Residual Strength of Corroded Pipelines Under External Pressure: A Simple Assessment

Author(s):  
T. A. Netto ◽  
U. S. Ferraz ◽  
A. Botto

The loss of metal in a pipeline due to corrosion usually results in localized pits with various depths and irregular shapes on its external and internal surfaces. The effect of corrosion defects on the collapse pressure of offshore pipelines was studied through combined small-scale experiments and nonlinear numerical analyses based on the finite element method. An extensive parametric study using 2-D and 3-D numerical models was carried out encompassing different defect geometries and their interaction with pipe ovalization. This paper briefly summarizes these results, which are subsequently used to develop a simple procedure for estimating the collapse pressure of pipes with narrow defects.

Author(s):  
T. A. Netto ◽  
U. S. Ferraz ◽  
A. Botto

The loss of metal in a pipeline due to corrosion usually results in localized pits with various depths and irregular shapes on its external and internal surfaces. The effect of external corrosion defects was studied via a series of small-scale experiments and through a nonlinear numerical model based on the finite element method. After calibrated in view of the experimental results, the model was used to determine the collapse pressure as a function of material and geometric parameters of different pipes and defects.


Author(s):  
T. A. Netto

Internal corrosion in pipelines is often caused by water, sediment, or chemical contaminants present in the multi-phase flow. This normally occurs at the bottom of the pipe and at low points in the pipeline where sediment and water can settle out of the product being transported, therefore creating narrow and long defects. The effect of corrosion defects on the collapse pressure of offshore pipelines was studied through combined small-scale experiments and nonlinear numerical analyses based on the finite element method. After calibrated in view of the experimental results, the model was used to determine the collapse pressure as a function of material and geometric parameters of different pipes and defects. An extensive parametric study using 2-D and 3-D numerical models was carried out encompassing different defect geometries and their interaction with pipe ovalization. This paper reports these results which are subsequently used to develop a simple procedure for estimating the collapse pressure of pipes with narrow defects.


Author(s):  
Nara Oliveira ◽  
Theodoro Netto

The collapse pressure of pipelines containing corrosion defects is usually predicted by deterministic methods, either numerically or through empirical formulations. The severity of each individual corrosion defect can be determined by comparing the differential pressure during operation with the estimated collapse pressure. A simple deterministic procedure for estimating the collapse pressure of pipes with narrow and long defects has been recently proposed by Netto (2010). This formulation was based on a combined small-scale experimental program and nonlinear numerical analyses accounting for different materials and defect geometries. However, loads and resistance parameters have uncertainties which define the basic reliability problem. These uncertainties are mailyrelated to the geometric and material parameters of the pipe and the operational conditions. This paper presents additional experimental tests on corroded pipes under external pressure. The collapse pressure calculated using the equation proposed by Netto (2010) is compared with this new set of experiments and also with test results available in open literature. These results are used to estimate the equation uncertainty. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed to identify how geometric parameters of the defects influence the reduction of collapse pressure.


Author(s):  
N. Oliveira ◽  
T. A. Netto

Abstract The collapse pressure of subsea pipelines containing corrosion defects is usually predicted by deterministic methods, either numerically or through empirical formulations. A simple deterministic procedure for estimating the collapse pressure of pipes with narrow and long defects has been recently proposed by Netto, T. A. (2009, “On the Effect of Narrow and Long Corrosion Defects on the Collapse Pressure of Pipelines,” Appl. Ocean Res., 31(2), pp. 75–81) and Netto, T. A. (2010, “A Simple Procedure for the Prediction of the Collapse Pressure of Pipelines With Narrow and Long Corrosion Defects—Correlation With New Experimental Data,” Appl. Ocean Res., 32(1), pp. 132–134). The formulation was based on a combined small-scale experimental program and nonlinear numerical analyses accounting for different materials and defect geometries. This paper presents additional experimental tests on corroded pipes under external pressure. The collapse pressure calculated using the equation proposed by Netto is compared with this new set of experiments and also with test results available in open literature. These results are used to estimate the equation uncertainty. A sensitivity analysis is also performed to identify how geometric parameters of the defects influence the reduction of collapse pressure. However, loads and resistance parameters have uncertainties. These uncertainties are related to the geometric and material parameters of the pipe and the operational conditions. To account for these uncertainties, a method to predict the probability of collapse of a corroded pipeline along its operational life is proposed. The methodology is illustrated through a case study in which concepts of structural reliability are used to evaluate the detrimental effect of corrosion damages in a pipeline, providing the basis to develop a risk-based maintenance strategy.


