VEB4133 Pipeline & Risers

Introduction to Pipeline
and
Chapter-1

Professor Dr Nasir Shafiq

Civil & Environmental Engineering UTP
Email: [email protected]
Synopsis

This course will cover the fundamental concept of pipeline and

riser designs.

The scope of the course is further elaborated into the knowledge

of pipeline route selection and installation methods.

The discussion will be limited to offshore pipelines

Course Learning Outcome
Contents and SLT
Marks Distribution
Introduction: Offshore Field Development

 This lecture gives a historical overview of offshore oil field

development, flowlines, and pipelines.
 The offshore oil and field technology progresses based on
below development:
 Different types of platforms and associated components
 Developments at the seabed (subsea components).
 Pipelines and risers' design.
 Introduction:
Offshore Field
Development

It is all about
extracting the
hydrocarbon out from
the seabed.
Offshore Field Development – The Value Chain
Offshore Field Development
Offshore Field Development
Offshore Field Development – At the Seabed
Subsea Structures and Equipment

Subsea structures are designed to contain the

equipment needed for specific field development.

They surround the various subsea components

needed for optimal performance, ensuring efficient
operation during installation and through a field's
life.

In addition to gathering or distributing subsea

infrastructure such as flowlines and umbilicals, they
also protect sensitive equipment from the external
environment, such as trawler fishing nets.
Subsea Structures and Equipment

The subsea structures and  flowline jumpers,

 Pipeline End Termination
equipment typically include;
(PLET)
 subsea trees,
 Subsea flowline,
 well jumpers,
 Risers,
 subsea manifold,
 Umbilicals.
Subsea Wellheads - Production Wells

 When a well is drilled, the structure placed on the seabed is

called a wellhead.
 There may be a single wellhead, though often, several units
may be grouped to form a block.
 Attached to the top of the wellhead are the control units called
subsea trees.
 The wellhead assembly is usually contained within a
supporting structure called a template.
 Many also have a protection structure covering all the subsea
equipment, as shown in the image to the right.
Subsea Wellhead
Subsea Templates

 A subsea template is a large steel structure that serves as a base

for various subsea structures, such as wells, subsea trees, and
manifolds.
 The image shows several wellheads on a subsea template:
 The wellheads can be seen with their guide bases (4 x white
rods) protruding from each corner, which are used to locate
other equipment, i.e., trees.
 The size of a template is dependent on the number of structures
attached to it.
 Many will have protective structures covering them, as does
Subsea Templates

Subsea template supporting wellheads and protective structure

Subsea Xmas Trees

 Subsea trees are structures attached to the top of subsea wells

to control the flow of oil/gas to or from a well.
 The combined structures can extend to 7 meters above the
seabed height when attached to a subsea well.
 They are made up of pipework and valves within a supporting
steel framework and present a substantial hazard to towed
fishing gear.
 When several subsea trees and associated wells are used as a
group, they are placed on a template structure.
Subsea Xmas Trees – Vertical (VXT)
Subsea Xmas Trees – Horizontal (HXT)
Subsea Manifolds

According to ISO 13628-1, A manifold is a system of headers,

branched piping, and valves used to gather produced fluids or to
distribute injected fluids.
Subsea Manifold
Subsea Manifolds
Subsea Manifolds
Subsea Umbilical

 A subsea umbilical is a bundle of cables and conduits that

transfer hydraulic and electric power within the field (long
distances) or from topsides to subsea.
 They also carry chemicals for subsea injection and gas for
artificial lift.
Introduction to Pipeline & Risers

 The term pipe is a closed conduit, usually of circular cross-

section.
 It can be made of any appropriate material, such as steel or
plastic.
 The term pipeline refers to a long line of connected pipe
segments, with pumps, valves, control devices, and other
equipment/facilities needed to operate the system.
 It is intended for transporting fluids (liquids or gases), mixtures of
fluids and solids, or fluid-solid mixtures.
 Pipelines are generally the most economical way to transport large
quantities of fluids, i.e., water, oil, or natural gas, over land.
Introduction to Pipeline & Risers

