8 Inch Flexible Steel Pipe: Design and Qualification for Onshore and Shallow Water Applications

摘要

The FlexSteel flexible steel pipe system is analogous to those deployed in the offshore oil and gas industry for over 30 years, but designed and optimized for onshore and shallow water applications. The pipe construction consists of a flat steel strip reinforcement helically wrapped around a thermoplastic liner, combining the advantages of bimodal high density polyethylene pipe with the established properties and strength of steel. The steel reinforcement is isolated from the pipe contents and external fluids by the thermoplastic corrosion resistant liner and external cover. The 8 inch nominal diameter pipe offers a cost-effective, larger diameter spoolable solution. This paper details the qualification of the pipe to API 17J requirements for burst, tension, and hydrostatic collapse testing, as well as API 15S/ISO 18226 requirements for accelerated life testing of end connections. Details of a custom system for swaging end fittings and midline connections are presented along with field handling trials.