An alternative approach regarding modelling of the gas diffusion in

flexible pipelines and risers, used for offshore oil & gas production

O abordare alternativă la modelarea difuziei gazului în conducte flexibile și raizere,

utilizate pentru exploatarea resurselor offshore de petrol și gaze

Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

Universitatea Petrol-Gaze din Ploiesti

Marius STAN, PhD - Associate Professor

1 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti 9 NOIEMBRIE 2016
 Introduction
 The offshore oil industry, hoses and raizerele are made with polymers with
internal and external coatings, which provides fluid flow through the inner
and outer insulation in relation to the marine environment. These polymers
have a certain permeability to gas that can facilitate the reduction of the
potential damage mechanisms of the life of the steel layers located between the
pipe and the outer shell of polymer. The destruction mechanisms associated
with water condensation, therefore, they must be removed, [11].
 This presentation describes a model used to study gas diffusion through layers
of flexible pipes by time. The temperature gradient pipe is considered as
temperature dependent permeability rates. This model is coupled with a
calculation that indicate changes in pressure and volume of vapors resulting in
the annular space.Associated mathematical models and methods for solving the
results obtained are presented in MathCad with a user-friendly interface that
helps in data entry and processing results.
 In this presentation will show the possibilities of this software.

2 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

• Flexible pipes and production risers

3 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

http://www.gateinc.com/gatekeeper/gat2004-gkp-2015-02
 • Operating environment for risers production
A significant volume of oil resources is stationed in areas
in deep water and very deep, the depth limit of the current
work. The rapid development of methods for exploration
and production in deep waters, registered in the last
decade concludes that, once reached a record operating in
deep water, it is immediately overcome.
 They are considered deepwater activity in terms of oil,
waters deeper than 400 m; 1 500 m is considered ultra
deep water (over 1 600 m after MMS Mineral
Management Service, USA)
 Oil industry operators are turning to large water
depths, because there are significant resources that ensure
high yields. Some oil wells in these areas can produce 8000
m3 / day crude oil production justifying additional costs
and risk.
 Projects operating from premises situated in water
depths of 2000 m in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and West
Africa Offsore were unimaginable not long ago. A large
number of wells have been drilled at depths of
water; record of 10 400 ft (m 3174) was passed in
February 2013 in the Indian Ocean.
 The most important aspects in production wells located
in deep water depths are related to high water, but also on
the bottom, the hostile environment in which it operates:
waves 30 meters high; Winds exceeding 80 knots (148.2
km / h); low air temperatures: -15 ° C; Sea water
temperature: 0 ° C; marine currents 3 knots (5.5 km / h);

4 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti

Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti
• Exploitation of marine oil and gas
Column production or production raizerul is the portion that lies between the host plant surface
and the seabed near the home of an installation depth. Discharge sizes are from 3 to 12 in (76.2
mm to 304.8). in diameter. The length of the riser is dependent on water depth and configuration
of the column, which may be vertical or a variation waveform. Derivatives may be flexible or rigid
and contained in the operating area of a fixed or floating platform installation type.

The production lines ofshore

http://www.oil-gasportal.com/subsea-technology-and-equipments/

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• Structure


Unbonded flexible pipes over the last 30 years were a key component in the production of oil and
gas offshore.They represent an alternative to rigid steel pipes where they have the advantage of a
quick installation and the potential adaptation for schimbăride route.These benefits often make
unbonded flexible pipes, a more economic solution than rigid steel pipes.
• Successful exploitation of the majority of floating production systems depends on good
performance systems dynamic flexible riser or jumper. The limits are consistently higher pressures
and higher temperatures for deep waters, leading to increasing demands on the performance of
pipe components. Layers of steel materials are decisive for their behavior in acidic environments
static and dynamic applications.
• Unbonded flexible pipe structure requires that the steel is in direct contact with the fluid
product. The medium is determined by permeation of small molecules (mainly H2O, CO2, H2 and
CH4) by lining the polymer. Predictions therefore operating environment is a key issue for the
prediction, design and service life of flexible pipes.
• Unbonded flexible pipes are made of concentric layers of polymer material and steel. In order to
preserve the flexibility of the construction of the pipe layers are not bonded together. The
following figure shows a typical cross section of a flexible layers depicting typical. Different types
of flexible unbonded pipe may omit some of the layers. It is presented in the most general
description of each of the major layers

