As the offshore oil and gas industry has moved into ultra-deep water to develop increasingly challenging hydrocarbon reservoirs, selection of suitable materials for dynamic risers has become increasingly difficult. Higher pressures, temperatures and increasing levels of H2S have all left materials used in conventional riser designs, whether based on carbon steel or unbonded flexible pipe technology, struggling to meet the industry’s requirements. To address these challenges, alternate pipe technologies based on fibre reinforced thermoplastic materials are being developed, however appropriate materials selection is still essential for these pipe technologies to be successful as dynamic risers. This paper reviews the different combinations of thermoplastic and fibre that can be selected for dynamic riser applications. It assesses each combination against key material performance criteria that are essential for riser performance. These include strength, fatigue, high temperature resistance and chemical compatibility. Relevant test data is presented and the relative merits of different material combinations are discussed in relation to different riser applications.
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