WO2002012776A1 - Faisceau de pipeline isole thermiquement - Google Patents

Faisceau de pipeline isole thermiquement Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002012776A1
WO2002012776A1 PCT/EP2001/009575 EP0109575W WO0212776A1 WO 2002012776 A1 WO2002012776 A1 WO 2002012776A1 EP 0109575 W EP0109575 W EP 0109575W WO 0212776 A1 WO0212776 A1 WO 0212776A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
thermally insulated
pipeline bundle
solid
bundle
grease
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2001/009575
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jean-François Saint-Marcoux
Original Assignee
Stolt Offshore Sa
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB0018999.3A external-priority patent/GB0018999D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB0116307.0A external-priority patent/GB0116307D0/en
Application filed by Stolt Offshore Sa filed Critical Stolt Offshore Sa
Priority to AU2001289817A priority Critical patent/AU2001289817A1/en
Publication of WO2002012776A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002012776A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L59/00—Thermal insulation in general
    • F16L59/14—Arrangements for the insulation of pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L59/143—Pre-insulated pipes

Definitions

  • the invention relates to thermally insulated pipeline bundles, and relates, more particularly but not exclusively to thermally insulated riser pipelines in deepwater oil/gas fields.
  • thermosiphons or cell heat transfer. Thermosiphons occur when water or other fluid is heated in the vicinity of the hot course (usually the flowline) and migrates towards a colder area (usually the outside of the tower or, if present, the injection lines). In addition, at the beginning of the cool- down that follows a temporary cessation of production, the cold fluid surrounding the colder source gathers at the bottom of the riser tower and accelerates the cool-down process. Lastly, the convection issue is even more important when hot flowlines and cold injection lines are bundled together, and may preclude such an arrangement, thereby increasing expense.
  • Seals can be used to isolate the cavities where convection takes place and thus prevent thermosiphons but seals do not prevent convective cells within the isolated cavities and thus fail to prevent this form of heat loss.
  • seals add to the expense and complexity of manufacture also.
  • Gels have also been used as thermal insulation in horizontal flowline bundles, as described in "Shell Gannet C - Offshore Pipeline Technology Conference 1991 - Gannet Project Pipelines System Overview". It is well known in the oil industry, however, that the experiment with gels in the Gannet project has not been a complete success. Moreover, the opportunities for convection and therefore the need for more effective msulation are particularly acute in vertical riser bundles where gel use has not even been attempted. It is noted that a gel is not a single-phase substance, but rather a colloidal suspension comprising a liquid component and a gelling agent. It is doubtful whether requirements to withstand extremes of pressure and temperature can be met in this way.
  • a thermally insulated pipeline bundle which includes at least two elongate tubular conduits for the transport of fluids to and/or from the sea-bed, such conduits being, for example, flowlines, gas-lift lines, injection lines, service lines and/or umbilicals, wherein the elongate conduits are mutually separated by a space therebetween, and s,aid space between the conduits is at least partially filled with a thermally insulating material that is a solid-phase material under the nominal operating conditions of the pipeline bundle.
  • the space between the elongate conduits is partially filled with foam blocks and spaces between the foam blocks and the elongate conduits are filled with the solid-phase material. Gaps between adjacent foam blocks are preferably also filled with the solid-phase material.
  • the solid-phase material is a material which does not flow under the normal operating conditions of the flowline bundle, but which may be caused to flow for injection or emplacement about the elongate conduits, and optionally to accommodate movement between the different components in operation.
  • Paraffin waxes and greases are contemplated as suitable materials, without limitation to these materials.
  • Waxes are esters of high-molecular- weight fatty acids with either a high-molecular- weight monohydric fatty acid or an alcohol other than glycerol.
  • Paraffin waxes are saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons of the methane series.
  • Lubricating greases are solid-phase products of dispersion consisting of a liquid lubricant and a thickening agent, usually 75%-95% (by weight) of lubricating oil, 4%-20% (by weight) of soap (e.g. an alkali soap or an alkaline earth soap), and 0- 5% of additives.