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 • Structure - General items
Nomenclature
PA11 polyamide 11
PE polyethylene
PVDF poly(vinylidene fluoride)
C concentration (cm3/cm3)
D diffusion coefficient (cm2/s)

Steel Carcass An interlocking layer made of a stainless steel strip. The casing prevents the collapse of the inner hull
and provides mechanical protection against gear (pigging) and abrasive particles. Quality stainless steel structure is
studied in detail, but is outside the scope of this paper research.
Ineer thermoplastic sheth A polymer layer extruded ensure the integrity of the internal fluid. Common types of
polymers are polyethylene (PE), cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), polyamide 11 (PA11) and Polivinilien fluoride)
PVDF.
Pressure armour layer A number of layers composed of helically wound wire form C of steel and / or metal
strips.The layers of reinforcement provides resistance to radial loads.

Fittings traction. A number of structural layers consisting of helically wound flat steel wire. Layers are against and
wrapped in pairs.The layers provide resistance to axial loads. External thermoplastic Sheth (A layer of extruded
polymer) function is to protect steel components pipe from the outside (often seawater) and to provide mechanical
protection.

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Design specifications
The annulus of flexible conduit, armored steel
wires are located in specific geometric
conditions: gap between armor is very small
relative to the surface of steel wires (0.03 <V / S
<0.06 ml / cm2).
If the annular free space can be filled with
seawater or condensation, corrosion conditions
are limited due to report confinement (V / S)
between volume (V) electrolyte and exposed
surface (S) steel wires.
It is important to continuously improve
performance to meet flexible pipe production in
oil and gas operating conditions increasingly
severe. This means that attention is turning to the
design principles applied by the performance
characteristics of the materials used (especially
polymers) and the means of production.

Pressure polymer layer is an important component in the construction of pipelines to make

flexible function pipeline leak resistance. A resin designed to be user is introduced as a
8 barrier to isolate the high pressure hoses temperature / high pressure.
Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti
 • Design specifications

The resin is finally selected a modified PVDF hpolimer.

Material characterization was conducted entirely in compliance
with applicable API standard. It confirmed the excellent
behavior of mechanical strength, chemical, aging resistance,
dimensional stability and low fluaju compatible with
performance requirements.

Flexible pipes are composed of a succession of layers and

layers of thermoplastic extrusions steel / armored spiral (see
figure below), each layer being designed to withstand a
specific charge. The figure below shows the structure of a pipe
element. The combination of the water or sea water, CO2 and
H2S gases resulting infiltrated in a corrosive environment can
cause stress corrosion cracking, hydrogen-induced cracking,
pitting, general corrosion, or in the dynamic risers, to
corrosion fatigue.

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• Challenges related to optimization design
Design challenges related to the use of flexible pipes in deep water are well known (ISO 13628-11).

Thus, some of them listed below:

• The outside diameter greater because of the level
high isolation
• Increased resistance on:
- Hydrostatic pressure
- Breaking fatigue
-Torsion and compression
• The mechanical properties suitable working arrangements

The components of riser production

It should be pointed out that the presence of the two coatings of plastic on top of the insulation slows down the process of condensation
of vapor in the annular space and thus reduce the water content condensed. The amount of water accumulated in the annular steel ring
fused generates a CO2 partial pressure of H2S in the armature respectively.

10 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

• Factors influencing the integrity and life of

INTERIOR factors affecting the integrity External factors affecting the integrity
Rizer Rizer

-Fatigue fracture of steel casing -Wear resulting from the interaction with
deformation housing the plant surface and submerged
-Erosion constructive elements
-Influence of thermal variation -Normal wear constructive materials
-Aging in action -Interacting with other lines submerged
chemical factors -Deterioration protective outer covering
temperature corrosion
water -Hydrogen cracks action
-Diffusion in the annular space of H2S /
CO2
-Fatigue protective coatings
-The formation of hydrates

11 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

 Crack due to the action of hydrogen

Due to damage to the outer covering

contact with the production plant

Steel casing damagecarcasei din otel

Explosion outer covering
due to accumulation of gas in the annular space

12 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

Overview defects in operation

- Damage to the outer covering - 58%

- Flooded annular space - 19%

Statistics UKOOA risks related to production [8]

