Machine Learning Prediction and Reliability Analysis Applied to Subsea Spool and Jumper Design

In subsea pipelines projects, the design of rigid spool and jumper can be a challenging and time-consuming task. The selected spool layout for connecting the pipelines to the subsea structures, including the number of bends and leg lengths, must offer the flexibility to accommodate the pipeline thermal expansion, the pipe-lay target box and misalignments associated with the post-lay survey metrology and spool fabrication. The analysis results are considerably affected by many uncertainties involved. Consequently, a very large amount of calculations is required to assess the full combination of uncertainties and to capture the worst-case scenario. Rather than applying the deterministic solution, this paper uses machine learning prediction to significantly improve the efficiency of the design process. In addition, thanks to the fast predictive model using machine learning algorithms, the uncertainty quantification and propagation analysis using probabilistic statistical method becomes feasible in terms of CPU time and can be incorporated into the design process to evaluate the reliability of the outputs. The latter allows us to perform a systematic probabilistic design by considering a certain level of acceptance on the probability of failure, for example as per DNVGL design code. The machine learning predictive modelling and the reliability analysis based upon the probability distribution of the uncertainties are introduced and explained in this paper. Some project examples are shown to highlight the method’s comprehensive nature and efficient characteristics.