Recent design work regarding deep Gulf of Mexico (GOM) subsea flowlines has
emphasized the need to identify, develop, and verify critical relationships between corrosion
prediction and flow regime mechanisms. In practice this often reduces to a pragmatic
interpretation of the effects of flow on corrosion mechanisms. Most importantly the
identification of positions or sites, within the internal surface contact areas where the maximum
corrosion stimulus may be expected to occur, thereby allowing better understanding,
mitigation, monitoring and corrosion control over the life cycle. Some case histories have been
reviewed in this context, and the interaction between corrosion mechanisms and flow regimes
closely examined, and in some cases correlated. Since the actual relationships are complex, it
was determined that a risk based decision making process using selected ‘what if’ corrosion
analyses linked to ‘what if’ flow assurance analyses was the best way forward. Using this
methodology, and pertinent field data exchange, it is postulated that significant improvements
in corrosion prediction can be made. This paper outlines the approach used and shows how
relating corrosion modeling software data such as that available from corrosion models
Norsok M506, and Cassandra to parallel computational flow modeling in a targeted manner
can generate very noteworthy results, and considerably more viable trends for corrosion
control guidance.
Keywords: ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable), CO2 corrosion, corrosion allowance,
corrosion resistant alloy (CRA), decision gates, erosion, fit for purpose solutions, inherently
safe design, localized corrosion, life cycle performance, risk basis, top of line corrosion