1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Scope
The challenges of Deepwater oilfields and inter-continental gas transportation present the biggest opportunities the pipeline technology faces today. New thermal insulation technologies will be required to assure that produced fluid will flow through long distance subsea pipelines, at low seafloor temperature.
At some fields, strong currents, high pressure and high temperature (HP, HT), sour reservoirs and deepwater conditions are pushing the limits of steel pipes used in flow-lines.
The scope of this study will cover the following topics:
Give an overview of problems related to the transport of unprocessed and sometimes corrosive multiphase well streams in deepwater pipelines, in low ambient temperature and high external pressure environment, conducive to the formation of paraffin deposits, wax or hydrates (Chapter 2, Pipeline Design for Deep Water and Chapter 3, Interface Requirement)
Review material and pipe-line technology currently available in the industry to overcome the above technical problems while keeping cost at competitive levels (Chapter 4, Pipe line Technology Review)
Provide information on flow assurance topics, insulation material and heating technique applied to deepwater pipeline, to mitigate the deleterious effects of wax and hydrate formation and internal corrosion (Chapter 5, Insulation Techniques and Chapter 6, Heating Techniques)
Give list of installation and tie-in methods dedicated to different types of flow-line system including interface requirement, burial technique, etc. (Chapter 7, Trenching Techniques andChapter 8, Installation Techniques)
Provide information on internal corrosion monitoring system (Chapter 9, Internal Corrosion Monitoring)
Finally analyse the applications and limitations, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each pipeline technology and its installation methods (Chapter 10, Applications & Limitations and Chapter 11, Advantages & Disadvantages)
This document will also provide references on pipeline design topics (Chapter 2, Pipeline Design for Deep Water) as follows:
Review of pipe design criteria
Review of the engineering principles behind the codes
Pipeline design engineering key topics (question to design contractors)
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1.2 Codes, Standards, Specifications and Reference Documents
1.2.1 General
There are a number of national and international pipeline design codes in use. This section lists the codes that have become generally or widely used. Pipeline design codes fall into two general categories of design principle: Allowable Stress Design (ASD, also referred to working stress design) and limit state design, also referred to as Load Resistance Factor Design (LRFD).
The following publications provide valuable information, of which pipeline design and experience:
Offshore Technology Conference papers from 1969 to 2006 (OTC)
International Conference Offshore Mechanics & Artic Engineering from 1982 to 2006 (OMAE)
Proceedings of International Offshore & Polar Engineering Conference, 1991 to 2006 (ISOPE)
Limit State Design of Pipeline & Risers – IBC UK Conferences (Y. BAI, 1999)
Rigid Pipeline Design Guidelines (Internal Report)
1.2.2 ASD Codes
Allowable stress design codes evolved in the 1950s and are based on a single safety factor to prevent the pipeline steel yielding. Examples are:
ISO 13623, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Pipeline transportation systems;
ASME B31.4 : Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids
ASME B31.8 : Gas Transportation and Distribution Systems
1.2.3 Limit State Design Codes
Limit state design codes arrived in the 1990’s and are based on separate (partial) safety factors for loads and resistance, and prevent the pipeline reaching a limit state such as bursting or buckling. Examples are:
DNVGL-ST-F101, Submarine pipeline systems, 2017;
API RP 1111, Design, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Hydrocarbon Pipelines (Limit State Design),
ISO 16708, Pipeline transportation systems - Reliability-based limit state methods.
1.2.4 Worldwide Application
ISO 13623 is the only international standard for pipeline design and presents a legally binding minimum level of safety. It does not appear to have seen widespread usage with national codes generally being used in preference. ISO 16708:2006 specifies the functional requirements and principles for design, operation and re-qualification of pipelines in the petroleum and natural gas industries using reliability based limit state methods as permitted by ISO 13623. Reliability-based limit state methods provide a systematic way to predict pipeline safety in design and operation. ISO 16708:2006 supplements ISO 13623 and can be used in cases where ISO 13623 does not provide specific guidance and where limit states methods can be applied, such as, but not limited to:
Qualification of new concepts, e.g. when new technology is applied or for design scenarios where industry experience is limited,
Re-qualification of the pipeline due to a changed design basis, such as service-life extension, which can include reduced uncertainties due to improved integrity monitoring and operational experience,
Collapse under external pressure in deep water,
Extreme loads, such as seismic loads (e.g. at a fault crossing), ice loads (e.g. by impact from ice keels),
Situations where strain-based criteria can be appropriate.