 A pipeline system is defined as a pipeline section extending

from an inlet point (may be an offshore platform or onshore
compressor/pumping station) to an outlet point (maybe
another platform or an onshore receiving station).
 Offshore pipelines can be classified as follows:
 Flowlines transporting oil and/or gas from satellite subsea wells
to subsea manifolds;
 Flowlines transporting oil and/or gas from subsea manifolds to
the production facility platforms;
 Infield flowlines transporting oil and/or gas between
Introduction to Pipeline & Risers

 Export pipelines transporting oil and/or gas from production

facility platforms to shore and
 Flowlines transport water or chemicals from production facility
platforms through subsea injection manifolds to injection
wellheads.
 In general, pipelines have THREE (3) types:
 Trunk and Flowlines
 Transmission Lines
 Distribution Lines
Offshore Pipelines
Trunk and Gathering Lines

 Trunk and flow lines are pipes connecting the wells with the
treatment plants.
 Flow lines are the connection from the well itself to either a
treatment plant or a gathering station.
 The trunk lines are usually the bigger lines.
 They often carry much oil to the final treatment.
 Depending on the characteristic of the crude, the problems faced in
these lines are various, in detail:
 Waxing
 Corrosion
 Scaling / Fouling
 Sludge
Oil Pipelines
• Crude oil is collected from field gathering systems consisting of
pipelines that move oil from the wellhead to storage tanks and
treatment facilities where the oil is measured and tested.
• Oil pipelines are made from steel or plastic tubes with inner
diameters typically between 10 and 120 cm (about 4 to 48 inches).
• Most pipelines are buried at a typical depth of about 1 - 2 meters
(about 3 to 6 feet).
• Crude oil is sent from the gathering system to a pump station,
where it is delivered to the pipeline.
Oil Pipelines
• The pipeline may have many collection and delivery
points along the route.
• Booster pumps are strategically placed along the pipeline
to maintain the pressure and keep the oil flowing. The oil
typically moves at a speed of about 1 to 6 m/s, ensuring
a steady and efficient flow.
• The delivery points may be refineries, where the oil is
processed into products, or shipping terminals, where the
oil is loaded onto tankers.
• A pipeline may handle several types of crude oil.
• The pipeline will schedule its operation to ensure the right
crude oil is sent to the correct destination.
Oil Pipelines
• The pipeline operator sets the date and place when and where the oil
is received and when the oil will arrive at its destination.
• Crude oil may also move over multiple pipeline systems as it
journeys from the oil field to the refinery or shipping port.
• Storage is located along the pipeline to ensure smooth, continuous
operation.
Natural Gas Pipelines

 Natural gas pipelines move gas from the field to consumers.

 Gas produced from onshore and offshore facilities is
transported via gathering systems and inter- and intra-state
pipelines to residential, commercial, industrial, and utility
companies.
 For natural gas, pipelines are constructed of carbon steel and
vary in size from 2 inches (51 mm) to 56 inches (1,400 mm) in
diameter, depending on the type of pipeline.
 The gas is pressurized by compressor stations and is odorless
unless mixed with an odorant where required by the proper
Natural Gas Pipelines

 Most natural gas pipelines operate using a complex have

become so automated that they are capable of operating
under command of a computer system that coordinates the
operation of valves, prime movers, and conditioning
equipment.
Offshore to Onshore via Pipelines
Oil and Gas Pipelines in South-East Asia
Pipelines Network and Components

 Pipeline networks comprise several pieces of equipment that

operate together to move products from location to location.
 The main elements of a pipeline system are described in the
figure on the next slide.
 Initial Injection Station—This is also known as the Supply or
Inlet station. It is the beginning of the system, where the
product is injected into the line.
 Storage facilities, pumps, or compressors are usually located
at these locations.
Pipelines Network and Components
Pipelines Network and Components
Pipelines Components

 Compressor/Pump Stations - Pumps for liquid pipelines and

Compressors for gas pipelines are located along the line to move
the product through the pipeline.
 The terrain’s topography defines the location of these stations, the
type of product being transported, or the network’s operational
conditions.
 Partial Delivery Station—These facilities, also known as
Intermediate Stations, allow the pipeline operator to deliver part of
the transported product.
 Block Valve Station - These are the first line of pipeline protection.
 With these valves, the operator can isolate any segment of the line for
maintenance work or isolate a rupture or leak.
Pipelines Components

 Block valve stations are usually located every 20 to 30 miles

(48 km), depending on the type of pipeline.
 Even though it is not a design rule, it is a usual practice in liquid
pipelines.
 The location of these stations depends exclusively on the nature of the
product being transported, the trajectory of the pipeline, and/or the
operational conditions of the line.

