51313-02408-CP in High Consequences Areas: Challenges and Solutions in Eastern Ecuador Oil Production Fields

Available for download

Product Number: 51313-02408-SG

ISBN: 02408 2013 CP

Author: Jorge Canto Ibanez

Publication Date: 2013

Member Price: $0.00

Non Member Price: $20.00

Price: $20.00

Qty:

With the price of oil continuously increasing the exploitation of mature fields will continue without regard the increasing amount of water that older wells tend to produce. With no end of operations in the near future water cut between 90 and 96 percent of the transported volume and temperatures higher than 180 F some considerations need to be taken into account to adapt maintenance practices for these new conditions. Internal corrosion is without any doubt the most clear and present risk to the integrity of pipelines since production water usually contains high levels of chlorides CO2 H2S and sulfite reducing bacteria due to the anaerobic conditions inside the oil formation. However cathodic protection engineers also need to take into account the presence of this new highly conductive electrolyte inside the pipelines; especially in areas were isolation devices area installed. This paper presents the problems related to cathodic protection current crossing trough isolations joints by the internal water phase transported by pipelines. Real examples area presented that lead to failure and leeks as well as analytical and numerical calculations that explain the phenomena and the application of possible solutions. A real size laboratory mockup is used to characterize the extent and type of internal corrosion that is likely to occur. By the use of different diameter pipes in the laboratory experiments a relation between the diameter of the pipe and the range of the damaged is presented. Several solution approaches are described for discussion including internal cathodic protection internal coatings relocating isolations joints to strategic locations and the application of NACE SP-0286 “Electrical Isolation of Cathodically Protected Pipelines”