5. Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali
Qualifications of Polymeric Materials and Related Challenges in Flexible Pipes for Offshore Applications
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

6. Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali
Presentation Outline
Introduction of flexible pipes
Qualification programs
Ageing tests
Assessments
Validations
Implementations
Closing comments
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

7. Basic Features of Flexible Pipe
Carcass: Provides collapse resistance
Inner liner: Contains the process fluid within the pipe bore (PVDF, XLPE, PA)
Pressure armour: Provides resistance to internal pressure & radial compressive loads Tensile armour: provides resistance to axial tensile loads Outer sheath: prevents seawater ingress into the annulus (PA, HDPE)
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

8. Basic Features of End-Fitting
O-Ring
Outer Gasket
Inner Gasket
Lip Seal
Insulation Ring
An end-fitting joins the flexible pipes
Epoxy
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

9. Flexible Pipe General Arrangement
TOPSIDE END FITTING
SUBSEA END FITTING
PAD EYE PULL HEAD
BEND RESTRICTORS
BEND STIFFENER
MWA CLAMP
BULL NOSE PULL HEAD
MALE REACTION FLANGE
TRANSPORT & INTERMEDIATE FLANGES
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

10. Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali
Applications
Dynamic riser /static flow lines for
transportation of fluid hydrocarbons/gas,
and chemicals
Dimensions
ID: From 2” to 15”
Length: From a few hundred meters to kilometers
Working conditions
Water depths: From a few 100 meters down to 2000 meters
Temperature: From subzero up to 130°C
Pressure: From 345 bar to 900 bar
Environment: Harsh chemicals(pH=4-12),corrosive gas(H2S,CO2)
Service life
Minimum of 20 years
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

11. Qualification Programs
Standards
API 17J (ISO )
API 17TR1
API 17TR2
Client specifications
Scale
Small (Lab.)
Mid
Full
Mechanical bending rig for lateral buckling
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

12. Property Requirements
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

13. Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali
Test Procedures
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

14. Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali
Ageing Tests
Materials:
Identical to those employed in the pipe (i.e. extruded)
Conditions:
Within the design/service range of the pipe
Test environments:
Depending on the materials position in the pipe
Duration:
Change in the key properties reaches to steady state
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

15. Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali
Ageing/Failure Mode
Physical
Creep, Fatigue, Blistering, Crack, Rupture,
Chemical
Hydrolysis, Oxidation, Thermal
Physicochemical
Embrittlement, Weathering, Relaxation
Creep into Gaps
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

16. Factors Influence Ageing Mode
Structural
Morphology: crystallinity vs. amorphous
Bond chemistry: covalent vs. non-covalent
Functional group with heteroatom
Environment
Chemical agent
Heat / UV-irradiation
Stress/load
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

17. Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali
Assessments
Key properties
Tensile strength, E-modulus
Dimensional stability
Chemical integrity
Physical integrity
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

18. Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali
Validations
By thirds party (e.g., Bureau Veritas)
Implementations
Compiling qualifications of all the materials employed
in the pipe in individual material dossier
The obtained knowledge through qualifications
are basses for the design guide and developments of the pipes
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali

19. Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali
Closing Comments
Challenging process
Highly complex system
No trivial design
Tough applications
Laborious/Costly
Conservative business field
19 June 2014
Afshin Ghanbari-Siahkali