 Regulator Station - This is a special type of valve station,

where the operator can release some of the pressure from the
line. Regulators are usually located at the downhill side of a
peak.
Pipelines Components

 Final Delivery Station - Known also as Outlet stations or

Terminals, this is where the product will be distributed to the
consumer.
 It could be a tank terminal for liquid pipelines or a connection to a
distribution network for gas pipelines.
COMPONENTS OF PIPELINE

The important components of pipelines are:

 Fittings
 Valves
 Joints
 Flow meters
 Sensors and components etc
Fittings

 Screwed pipe fittings are to be used with threaded pipes.

 Welding and socket-welding fittings, on the other hand, are used with
nonthreaded pipes.
 The purposes of different fittings are:
Types of Fitting and Their Purposes
Valves

 A valve is a device that regulates,

directs or controls the flow of a fluid (
gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or
slurries) by opening, closing, or
partially obstructing various
passageways.
 Valves are technically pipe fittings but
are usually discussed as a separate
category. In an open valve, fluid flows
in a direction from higher pressure to
lower pressure.
Types of valves

The various types of valves and their functions

are as follows.

Gate valve
 A gate valve is closed and opened by
turning the handle connected to it, which
raises or lowers a stem (shaft) connected to
the gate.
 The gate valve used in oil or natural gas
pipelines has a conduit with a whole round
bore for smooth passage of pigs or scrapers.
 They are called conduit gate valves or full-
bore gate valves.
Types of valves

Globe valve
 The globe valve, with its
distinctive globe shape, causes the
flow to change direction as it
passes through.
 This design leads to a significant
headless, even when the valve is
fully open. However, it offers
superior flow control compared
to gate valves, making it ideal for
flow throttling.
Types of valves

Angle valve
 Same as globe valve except that the
flow direction is changed by 90° as the
flow leaves the valve.
 It is used only in locations of 90° bends
and is good for flow throttling.

Ball valve
 The gate is a large bead (i.e., a large
sphere having a central piercing).
 The gate is turned from a completely
closed to a fully open at 90°.
 When fully open, it causes little
blockage to the flow and hence has
Types of valves

Plug valve
 Similar to ball valve except that
instead of a pierced ball, a
pierced plug is used. Used
mainly in small lines (tubing),
where it is usually referred to as
a cock valve.
 The valve can be lubricated or
non-lubricated and has multiple
ports, such as a 3-way valve.
Types of valves

Butterfly valve
 It uses a center-pivoted disk gate. This is the most
economical type used in large pipes, as in penstocks.
 It must be closed slowly, or the valve can be easily
damaged.
 Not for pipeline transportation of solids due to wear by
solids.

Diaphragm valve
 A diaphragm separates the valve from the fluid.
 Consequently, the valve can be used with corrosive
fluids or abrasive slurry.

Pinch valve
 Pinches a flexible tube to restrict or control the flow; is
Types of valves

Check valve
 Flow cannot reverse through a check valve; the
valve produces unidirectional flow.
 Three check valves are swing check valves
(horizontal or vertical lift types), tilt disk
check valves (do not slam), and ball check
valves.
Foot valve
 A special vertical-lift type check valve
embedded in the vertical end of a pipe
connected to a reservoir below. The foot valve
is used there to prevent the pump from losing
priming when the flow is stopped.
Types of valves

Pressure relief valve

 The pressure relief valve, also called the
safety relief valve, or simply the safety.
 The pressure relief valve is usually a spring-
loaded valve with the spring preset to
withstand certain pressure.
 When the pressure in the pipeline is within
the preset value of the valve, the valve is
closed and has no influence on the flow in the
pipe.
 However, when the pipe pressure rises to a
dangerous level, the safety valve's preset
pressure pushes back the spring, opening the
valve.
Types of valves

 Pressure regulating valve (PRV)

Pressure regulating valve (PRV) is an automated special valve mounted
in a pipeline to regulate the pressure (i.e., maintain the pressure within a
predetermined range) in the pipe downstream of the regulator. Unlike the safety
valve, which is a small valve mounted on the pipe wall and can affect only a small
portion of the flow through the pipe, the PRV is mounted in the main pipe
Flow meters

Flow meter is the device used to measure

flow rate through any cross-sectional area.
 Types of flow meter
 Flow meter usually refers to the
instrument for measuring the flow rate
through a pipe, either the volumetric flow
rate (discharge Q, in units such as cfs and
m3/s), or the mass or weight flow rate as in
the units of lb/s, or kg/s.
 Flowmeters play a central role in pipeline
instrumentation and monitoring. There are
many types of flowmeters.
Flow meters

There are many types of flow meters.