13 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

Gas diffusion
Gas diffusion through the layers of plastic, mainly CH4, CO2 or H2O is determined using the partial pressures or more fugacity. In
acestcaz, determining the composition of the fluid in the pipe annulus versus time consider the following issues: permeation through
the layers of thermoplastic coatings components. The conclusion consists in finding a way to vent gases from the annular space to
atmospheric pressure [1]

Dispunerea straturilor constructive intr-un raizer de productie

14 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

 • Gas diffusion - permeability
It is well known that polymeric materials can be regarded as watertight only to a certain extent. With a difference of
partial pressure of a fluid in a polymer membrane (liner) will result in higher penetration fluiduluide pressure to low
pressure. The mechanisms of permeation polymers are outside the scope of this work are described extensively in the
literature. Flexible pipe, coatings characterized by migration of gas permeability inside the pipe and the outer casing
annulus. The offshore oil and gas production of molecules of interest are significant and methane (CH4), carbon dioxide
(CO 2), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) and water (H 2 O). Manufacturing companies arealizat research programs in order to
determine the characteristic phenomenon of diffusion constants: permeability diffusion coefficient, solubility, the
polymers used as material for deconstruction to flexible pipes. In addition to the main layers, are included more polymer
layers to prevent wear between the structural layers. The strips of insulation with a low thermal conductivity may be
used, for example, between the main reinforcement and the outer jacket, in order to obtain specific properties of the pipe
insulation.

Partial pressure difference of a fluid to a polymeric membrane

http://ogst.ifpenergiesnouvelles.fr/articles/ogst/pdf/2001/03/klopffer_v56n3.pdf Migration gas particles
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• The model of an element wire

https://www.onepetro.org/conference-paper/NACE-03113

Schematic transport water and gas in a flexible line

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Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti
• Prima lege a lui Fick
Înțelegerea mecanismelor de deteriorare în învelișurile de polimer în timpul decomprimării gazelor trece prin cunoașterea
fenomenelor de transport de gaze în polimeri, prin studiul influenței absorbției gazelor asupra proprietăților materialului,
precum și prin modelarea comportamentului materialului în timpul unei decompresie. Teoria matematică a difuziei (Crank,
1968) într-un sistem izotrop se bazează pe ipoteza proporționalității între fluxul de imprastiere a moleculelor (care este
cantitatea de specii care traversează o membrană pe unitate de timp și de suprafață) și gradientul de concentrație între
ambele fețe ale membranei. Este prima lege a lui Fick, [6]:

J este fluxul de imprastiere a moleculelor

D – coeficientul de difuzie (cm2/s); D = D(C, T, p)
C - concentratia
Această abordare presupune că difuzia urmează legea
unidirecțională a lui Fick. Ea se bazează în principal pe
un studiu de sensibilitate, ceea ce permite obținerea de
rezultate în acord cu măsurile, în starea de echilibru, precum
și
în stare tranzitorie.Metoda numerică se bazează pe o tehnică
de optimizare complexa , ceea ce conduce la Difuzia gazului intr-o membrana polimerica pentru o sectiune ω si
dificultati privind convergenta rezultatului o grosime l .

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• Industrial tests
• The permeability of methane and carbon dioxide plasticized polyvinylidene fluoride water (PVDF) and plasticized polyarnid 11
(PA11) was measured for a number of temperatures and pressures with testing devices. The results were used to study if the annulus
of the flexible pipe will be wetted by water. In order to verify the small-scale test was performed with a 50 mm flexible pipe. The
test showed that the annular space of the flexible pipe is moistened with water when carrying gas and water.

 The permeation coefficient is independent of total pressure

up to 100 bar. Coefficient of permeability to methane and
carbon dioxide seems to be independent of partial pressures
of gases, which is expected by theory.
 The coefficient of permeability to methane and carbon
dioxide in PA11 at 70 ° C, are higher than those found for
PVDF. Water permeation coefficient is lower for PA11 than
PVDF. Coefficient of permeability to methane and carbon
dioxide plasticized PVDF are greater than the deplasticizat
 Coefficient of permeability to methane and water in the test
found large scale tests in accordance with the scale. Both
tests scale and large-scale test confirmed that the annulus of
flexible PVDF pipes will be wetted with water due to
permeation. This means that the environment in the annular
space will be the pipe carrying corrosive gas which
contains carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide and saturated
with water. Corrosive conditions and corrosion fatigue
must be considered when fatigue life of flexible risers are
calculated.