  • a solid-phase material such as, but not limited to, grease.
  • a suitable grease can be selected from available greases which have most and preferably all of the following properties: ;
  • a grease under shear-free or low-shear conditions, a grease is a solid-phase material, whereas at a sufficient magnitude of shear, the grease loses its solidity and starts to behave as a non-Newtonian liquid, i.e. a semi-liquid displaying anomalous viscosity wherein the semi-liquid manifests a decrease in viscosity with an increase in the rate of flow or velocity gradient of the semi-liquid.
  • Preferred grease consistencies for the purposes of the present invention are 'soft' (unworked penetration 265-295 tenths of millimetres), 'very soft' (310-340 tenths of millimetres), and 'exceptionally soft' (355-385 tenths of millimetres), the consistency being determined under standard ISO 2137 by penetration of a standard cone into a grease specimen under defined test conditions, with measurement of penetration depth after a given period. Other consistencies are not excluded however.
  • Suitable subsea valve greases include "DESCO 11(H)” (which is a blend of polymerised castor oil thickened with silica and including hydrogen sulphide inhibitors, antioxidants, and graphite), "CHEMOLA TS-41H” (which is a blend of polymerised castor oils and polyester thickened with silica and including hydrogen sulphide inhibitors, antioxidants, and graphite), both available from South Coast Products Inc in USA.
  • Molybdenum disulphide greases such as those sold under the Trade Mark “MOLYKOTE” may also be used.
  • a paraffin wax-based material may be used to fill void spaces, the paraffin wax-based material being selected to have a melting point that is sufficiently high so as not to melt under operating conditions that will be encountered. Since paraffin wax-based materials are more rigid than grease-based materials, wax- based materials can be used to fill a larger space than grease-based materials, with or without the use of foam blocks. For installation, the wax is heated to liquefaction and pumped into the cavities wherein the wax cools back to solidity.
  • the paraffin wax-based materials may be mixed with other materials or components so as to modify the basic characteristics of the material, for example, hollow beads can be added to adjust the buoyancy of the wax-based mixture.
  • the paraffin wax-based material may be loaded with microspheres, for example, hollow glass microspheres, so as to modify the thermally insulating characteristics and/or the density (buoyancy) of the resultant material, the microspheres being added alone or in addition to one or more other characteristic-modifying materials or components.
  • Suitable mixtures of wax and hollow microspheres are preferably prepared under controlled conditions in a land- based factory, transferred to the site of the marine pipeline bundle or riser, reheated to liquefaction, and pumped into the selected cavities wherein the mixture cools back to solidity.
  • the space between the elongate conduits is filled substantially solely with a paraffin wax-based material.
  • the paraffin wax and grease may both be used, at different places in the pipeline bundle or riser, and/or in shrouded pipeline joints.
  • Solidified wax that is loaded with hollow microspheres can be utilised in relatively large blocks as a buoyancy material, whereas grease is preferred as a shroud-filling material around joints since it is more easily removable than wax for the inspection and/or repair of joints.
  • a second aspect of the present invention comprises use of grease as a thermally insulating material in a marine pipeline or riser assembly.
  • a third aspect of the present invention comprises use of grease to prevent convection in interstices of a thermally insulated marine pipeline or riser assembly.
  • a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises use of a paraffin material as a thermally insulating filler in a marine pipeline or riser assembly, the paraffin material having a melting point that is higher than any operating temperature within the pipeline or riser assembly.
  • Figure 1 is a semi-schematic perspective view of a deepwater installation including a floating production and storage vessel and rigid pipeline riser bundles in a deepwater oil field;
  • Figure 2 shows a transverse cross-section of a riser bundle embodying the present invention
  • Figure 3 shows a transverse cross-section of a horizontal flowline bundle, according to a further embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 4 shows a transverse cross section of an alternative construction of a riser bundle in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 1 the person skilled in the art will recognise a semi-schematic perspective view of a seabed installation comprising a number of well heads, manifolds and other pipeline equipment 100 to 108. These are located in an oil field on the seabed 110.
