is equiva-
lent damping of each subsystem, yi (i = u, g, j, r, p) is
the displacement vector of the mass of each subsystem,
Fo(t) is oil well input of the system.
Multi-body dynamics equation
Based on Figure 4, the differential equation of motion
derived from the Lagrangian formula is:
4 Advances in Mechanical Engineering

8 ku1 ku2
>
> mu€yu + k yu + kg2 yg  ku1ku1+ku2ku2 yj = Fu ðtÞ
>
> u1 + ku2 
>
> mj€yj + kj + ku1ku1+ku2ku2 kj yj  ku1ku1+ku2ku2 yu = 0
<
 
> mg€yg + kg2 yu + kg1 + kg2 yg  kg1 yr = 0
>
>  
>
> mr€yr + cr y_ r  cr y_ p  kg1 yg + kg1 + kr yr  kr yp = 0
>
:    
mp€yp  cr y_ r + cr + cp cp y_ p  kr yr + kr + kp yp = Fo ðtÞ
ð1Þ
Where: €yðtÞ is the acceleration array of the node, y_ ðtÞ is
the speed array of the node, yðtÞ is the displacement
array of nodes.

Dynamics characteristics
The key of equipment dynamic response evaluation is
to solve its dynamic balance equation. When structural
damping and external load excitation are not consid-
ered, formula (1) is the free vibration equation of
undamped structure, and eigenvectors of the structure
can be obtained by solving it, so as to analyze the
dynamics characteristic relationship of the rod pump-
ing system and the offshore platform.
The test target platform is four-leg steel jacket plat-
form, which integrates the drilling, completion, work-
Figure 5. Frequency relationship between HPU incentive and
over and production. The diameter of the four main
rod pumping and offshore platform.
piles is 1829 mm, and the platform design depth is
22.3 m. The hoisting weight of the deck and jacket are
2700 and 1000 t respectively. The wellhead area locates
Safety evaluation standards
in the central north of the deck, with 20 pits in a 4 3 5
array. The distance between the wellheads is The safety of the structure corresponds to the state of
1.8 m 3 2.0 m. the structural components. The safety of the structure
The relationship between the hydraulic pumping unit is often described by the ultimate working state of
(HPU) excitation and the dynamic parameters of rod the structure. For the structural state under cyclic
pumping system and the target platform is shown in loading, the residual strength based on the fatigue
Figure 5. damage accumulation theory is the most common
The response calculation of the structure under indicator.
dynamic load is generally closely related to the natural
vibration of the structure. If the natural frequency of
the structure is close to the load frequency, even if the Limit state evaluation model
load amplitude is small, the response of the structure
The structure is deformed by the external load. When
will be large. On the contrary, if the natural frequency
the external load increases to a certain level, the load
of the structure is more than 5 times of the load fre-
does not change and the deformation continues to
quency, the dynamic response of the structure is similar
increase.
to the response obtained when the dynamic load ampli-
A limit state safety factor ns is defined to characterize
tude is used as the static load.
the ultimate load state of the jacket platform:
From Figure 5, the excitation of the pumping unit is
more than 17 times different from the natural frequency ss
of platform, and the rod pumping system is more than ns = ð2Þ
sZi + s0i
16 times different from the natural frequency of plat-
form. So that the excitation of the pumping unit will Where, ss – yield strength of jacket body material,
not cause resonance between the rod pumping system MPa.
and the offshore platform. The additional dynamic load ½s– allowable stress of jacket body material, MPa.
amplitude of the rod pumping on the platform can be The API specification defines this load as the ulti-
analyzed as the static force load. mate load of the structure. ‘‘Standards for structural
Dehua et al. 5

design of offshore steel fixed platforms’’ API RP 2A-

LRFD, it is stipulated that the reserve strength coeffi-
cient of the jacket platform is about 1.8–2.4.16