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• The permeability coefficient, Norsk Hydro Research
Centre N-3901 Porsgrunn,Norway

19 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti

Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti http://www.nace.org/cstm/Store/Product.aspx?id=a71ec251-bd2e-4f0c-9bdf-183fd80aba7e
 Numerical simulation 1. CH4

20 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

 Numerical simulation 2. CO2

21 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

 Numerical simulation 3. H2S

22 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

 Numerical simulation 4. H2O

23 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

Conclusion
Ventilation
To avoid gas diffusion effects in terms of maintaining balance in Prasat corrosive environment
created by their penetration is required ventilation gas in the annulus.

To achieve ventilation are taken into account two criteii:

Avoiding collapse (turtirii) upon the request of Lainer differential pressure;
Ensuring the conditions for evaporation gas and water accumulated water in channels ventilated
layer.

Design objectives are:

Setting parameters necessary for ventilation mode (when the start of ventilation, duration of
ventilation, the pressure needed in the upper end);
Assessment of the effects (results) obtained from ventilation (exhaust flow, the amount of fluid
remaining in ventilated layer, the pressure in the lower end thereof).
Establishing the ventilation status of layer fluids and observing the conditions considered to limit the
upper end: continuous ventilation or - Intermittent respectively at atmospheric pressure ventilation
or - sub-atmospheric (vacuum);
Relationships and mathematical equations of the model proposed for the analysis and design of
ventilation for independent parameters of time (geometric) while those for addicts (hydraulic
parameters). works constitute a separate objectives.

24 Universitatea Petrol -Gaze din Ploiesti / Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti

• References
1. Flexible Pipe Design Optimization for West Africa Deepwater : Agbami Production Riser Case Study, AuthorsEugene Sas (Technip) | Jean Marie Pere (Technip) | Pierre
Savy (Technip) |Ahmed Omar (Chevron)DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.4043/19250-MSDocument IDOTC-19250-MSPublisherOffshore Technology ConferenceSourceOffshore
Technology Conference, 5-8 May, Houston, Texas, USAPublication Date2008
2. HIGH STRENGTH METALLIC MATERIALS FOR FLEXIBLE PIPES SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTS AND CORROSION BEHAVIOUR , F. Dupoiron- C. Taravel-Condat,
Technip-Coflexip , Product Research & Development, Rue Jean Hur6 - BP7 - 76580 le Trait , France
3. ANSI/API 17J “Specification for Unbonded Flexible Pipe” 3
4. ANSI/API 17B “Recommended Practice for Unbonded Flexible Pipe” 3, Edition, 2009. rd, Edition, 2008
5. Transport Properties of Gases in Polymers:Bibliographic Review M.H. Klopffer and B. Flaconnèche 1 Institut français du pétrole, Division Chimie et Physico-Chimie appliquées, 1
et 4, avenue de Bois-Préau, 92852 Rueil-Malmaison Cedex – France e-mail: [email protected] - [email protected]
6. Mathematical Modelling of the Permeation of Gases in Polymers, Z. Benjelloun-Dabaghi1and A. Benali1, 1 Institut français du pétrole, 1 et 4, avenue de Bois-Préau, 92852 Rueil-
Malmaison Cedex – France, Oil & Gas Science and Technology – Rev. IFP, Vol. 56 (2001), No. 3
7 Paper No.410, Permeability of Methane, Carbon Dioxide& Water in PA1l & PVDF Used for Flexible Pipes, T. R. Andersen, J. I. Skar and C. Hansteen, Norsk Hydro Research
Centre, N-3901 Porsgrunn,,Norway
8 UKOOA Guidance Note on Monitoring Methods and Integrity Assurance for Un-bonded Flexible Pipe. Doc No. 2-1-4-221/GN01 October 2002
9 Adriana Botto, Céline Banti, and Enda O’Sullivan. MANAGING AGEING FLEXIBLE PIPE ASSETS. In Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Offshore Mechanics
and Arctic Engineering, Estoril, Portugal, 2008
10 ISO 13628-11 Petroleum and natural gas industries -- Design and operation of subsea production systems -- Part 11: Flexible pipe systems for subsea and marine applications
11 Lazăr Avram, Claudiu Tănasă,. N, N. Antonescu, Marius Stan, Valentin Tudorache, UPG Ploiesti , Asupra proiectării coloanelor de raizere şi criteriul de selecţie a acestora, cnr-cme.ro, FOREN 2 016

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