  • Vertical riser towers 112 and 114 constructed according to the present invention, are provided for conveying production fluids from the seabed to the surface, and for conveying lifting gas, injection water and treatment chemicals such as methanol from the surface to the seabed.
  • the foot of each riser 112 & 114 is connected a number of well heads/injection sites 100 to 108 by horizontal pipelines 116 etc.
  • Further pipelines 118 & 120 link to other well sites (not shown) at a remote part of the seabed 110 .
  • each riser tower is supported by a flotation buoy 124, 126.
  • a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO) 128 is moored alongside the flotation buoys 124 & 126 to provide production facilities and product storage for the wells 100 to 108, together with accommodation for FPSO crew.
  • the FPSO 128 is connected to the risers 112 and 114 by flexible flow lines 132 for the transfer of fluids between the FPSO 128 and the seabed 110, via the risers 112 and 114.
  • individual pipelines may be required not only for hydrocarbons produced from the seabed wells, but also for various auxiliary fluids, which assist in production and/or maintenance of the seabed installation.
  • auxiliary fluids which assist in production and/or maintenance of the seabed installation.
  • a number of pipelines carrying same or a mixture of different types of fluid are grouped in "bundles", and the risers 112 and 114 in this embodiment comprise bundles of conduits for production fluids, lifting gas, injection water, and treatment chemicals, methanol.
  • efficient thermal insulation is required around the horizontal and vertical flowlines, to prevent the hot production fluids cooling, thickening and even partially solidifying within the flowlines, for example, due to the presence of waxes and the formation of hydrates before they are recovered to the surface.
  • FIG 2 shows in detail the cross-section of an integrated riser tower such as the riser 112 or 114 in Figure 1.
  • a large fifty-centimetre steel pipe 200 which forms the backbone of the riser.
  • the interior of the pipe 200 may be filled with air, which can provide useful buoyancy to the riser structure.
  • the core pipe 200 is surrounded by additional buoyancy in the form of pre-shaped syntactic foam blocks 202.
  • This type of foam which is commonly used in subsea installations has a relatively high density, and may include microspheres in a resin matrix, so as to withstand extremes of hydrostatic pressure in deepwater.
  • the syntactic foam must be moulded into shaped blocks, and the insulation 202 in the present embodiment is divided into three inner segments and three outer segments, along the lines 204 shown in Figure 2.
  • the foam blocks 202 are in this example fabricated in six-metre lengths, and held around the core pipe 200 by suitable strapping, for example Kevlar straps with steel fittings.
  • Each complementary (inner and outer) pair of foam blocks 202 is provided with channels which together define a number of spaces 206 for the passage of the flowlines I-VI and other pipes. It is noted that it is difficult to form the foam blocks 202 without substantial dimensional tolerances, as the moulding techniques available are not sufficiently precise. Similarly, low-radius and thin features are not readily formed in such foam material. Accordingly due to the manufacturing process and fabrication sequence the spaces 206 are individually somewhat larger than the pipes I-VI and associated lines to be housed therein.
  • each ovoid space 206 carrying an eight-inch (twenty-centimetre) pipe labelled I, II, HI, TV, V, or VI.
  • Each pipe I to IV is a production line carrying hydrocarbons from the seabed to the surface.
  • Associated with each line I to IV is a smaller line providing the gas-lift supply from the surface to the seabed 110.
  • Pipes V and VI in this example carry water for injection into the reservoir area, thereby promoting hydrocarbon production. Beside and parallel to each of these pipes I-VI is a smaller service line for the injection of methanol and other chemical treatments.
  • the present invention is concerned with mitigating heat losses from the flowlines I-IV to the environment (arrow 'A'), and also from the warm flowlines I-IN to the colder water injection lines V & VI (arrow 'B'). It has been recognised in particular that the natural filling of the ovoid spaces 206 with seawater through the spacing between the foam blocks 202, would permit excessive heat loss through convection in the ovoid spaces 206. To address this problem, these spaces 206 are packed with a neutral-buoyancy solid-phase material, and particularly a grease of the type used (for example) in subsea valves.
