PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The project aims to resolve some of the technological requirements associated with subsea pipe insulation in future deep water and higher temperature wells. Experience of the performance of insulation materials in such conditions is limited; for example in deep water few systems have been used beyond depths of 1000m while future developments are planned to 2000m and beyond. These increasing well depths bring with them corresponding increases in the lengths of flowlines which again demands efficient and long term effectiveness of the insulating system in order to prevent cooling of the fluids. Improved functionality over the life of the system will extend the productivity of marginal wells while reducing the requirement for expensive workover treatments, necessary to prevent the formation of hydrate plugs and wax deposits.

Description of work
The objectives are to develop new materials/systems, new evaluation methods and new software to provide economical, validated deepwater pipe and riser insulation systems. The concept introduced in this project is that of the material system - a combination of materials, (the study will include the possibility of using recycled materials, new processing methods and novel concepts of materials) to meet the insulation and mechanical performance of this service. An effective and representative screening test regime will also be developed to screen these material systems. Such tests will allow long-term service life to be predicted and improve system performance. Current tests are considered inadequate by the industry and those developed as a result of this project will be presented to the relevant international committees as draft standard protocols. Performance related testing will address the long-term durability of the coatings allowing accurate life-cycle prediction with improved performance.

Prediction of the dynamics of deepwater and ultra-deepwater riser systems is also a crucial part of the design process. The necessary tools do not exist. The project will therefore, also, develop state of the art design software for the systems addressing the effects of the additional insulation coating on the dynamic stiffness and fatigue properties of the pipes while providing improved thermal assurance modelling software. This software will act on a global level modelling the pipe or riser and the local level modelling heat loss/retention.
At the mid-term evaluation point, the project will move to full-scale validation, if successful to that point. The complete insulated pipes will be tested full scale and then be installed for trials to validate the procedures and materials developed. On successful termination of the project a demonstration project will be planned putting the tools from this project in to service.

Expected results and exploitation plan
The mix of partners in combination with a well-represented end user group provides a balanced representation throughout the supply chain and a spread across the EU community. This partnership allows clear definitions of the individual exploitation routes. Each of the partners is a Trans-European organization with customers, clients or manufacturing facilities throughout Europe allowing further and wider EU exploitation. The work is to be further exploited through dissemination of the test techniques through standardization and regulatory authorities meeting EU Social Objectives. The partners can further disseminate throughout technical conferences, committees and European Operators Associations. These activities show this project to have significant added value to the EU community.