Elbow Flowmeter
 An elbow flowmeter uses an existing elbow or bend of a pipe to
measure the discharge through the pipe.
 The meter is based on the principle that whenever a flow passes
through a pipe bend, a centrifugal force is generated.
 This force causes the pressure on the outer side of the bend to rise
beyond that on the inner side of the bend by an amount proportional
to the square of the velocity or discharge
Rotating Flowmeter

 Many types of rotating flow meters are commercially

available. They include propeller, turbine, vane, gear, and
cup types.
 They are unsuitable for flows that contain solids.
 They are used widely in liquid and gas pipelines in branches
(distribution lines) where pigs do not pass.
 Water meters used for rate charges to the customers most
often use rotating flow meters.
 Most of them are the positive-displacement type, with the
volume of flow passing through the meter being directly
proportional to the number of turns of the meter.
Rotating Flow meter

 Vibratory flowmeters have a loose part exposed to the flow, vibrating at a

frequency proportional to the fluid velocity and the discharge.
 A common type is a wobbling disk.
 The disk wobbles at a frequency proportional to the volumetric discharge
of the liquid through the pipe.
 Another type is based on the vibration of a circular cylinder held
perpendicular to the flow.
 The vibration is caused by vortex shedding, which is a phenomenon
discussed in elementary fluid mechanics texts.
 Vibratory flow meters can be used for liquids and gases that do not
contain solids and where pigs or capsules do not pass through.
Rotameters

 Rotameters use a float inside a transparent

vertical tube to determine the flow rate.
 The meter must be mounted in a vertical
part of the pipe with the flow going
upwards.
 The transparent tube is tapered, having an
expanded diameter with height.
 As the flow rate increases, the float moves
to a higher location in the meter tube.
 The meter is calibrated and graduated to
determine the flow rate (discharge Q) from
the float’s location.
SENSORS AND EQUIPMENT

Various sensors and equipment other than flow meters monitor and control
pipelines.
 The most important ones are:
Manometers
 Manometers provide the most economical, reliable, and accurate way to
measure pressure—both gauge pressure and differential pressure.
 Unfortunately, because the practical range of pressure that can be determined
with a manometer is limited, and because manometers can only measure
steady-state and slowly varying pressures, in many cases, a pressure transducer
instead of a manometer is used.
 Because the sensitivity of a manometer is inversely proportional to the density
of the liquid used in the manometer, for low-pressure cases (water head less
than 4 inches), it may be advisable to use a liquid having a density lower than
SENSORS AND EQUIPMENT

 To prevent the capillary effect from causing

errors in pressure readings, manometer tubes
should have a minimum diameter of ½ inch
or 6 mm.
 Pressure transducers
 A pressure transducer is a transducer that
converts pressure into an analog electrical
signal.
 Although there are various pressure
transducers, one of the most common is the
SENSORS AND EQUIPMENT

Other types are:

1. absolute-pressure transducers that measure the absolute pressure instead of the
relative or gage pressure,
2. relative-pressure transducers that measure the gage pressure,
3. differential-pressure transducers that measure the differential pressure between two
taps,
4. static-pressure transducers that measure both the steady-state pressure and a slowly
varying pressure that varies at a frequency within the frequency range of the
transducer capability,
5. dynamic-pressure transducers that are used only for high-frequency variation of
pressure and do not measure or under-represent the low-frequency part of the signal,
6. high-temperature pressure transducers that are capable of operating in a high-
temperature environment and
7. miniature pressure transducers for measuring pressures connected to small taps and
in situations where the measuring equipment must be compact, etc.
SENSORS AND EQUIPMENT
Temperature sensor

 There are two general categories of temperature sensors: contact

and noncontact.
 The noncontact type is also called a pyrometer.
 Temperature transducers come in three general types:
1. resistance temperature detector,
2. thermally sensitive resistors, and
3. thermocouples.
Velocity Sensors