  • Suitable subsea valve greases are the aforementioned "DESCO 11(H)", “CHEMOLA TS-41H”, and “MOLYKOTE” molybdenum disulphide greases.
  • the inter-block gaps 204 are also filled with this type of grease.
  • the shroud prevents grease leaking out of the radially outer edges of the gaps 204.
  • Gaskets may optionally be provided to prevent escape of the grease and ingress of seawater at the longitudinal ends of each six-metre block 202.
  • Figure 3 shows a transverse cross-section of a horizontal pipeline bundle 301 housing two pipes F and II' that may be production lines connected (for example) with the riser lines I and II shown in Figure 2.
  • syntactic foam insulation is made in two complementary halves 302 & 303 separated at 304 by tongue and groove formations.
  • a void 306 surrounding each pipe F & II' is filled with grease.
  • the entire bundle 301 is encased within a steel outer casing 308.
  • a methanol injection line 310 forms part of the bundle 301 but does not require thermal insulation for itself.
  • the methanol line 310 is therefore mounted in an external groove 312 formed on the exterior of the lower foam block 303, the line 310 being retained in the groove 312 by means of transversely mounted retainers 314.
  • a space 316 between the casing 308 and the insulation 302 is filled in this instance with inhibited seawater in known manner.
  • the horizontal arrangement of pipes Y and II' shown in Figure 3 is an idealised view of a real pipeline.
  • the interior arrangement of pipes and insulation may be rotated to an unknown angle around the longitudinal axis, for example to leave one pipe vertically above the other pipe instead of being horizontally aligned as in Figure 3.
  • one pipe is producing (i.e. carrying hot oil) but the other pipe is not in use (and is therefore relatively cold)
  • significant heat losses from the hot pipe to the cold pipe can arise, particularly when one pipe is vertically above the other pipe.
  • Figure 4 shows a riser pipeline bundle 400 which is an alternative arrangement for the riser 112 shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.
  • Like numerals have been used in Fig. 4 to identify components that are identical or analogous to components in the Fig. 2 arrangement.
  • the thermally insulating material that was emplaced about the pipes I to VI and the synthetic foam blocks 202 in the Figure 2 arrangement are totally replaced by a paraffin wax mixture 402 loaded with glass microspheres (not separately shown).
  • the paraffin wax material 402 may be mixedproduced in a factory, heated to form a liquid at the riser installation site, and then poured or pumped into the space in the pipeline riser bundle 400 around the riser pipes I-VI and inside an outer skin or housing 404.
  • the skin or housing of sheet steel either remains permanently in place, or is used only as a mould.
  • Wax is preferable to grease for filling large spaces, and of course where any rigidity is required. Wax can also be used in in smaller spaces, however, for example replacing the grease in the arrangements shown in Figures 2 & 3.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Insulation (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un faisceau de pipeline isolé thermiquement (112, 114, 301, 400) qui comprend au moins deux conduits tubulaires de forme allongée (I-VI, I'-II' destinées au transport de fluides vers et/ou à partie du lit marin (110). Ces conduits (I-VI, I'-II') sont par exemple, des goulottes, des conduits d'extraction au gaz, des lignes d'injection, des lignes de service et/ou des liaisons ombilicales, les conduits de forme allongée (I-VI, I'-II') étant séparés l'un de l'autre par un espace (206, 306, 402), cet espace (206, 306, 402) entre les conduits (I-VI, I'-II') étant au moins partiellement rempli d'un matériau d'isolation thermique qui est un matériau en phase solide possédant un point de fusion au-dessus de la température normale d'emploi du faisceau de pipeline (112, 114, 301, 400). Les matériaux d'isolation thermique en phase solide préférés sont des matériaux à base de graisse et/ou de cire. L'espace (206, 306) comprend également des blocs isolants en mousse classique (202, 302, 303), la cire ou la graisse rempli les trous inévitables (206, 306) entre les blocs en mousse (202, 302, 303). Le matériau d'isolation thermique en phase solide remplissant les trous sert à extraire l'eau de mer et à prévenir les pertes de chaleur par thermosiphon et par cellules de convection.
PCT/EP2001/009575 2000-08-03 2001-08-03 Faisceau de pipeline isole thermiquement WO2002012776A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2001289817A AU2001289817A1 (en) 2000-08-03 2001-08-03 Thermally insulated pipeline bundle

