Abstract
With the aim of maintain Oil and Gas production in the Lake of Maracaibo fields, avoiding flowlines systems failure occurrence due to external and internal corrosion, it was necessary to initiate a project to study the availability of substituting failed metallic pipelines by composite materials alternatives. Due to the lack of experience in the use of flexible pipe for offshore application in Venezuela, it was mandatory to evaluate the behavior of this technology during real operation in the Lake of Maracaibo. Three flowlines transporting multiphase oil/water/gas flow and six gas lift flowlines were deployed, installed and commissioned in 2009 with the objective of evaluating the materials and operational performance during service. An exhaustive evaluation program was developed and performed under the API 17 J and API 17 B requirements and recommendations with the objective of assuring the mechanical integrity of the flexible pipes prior and during service. Mechanical properties test, hydrostatic pressure test, gas-venting test, aging test and gauge test were performed in laboratory for new and aged samples retrieved from service every three months. Continuous inspection and monitoring of the gas venting system during service was also set up. After three years of service, no failure or damage associated with the material in any of the nine experimental flowlines deployed in the Lake of Maracaibo were detected, opening the possibility to use the flexible pipe technology to restitute the Oil/Gas production.