1.2.5 Specific or Specialist Codes
[1] | API_17B | ||
[2] | API_17J | ||
[3] | API_5L | ||
[4] | API_5LC | ||
[5] | API_5LD | ||
[6] | API_RP_1111 | ||
[7] | API_RP_14_E | ||
[8] | API_RP_5LW | ||
[9] | DNV_RP_C205 | ||
[10] | DNV_RP_F112 | ||
[11] | DNV-OS-F101 | ||
[12] | DNV-RP-F101 | ||
[13] | DNVGL_ST_F101 | ||
[14] | DNVGL-RP-B401 | ||
[15] | DNVGL-RP-F102 | ||
[16] | DNVGL-RP-F103 | ||
[17] | DNVGL-RP-F105 | ||
[18] | DNVGL-RP-F106 | ||
[19] | DNVGL-RP-F107 | ||
[20] | DNVGL-RP-F108 | ||
[21] | DNVGL-RP-F109 | ||
[22] | DNVGL-RP-F110 | ||
[23] | DNVGL-RP-F111 | ||
[24] | DNVGL-RP-F112 | ||
[25] | DNVGL-RP-F113 | ||
[26] | DNVGL-RP-F114 | ||
[27] | DNVGL-RP-F115 | ||
[28] | DNVGL-RP-F116 | ||
[29] | DNVGL-RP-F204 | ||
[30] | DNVGL-RP-J202 | ||
[31] | DNVGL-RP-O501 | ||
[32] | DNVGL-SE-0476 | ||
[33] | DNVGL-ST-F101 | ||
[34] | DNVGL-ST-F201 | ||
[35] | NORSOK_M_001 | ||
[36] | NORSOK_M-001 | ||
[37] | NORSOK_M-506 |
1.2.6 TOTAL Standards
[38] | GS_EP_COR_102 | ||
[39] | GS_EP_COR_110 | ||
[40] | GS_EP_COR_220 | ||
[41] | GS_EP_COR_221 | ||
[42] | GS_EP_COR_222 | ||
[43] | GS_EP_COR_226 | ||
[44] | GS_EP_COR_250 | ||
[45] | GS_EP_COR_251 | ||
[46] | GS_EP_COR_401 | ||
[47] | GS_EP_PLR_100 | ||
[48] | GS_EP_PLR_109 | ||
[49] | GS_EP_PLR_401 | ||
[50] | GS_EP_PLR_405 | ||
[51] | GS_EP_PLR_410 | ||
[52] | GS_EP_PLR_501 | ||
[53] | GS_EP_PLR_502 | ||
[54] | GS_EP_SPS_002 | ||
[55] | GS_EP_SPS_004 | ||
[56] | GS_EP_SPS_007 | ||
[57] | GS_EP_SPS_024 | ||
[58] | GS_EP_SPS_025 | ||
[59] | GS_EP_SPS_029 | ||
[60] | GS_EP_SPS_038 | ||
[61] | GS-EP-GEO-202 | ||
[62] | GS-EP-PLR-109 | ||
[63] | GS-EP-PLR-110 | ||
[64] | GS-EP-PLR-401 | ||
[65] | GS-EP-PLR-405 | ||
[66] | GS-EP-PLR-426 | ||
[67] | GS-EP-PLR-425 | ||
[68] | GS-EP-PLR-228 | ||
[69] | GS-EP-PLR-227 | ||
[70] | GS-EP-PLR-226 | ||
[71] | GS-EP-PLR-205 | ||
[72] | GS-EP-PLR-152 | ||
[73] | GS-EP-PLR-151 | ||
[74] | GS-EP-EXP-105 | ||
[75] | GS-EP-EXP-103 | ||
[76] | GS-EP-EXP-101 |
1.2.7 Deepwater Reference Books
[77] | T084-EN001 | ||
[78] | T084-EN002 | ||
[79] | T084-EN003 | ||
[80] | T084-EN004 | ||
[81] | T084-EN005 | ||
[82] | T084-EN006 | ||
[83] | T084-EN007 | ||
[84] | T084-EN008 | ||
[85] | T084-EN009 | ||
[86] | T084-EN010 | ||
[87] | T084-EN011 |
1.3 Definitions & Abbreviations
In TOTAL PLR general specification the use of following terms are defined:
"pipeline" or "pipeline system" is used to talk about subsea pipelines/systems
"flowline" is used for infield lines
"sealine" could be any subsea line
“export lines” are "pipelines" not "flowlines" and often referred as “export pipeline”
1.3.1 Definitions
- Crack
Planar and bi-dimensional feature with possible displacement of the fracture surfaces.
