Application of spoolable composite tubing to oil gas industry flowlines

摘要

Steel coiled tubing has gained growing acceptance as flowlines in oilfield applications due to its quick install time and reduced welding requirements compared with jointed steel pipe. However, steel is susceptible to corrosion and fatigue limits and is quite heavy. Spoolable Composite tubing (SCT) is a commercially available product that solves both the weight and corrosion issues and addresses other shortcomings of steel coiled tubing in flowline applications. Current SCT product applications include buried and above ground flowlines, pipeline relining and high pressure injection strings. One application under development utilizes small diameter composite tubing, bundled for sub-sea control line umbilical suitable for static or dynamic operations in offshore oil and gas production. While the composite tubing offers many solutions, there are a number of major issues that require solutions before it can replace metal pipe. These considerations include temperature rating, chemical compatibility, connections, stiffness transitions and in-field handling techniques. This paper will discuss aspects of product design and development, spooling requirements, review the commercial developments and provide an overview of the current project for deployment of a high-pressure sub-sea control umbilical.