Abstract
For two decades the mechanically lined pipe has been applied as onshore and offshore pipeline in the oil and gas transportation. Up to now more than 1,000 kilometres of this kind of linepipes have been installed. In the past the main offshore installation methods for mechanically lined pipes were S-lay, J-lay or Bundle. The objective was to produce a reelable mechanically lined pipe with dimensions of 6 up to 18" without any further procedures such as application of internal pressure or reinforcements of the liner material. Over the last years, various approaches were investigated to prepare the mechanically lined pipe for the reeling technique which is much more efficient and economic than the above mentioned installation methods.
The manufacturing process of the new product is based on the process of the mechanically lined pipe called BuBi®. A CRA pipe is expanded inside a carbon steel pipe, using a hydroforming process. Between the two pipes a glue is coated to produce adhesion. The pipe ends are welded using a weld overlay method. The main development work was finding a solution of the welding at a glued pipe end. This was successfully done.
The result is a glued linepipe called GluBi® having the same weldability and processability properties as the well-known mechanically lined pipes and it is reelable without the risk of wrinkling. Furthermore the strength and corrosions resisting properties as well meet the requirements of the onshore and offshore oil and gas transportation. Currently the new product development is going through the DNV qualification DNV-RP-A203. The market launch is planned for 2017.
The main benefit of the new product, the glued mechanically lined pipe, is the cost saving factor. The reeling process can be faster because the pipe section does not have to be filled and pressurized with water. Another advantage is the lighter weight. The vessel is able to load more pipes. The glued mechanically lined pipe is a reasonable completion of the metallurgically clad pipe and the conventional mechanically lined pipe. It will find its place in the future of the oil and gas business.