 Sometimes, it is necessary or desirable to measure the fluid velocity

at specific locations in a pipe, such as the centerline of the pipe.
 When that happens, one should carefully choose the most
appropriate velocity sensor for the measurement.
 The most fundamental and accurate method to measure fluid
velocity, be it a liquid or a gas, is by using a Pitot tube.
 Two common Pitot tube types are the simple Pitot tube (also called
stagnation tube) and the Prandtl-type Pitot tube.
Other Sensors

Vibration sensors
 Vibration sensors should be used to monitor vibration in critical parts of a pipeline
system where it may be a problem.
 The two most common types of vibration sensors are accelerometers and displacement
sensors. The accelerometer, as its name suggests, measures the acceleration of any
structural part.
Strain gages
 For the safe operation of a pipeline system, all parts of the pipeline, including valves
and pumps, must operate within the elastic limit of the material.
 When there is doubt as to whether a pipe or any other part is stressed beyond the
elastic limit of the material, strain gauges can be used to find the answer.
 Strain gages are transducers that measure directly the strain (i.e., unit elongation) of
any part of a structure or machine that is under stress.
 Once the strain is measured, the stress can also be calculated from the strain by using
Pipeline Design – An Overview

 The design of pipelines is usually performed in three stages,

namely;
 Conceptual engineering,
 Preliminary engineering or pre-engineering,
 Detail engineering.
Pipeline Design – Conceptual Engineering

 The primary objectives are:

 To establish technical feasibility and constraints on the system design
and construction;
 To eliminate nonviable options;
 To identify the required information for the forthcoming design and
construction;
 To allow basic cost and scheduling exercises to be performed;
 To identify interfaces with other systems planned or currently in
existence.

 The value of the early engineering work is that it reveals

potential difficulties and areas where more effort may be
required in the data collection and design areas.
Pipeline Design – Preliminary Design

 The primary objectives are normally:

 Perform pipeline design so that the system concept is fixed.
This will include:
 Verifying the pipeline against design and code requirements for
installation, commissioning, and operation;
 To verify the sizing of the pipeline;
 Determining the pipeline grade and wall thickness;

 Prepare authority applications;

 Perform a material take-off sufficient to order the line pipe
(should the pipe fabrication be a long lead item, requiring early
start-up).
Pipeline Design – Preliminary Design

 The level of engineering is sometimes specified as sufficient to

detail the design for inclusion into an “Engineering,
Procurement, Construction and Installation.”
 The EPCI contractor should then be able to perform the
detailed design with the minimum number of variations as
detailed in their bid.
Pipeline Design – Detail Engineering

 The detailed engineering phase, as the name suggests, is a

crucial stage in the project.
 It involves the development of designs to a level where all
technical aspects for procurement and construction tendering
can be precisely defined.
 Primary objectives can be summarized as:
 Route optimization;
 Selection of wall thickness and coating;
 Confirm code requirements on strength, Vortex-Induced Vibrations
(VIV), on-bottom stability, global buckling, and installation;
 Confirm the design and perform additional design as defined in the
Pipeline Design – Detail Engineering

 Development of the design and drawings in sufficient detail for the

subsea scope. This may include pipelines, tie-ins, crossings, span
corrections, risers, shore approaches, subsea structures;
 Prepare detailed alignment sheets based on the most recent survey data;
 Preparation of specifications, typically covering materials, cost
applications, construction activities (i.e., pipelay, survey, welding, riser
installations, spool piece installation, subsea tie-ins, subsea structure
installation) and commissioning (i.e., flooding, pigging, hydro test,
cleaning, drying);
 Prepare material take-off (MTO) and compile necessary requisition
information for the procurement of materials;
 Prepare design data and other information required to the certification
authorities.
Pipeline Design

 A complete pipeline design includes pipeline sizing (diameter

and wall thickness) and material grade selection based on stress
analyses, hydrodynamic stability, span, thermal insulation,
corrosion and stability coating, and riser specification.
 The following data establish the design basis:
 Reservoir performance
 Fluid and water compositions
 Fluid PVT properties
 Sand concentration
 Sand particle distribution
 Geotechnical survey data
 Meteorological and oceanographic data
Pipeline Design