To data conventional J lay techniques have been used to install the majority of steel carenary risers. Due to the speed of lay a reeling system or the modified J lay technique, as employed on the Seavay Falcon, can provide a more cost effective method of installing steel catenary risers. Both of these techniques are well established for the installation of subsea flowines, however both techniques involve plastically deforming the pipe during the installation process. Steel catenary risers are subjected to significant dynamic loading, concsequntly the fatigue performance is a critical element in the overall riser integrity. A full scale testing programme has been carried out to investigate the effect plastic deformation from the installation process has on the fatigue performance of the riser. This paper presents the results from the test programme, which has included both carbon steel and corrosion resistant alloy pipe, and including the influence of using either conventional welding or radial friction welding.
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