Flexible tubulars come of age: Difficult to build, but so versatile, flexible pipe stands on the threshold of exponential growth as applications multiply

摘要

Flexible pipe has been around for a long time, making its commercial debut in 1967. Using technology that borrows heavily from the cable manufacturing business, just a few companies have managed to perfect the process that turns out thousands of feet of rugged flexible flowlines, jumpers and risers. As the manufacturing technique was refined, research labs were busy qualifying metals, polymers and elastomers to extend the environmental envelope in which the pipe could be safely deployed. Today, flexible pipe can contain up to 15,000 psi internal pressure, and temperatures ranging from -40℃ (-40°F) to +130℃ (266°F). A wide range of diameters can be constructed, from slim 2-in. ID umbilicals to 16-in. ID marine risers. And the pipe can be configured to contain a broad range of hydrocarbons, water or chemicals.