Pipe lining | technical article
Engineering polymers such as PVDF can meet the demanding requirements for lining steel hydrocarbon pipelines using proven PE pipe lining installation technologies. Marie Schmidt and Steve Brogden explain how
PVDF internal corrosion protection for subsea hydrocarbon pipelines
Polymers have an extensive track record in oil and gas industry pipelines for internal corrosion protection where the polymer provides a barrier between the transported fl uid and the host pipe. Polyamides (PA) and polyvinylidene fl uoride (PVDF) are employed in fl exible pipes where the transported fl uid may be high temperature sour hydrocarbons. In contrast, the lining of carbon steel pipelines has been almost exclusively restricted to water injection lines using polyethylene (PE). The current market alternatives to polymer liners are carbon steel (with increased wall thickness providing a large corrosion allowance), implementation of chemical dosing, or specifying a corrosion resistant alloy (CRA). However, a polymer-lined carbon steel pipe can offer signifi cant technical and economic advantages in terms of ease of installation, reliability, weight, fl ow assurance, material availability and cost. The market for polymer lined pipes for hydrocarbon
service remains under-developed due to a strong perceived risk within the oil and gas industry that
polymer liners are prone to collapse in service. This article will demonstrate that engineering polymers such as PVDF can be installed in hydrocarbon service using established PE lining technology, allowing a wider operational envelope to be achieved both in terms of the composition of the fl uids transported and the design temperature. Collapse resistance will also be addressed as part of the liner design process, including the ability to vent annular gases back into the transported fl uids. Solef PVDF is perhaps the best known fl uoropolymer used in the oil and gas industry because of its extensive application in fl exible risers and fl owlines since the early 1990’s. Solef PVDF (manufactured by Solvay Specialty Polymers) offers thermal resistance up to 130°C, chemical and permeation resistance to most gases and fl uids, very good mechanical properties, and resistance to rapid gas decompression. Proprietary grades of Solef PVDF were developed specifi cally for lining applications and extensive data on long-term stability according to API standards is available (see
Engineering polymers
provide a cost effective and more durable alternative to CRAs in offshore
hydrocarbon pipelines,
according to Swagelining
November 2012 | PIPELINE COATING 29
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