Author(s):  
Marco A. P. Rosas ◽  
Ana Paula F. Souza ◽  
Marcos V. Rodrigues ◽  
Danilo Machado L. da Silva

In this paper the behavior and the relationship between hydrostatic collapse pressure and diametrically opposed radial compressive force for pipelines were analyzed. This study presents an introduction of a research work aimed to assess the pipeline collapse pressure based on the radial collapse force. Initially the hydrostatic collapse pressure is analyzed, for pipes with different diameter to wall thickness ratio (D/t) and ovalities, using classical assessment (DNV method) and numerical models (FE). Then, the compressive radial force is also analyzed using numerical models validated by a small-scale ring specimen test. After that, the relationship between hydrostatic collapse pressure and compressive radial force is discussed. These first results show that the radial force is a quadratic function of the collapse pressure.


2017 ◽  
Vol 898 ◽  
pp. 741-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Li ◽  
Hong Zhang ◽  
Meng Ying Xia ◽  
Kai Wu ◽  
Jing Tian Wu ◽  
...  

Due to the harsh environment for submarine pipelines, corrosion damage of the pipeline steels is inevitable. After the corrosion damage, pipelines are prone to failure and may cause serious consequences. The analysis of the effects of different steel properties on the collapse pressure of pipelines with corrosion defects is of importance for the option of appropriate pipeline and avoiding accidents. Based on the finite element method, the finite element model of the pipeline with defects under external pressure was built. Firstly, the accuracy of the numerical model was validated by comparing with previous experimental results. The effects of yield strength and strain hardening exponent on collapse pressure of pipelines with different sizes of defect were discussed in detail. Results showed that the yield strength and strain hardening exponent have different influences on collapse pressure: the collapse pressure increases with the increasing yield strength, and the collapse pressure decreases with the increasing strain hardening exponent.


Author(s):  
Xavier Castello ◽  
Segen F. Estefen

Sandwich pipes composed of two steel layers separated by a polypropylene annulus can be used for the transport of oil&gas in deepwaters, combining high structural resistance with thermal insulation in order to prevent blockage by paraffin and hydrates. In this work, sandwich pipes with typical inner diameters of those employed in the offshore production are analyzed numerically to evaluate the ultimate strength under external pressure and longitudinal bending as well as the effect of the reeling installation method on the collapse pressure. Numerical models were developed using the commercial finite element software ABAQUS. The validation was based on experimental results. The analyses for combined loading were performed using symmetry conditions and the pipe was reduced to a ring with unitary length. The analysis of bending under a rigid surface was simulated numerically according to the experiments performed using a bending apparatus especially built for full scale tests. Symmetry conditions were employed in order to reduce the analysis to a quarter of a pipe. Mesh sensitivity studies were performed to obtain an adequate mesh refinement in both analyses. The collapse pressure was simulated numerically either for the pre or post reeling process. Bauschinger effect was included by using kinematic hardening plasticity models. The influences of plasticity and out-of-roundness on the collapse pressure have been confirmed.


Author(s):  
A. P. Teixeira ◽  
O. G. Palencia ◽  
C. Guedes Soares

This paper aims at assessing the reliability of pipelines with corrosion defects subjected to external pressure. Several design methods that explicitly account for the effect of corrosion damages on the collapse pressure of pipelines are considered. In particular, semi-empirical design equations derived from small-scale experiments and three-dimensional non-linear finite element analyses and design code methods currently used in practice are adopted. First, the design methods are analyzed and their predictions compared and then used to formulate the reliability problem of corroded pipelines subjected to external pressure. The reliability analysis adopts the state-of-the art stochastic models to characterize the uncertainty on the main parameters influencing the structural safety of corroded subsea pipelines. Parametric and sensitivity analyses are then performed for different levels of corrosion damages to identify the influence of the various parameters on the collapse probability of corroded pipelines under external pressure.


Author(s):  
T. A. Netto ◽  
J. M. C. Santos ◽  
S. F. Estefen

Pipeline systems for deepwater applications must be designed to withstand operational loads and to give adequate thermal insulation to the hydrocarbon being transported. Sandwich pipelines composed by inner and outer steel pipes and either cement or polypropylene as core material are proposed here as viable alternatives to currently used pipe-in-pipe systems. The main advantage of these sandwich structures is that the core material and geometry can be selected so to provide both thermal insulation and good structural performance in conjunction with inner and outer pipes. In this paper, the structural behavior of such sandwich pipes under external pressure is studied through a series of small scale experiments and nonlinear numerical analyses based on the finite-element method.


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