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0018999.3 2000-08-03
GBGB0018999.3A GB0018999D0 (en) 2000-08-03 2000-08-03 Pipeline insulation
GB0116307.0 2001-07-04
GBGB0116307.0A GB0116307D0 (en) 2001-07-04 2001-07-04 Pipeline insulation

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002012776A1 true WO2002012776A1 (fr) 2002-02-14

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AU (1) AU2001289817A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2002012776A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7100694B2 (en) 2001-01-08 2006-09-05 Stolt Offshore S.A. Marine riser tower
US7104330B2 (en) 2001-01-08 2006-09-12 Stolt Offshore S.A. Marine riser tower
CN102782242A (zh) * 2009-10-21 2012-11-14 氟石科技公司 用于深水的混合浮标式和拉线式塔和立管
GB2513990A (en) * 2013-03-27 2014-11-12 Vetco Gray Scandinavia As Device for thermally insulating one or more elements of a subsea installation from ambient cold sea water
EP2818399A1 (fr) * 2006-11-08 2014-12-31 Acergy France SA Colonne montante hybride
WO2023151864A1 (fr) * 2022-02-10 2023-08-17 Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited Banc thermique sous-marin avec élément de stockage de chaleur pcm

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2532988A1 (fr) * 1982-09-15 1984-03-16 Inst Francais Du Petrole Methode d'isolation thermique d'un puits
EP0467635A2 (fr) 1990-07-19 1992-01-22 LAND & MARINE ENGINEERING LIMITED Composition d'isolation thermique et procédé pour isoler les faisceaux et caissons de conduites
US6000438A (en) * 1998-02-13 1999-12-14 Mcdermott Technology, Inc. Phase change insulation for subsea flowlines
US6082391A (en) 1997-09-12 2000-07-04 Stolt Comex Seaway Device for hybrid riser for the sub-sea transportation of petroleum products
WO2000040886A1 (fr) * 1998-12-31 2000-07-13 Bouygues Offshore Dispositif et procede thermique d'isolation d'au moins une conduite sous-marine a grande profondeur
US6155305A (en) * 1994-08-29 2000-12-05 Sumner; Glen R. Offshore pipeline with waterproof thermal insulation

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2532988A1 (fr) * 1982-09-15 1984-03-16 Inst Francais Du Petrole Methode d'isolation thermique d'un puits
EP0467635A2 (fr) 1990-07-19 1992-01-22 LAND & MARINE ENGINEERING LIMITED Composition d'isolation thermique et procédé pour isoler les faisceaux et caissons de conduites
US6155305A (en) * 1994-08-29 2000-12-05 Sumner; Glen R. Offshore pipeline with waterproof thermal insulation
US6082391A (en) 1997-09-12 2000-07-04 Stolt Comex Seaway Device for hybrid riser for the sub-sea transportation of petroleum products
US6000438A (en) * 1998-02-13 1999-12-14 Mcdermott Technology, Inc. Phase change insulation for subsea flowlines
WO2000040886A1 (fr) * 1998-12-31 2000-07-13 Bouygues Offshore Dispositif et procede thermique d'isolation d'au moins une conduite sous-marine a grande profondeur

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7100694B2 (en) 2001-01-08 2006-09-05 Stolt Offshore S.A. Marine riser tower
US7104330B2 (en) 2001-01-08 2006-09-12 Stolt Offshore S.A. Marine riser tower
EP2818399A1 (fr) * 2006-11-08 2014-12-31 Acergy France SA Colonne montante hybride
CN102782242A (zh) * 2009-10-21 2012-11-14 氟石科技公司 用于深水的混合浮标式和拉线式塔和立管
GB2513990A (en) * 2013-03-27 2014-11-12 Vetco Gray Scandinavia As Device for thermally insulating one or more elements of a subsea installation from ambient cold sea water
US9297236B2 (en) 2013-03-27 2016-03-29 Vetco Gray Scandinavia As Device for thermally insulating one or more elements of a subsea installation from ambient cold sea water
GB2513990B (en) * 2013-03-27 2020-05-06 Vetco Gray Scandinavia As Device for thermally insulating one or more elements of a subsea installation from ambient cold sea water
WO2023151864A1 (fr) * 2022-02-10 2023-08-17 Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited Banc thermique sous-marin avec élément de stockage de chaleur pcm

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2001289817A1 (en) 2002-02-18

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