OTC 21524--Outcomes from the SureFlex Joint Industry Project – An International Initiative on Flexible Pipe Integrity Assurance

摘要

This paper presents the key findings from a significant, international joint industry initiative that took place over a period of about 20 months to September 2010. The SureFlex joint industry project (JIP) was run under the auspices of Oil & Gas UK and has had the financial support of twelve companies including operators, manufacturers and a legislative authority. The JIP has had technical contributions and provision of operational data from all the major operators of flexible pipe worldwide, flexible pipe manufacturers and flexible pipe specialists in the field. The JIP has produced two documents, namely i) a Stateof- the-Art of Flexible Pipe Integrity, and ii) a Guidance Note on Flexible Pipe Integrity Assurance, and these documents are available publicly through Oil & Gas UK. The paper shows key findings from the extensive survey work performed including flexible pipe operational use worldwide, with statistics on design limits, damage and failure incidences. The paper summarises the latest inspection and monitoring techniques for flexible pipe and shows trends on how the technology is developing in this important segment. The paper very much addresses an important aspect of flexible pipe technology, subsea integrity, monitoring and inspection technologies, life extension and best practice integrity guidance for flexible pipe.