- Deepwater
Water column comprised between 500m (1600ft) and 1500m (5000ft) of water depth..
- Deformation
Change in shape, such as a bend, buckle, dent, ovality, ripple, wrinkle or any other changer, which affects the roundness of the pipe's cross-section or straightness of the pipe.
- Deviation
Difference observed by the auditor between what is described in the reference used and what is applied.
- DP vessel
Dynamically Positioned vessel means a unit, a ship or vessel which automatically maintains its position and heading with respect to one or more references, exclusively by means of thruster forces.
- Flowline
The conduit system e.g. steel pipeline, flexible line, bundle, etc., divided in two parts: static "sealine” section resting on seabed and dynamic "riser" section ‘hanging’ from seabed to surface
- Pitting
Localized corrosion of a metal surface that is confined to small areas and takes the form of cavities called pits.
1.3.2 Abbreviations
- CAPEX
Capital Expenditure
- C-Mn
Carbon-Manganese
- CRA
Corrosion Resistant Alloy
- CSD
Cutter Suction Dredger
- CTOD
Crack Tip Opening Displacement
- DAF
Dynamic Amplification Factor
- DEH
Direct Electrical Heating
- DGPS
Differential Global Positioning System
- DNV
Det Norske Veritas
- DP
Dynamic Positioning
- DP
Dual Port
- DSV
Diving Support Vessel
- EHT
Electrical Heat Tracing
- ERW
Electric Resistance Weld
- FBE
Fusion Bounded Epoxy
- FEA
Finite Element Analysis
- FLET
Flowline End Termination
- FOC
Fiber Optic Cable
- FS
Field Signature
- FSM
Field Signature Method
- GOM
Gulf of Mexico
- GTAW
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- HAZ
Heat Affected Zone
- HDPE
High Density Poly ethylene
- HIC
Hydrogen Induced Cracking
- HIC
Hub Inspection Camera
- HP
High Pressure
- HT
High Temperature
- ID
Internal Diameter
- ID
IDentification
- ILT
In-Line Tee
- IPB
Integrated Production Bundle
- IPB
In Plane Bending
- IPU
Integrated Production Umbilical
- JIP
Joint Industry Project
- LCC
Life Cycle Costing
- LDS
Limit State Design
- LNG
Liquefied Natural Gas
- LRFD
Load Resistance Factor Design code
- MLEC
Mid-Line Electrical Connector
- NDT
Non Destructive Testing
- OD
Outside Diameter
- OHTC
Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient
- OOS
Out Of Straightness
- OPEX
Operational Expenditure
- PA-11
Polyamid 11
- PE
PolyEthylene
- PEX
Cross Wound Polyethylene
- PGMAW
Pulsed Gas Metal Arc Welding
- PIP
Pipe in Pipe
- PLEM
Pipeline End Manifold
- PLET
Pipe Line End Termination
- PP
PolyPropylene
- PU
Production Unit
- PU
Pump Unit
- PUF
Polyurethane Foam
- PVC
Polyvinyle Chloride
- PVDF
Polyvinylidene Fluoride
- RAO
Response Amplitude Operator
- ROV
Remotely Operated Vehicle
- SAW
Submerged Arc Welding
- SCC
Stress Corrosion Cracking
- SECT
Skin Effect Current Tracing
- SMYS
Specified Minimum Yield Strength
- SPM
Single Point Mooring
- SSCC
Sulphide Stress Corrosion Cracking
- TIG
Tungstene Inhert Gas
- TMCP
Thermo-Mechanical Controlled Processing
- VIV
Vortex Induced Vibration
- VLS
Vertical Laying System
- WD
Water Depth
- WT
Wall Thickness
1.4 Acknowledgements
We wish to thank the manufacturers and subsea contractors for the provision with courtesy of technical information and photographs of their products.