Cumulative damage evaluation model

The fatigue damage accumulation theory is to study the
evolution law of fatigue damage and the fatigue failure
criterion under the action of cyclic loading. At present,
the most widely used cumulative damage theories
mainly include Miner theory and Manson two-stage
model in equal damage linear theory, Corten-Dolan
theory in variable damage linear theory, Manson criter-
ion and Corten-Dolan criterion cannot deal with the
load spectrum of actual engineering structures. The
randomness of the magnitude and order of peaks and
valleys, while the miner criterion is more suitable for
fatigue cumulative damage analysis under random
spectrum because it does not consider the effect of load- Figure 6. Stress extreme value of main leg before HPU loading.
ing order and the interaction between loads.17
The distribution of the fatigue life of a structure or Then the cumulative damage evaluation standard for
component is uniquely determined by the load it bears the safety of the in-service platform jacket is as follows:
during the service period, and the fatigue life N can be
regarded as the response under the action of the load 0:7s1  2s0i  cs
excitation S. N curve is often used as the symmetrical sZi ł Ks ð6Þ
es b + cs
fatigue limit s1 value.18
Persistence limit sr under a given cycle r:
Strength analysis results
ðsm + sa Þs1
s r = s a Ks ð3Þ The dynamic load
es b + sm  cs
Using the extreme sea conditions of the Bohai Bay once
Where: es – size factor; b– surface quality factor; s1 – in 50 years,19 and the harsh working conditions of all
fatigue limits for symmetric cycling; sm – mean stress; pumping units on the platform with full load and full
sa – stress amplitude; cs – material sensitivity to stress synchronization, the stress state diagram of the target
cyclic asymmetry. platform before HPU operation is shown in Figure 6.
The work safety factor under fatigue damage of From Figure 6, the stress levels of each leg before
components is defined as ns , expressed as: HPU loading are similar between 0°–90° and 270°–
sr s1 360°. However, in the range of 135°–225°, the stress
ns = = Ks ð4Þ value of the A pile leg is 20%–30% higher than that of
smax es b s a + s m  cs
the other pile legs.
‘‘Code for Classification and Construction of Fixed From Figure 7, rod pumping system increases the
Offshore Platforms’’ stipulates that the design fatigue local load of the platform, but the increasing local load
life of each member and node of fixed offshore plat- is in the wellhead area of the platform, and the operat-
forms should be at least twice the service life of the ing equipment and supporting equipment of the plat-
structure. form are just outside the wellhead area. After HPU
Based on Miner’s theory, combined with equation (3): loading, the load of the whole area of the platform is
more balanced. Therefore, the force of the four main
0:7s1 legs of the target platform is more balanced and the
Ks ø2 ð5Þ stress state is better.
+ sm  cs
es b s a
Before HPU loading, the safety factor of pile A is
Where: the lowest 4.45. After HPU loading, the safety factor of
pile C is the lowest 4.31. The safety factor of the plat-
sZi sZi + 2s0i form main structure is greater than 4, and the overall
sa = , sm =
2 2 safety factor is 3% lower than that before the HPU
6 Advances in Mechanical Engineering

Figure 8. The target platform allows additional loads to be

added.
Figure 7. Stress extreme value of main leg after HPU loading.

frequency of the pumping unit. Therefore, the dynamic

operation. It can be seen that the HPU operation has
load amplitude generated by the pumping unit on the
less influence on the platform.
offshore platform can be considered in accordance with
the static load.
The dynamic load The ultimate working state of the structure and the
evaluation standard of cumulative damage under the
Considering the corrosion and thinning of the pile legs
action of cyclic loads can be used as the basis for
and the decrease in strength under the marine environ-
the safety evaluation of the jacket platform. Based on
ment of the in-service platform, based on the limit state
the API standard, the safety evaluation criterion for the
evaluation standard and the cumulative damage evalua-
additional load of the jacket platform is established.
tion standard, the additional load threshold for the LD
The mechanical model of the rod pumping on a
jacket platform to allow increase oil production with
jacket platform in marine environment is established,
rods is obtained as shown in Figure 8.
and the mechanical equations of the main forces are
From Figure 8, According to the cumulative damage
listed. Under the extreme sea conditions of the Bohai
evaluation standard LD platform, the additional load
Bay once in 50 years, and loading rod pumping accord-
threshold value of the main leg of the platform under
ing to the worst working conditions (all pumping units
the intact condition of the lifting system with rods is less
on the platform are synchronized), the safety factor of
than the threshold value according to the limit working
the main structure of the platform is greater than 4,
state standard, but the additional load threshold value
and the overall safety factor is 3% lower than that
due to the thinning of the wall decreases. The speed is
before the pumping unit operation. It can be seen that
obviously better than the latter. To evaluate the addi-
the rod pumping has less influence on the main struc-
tional load threshold of the in-service jacket platform
ture of the platform.
under the rod-bearing oil production system, it should
be selected according to the smaller of the load thresh-
old of the ultimate working state standard and the load Authors’ note
threshold of the cumulative damage standard. We here state: The work described in this paper has not been
published previously, and is not currently under consideration
for publication elsewhere. The publication of this paper is
Conclusion approved by all authors and, if accepted, it will not be pub-
lished elsewhere in the same form.
The dynamic model of multi-body system for rod
pumping on the platform is established, which is the
basis for the effective analysis of platform security. Declaration of conflicting interests
Through analysis, it is found the natural frequency of The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with
the rod pumping system is quite different from it of the respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this
platform, and both are far away from the excitation article.
Dehua et al.
Funding
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial sup-
port for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this
article: This work was financially supported by the National
Science and Technology Major Projects of Oil and Gas
(2017ZX05064004), and the Natural Science Foundation of
Shandong Province (ZR2020ME092), and the Fundamental
Research Funds for the Central Universities, this is, the
Opening Fund of National Engineering Laboratory of
Offshore Geophysical and Exploration Equipment
(20CX02308A).
ORCID iD
Feng Dehua https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7625-1066
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