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Underwater Inspection Structure & Pipeline,
Repair of Subsea Pipeline
Author: Salvatore Oliverio

San Donato Milanese 15 October 2012
Master in Petroleum Engineering 2011-2012
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Underwater Inspection Structure & Pipeline, Repair of
Subsea Pipeline
San Donato Milanese 15 October 2012
Author
Ing. Salvatore Oliverio
Division Exploration & Production
Dept. MANUT
Company Tutors
Ing. Francesco Gasparri
Ing. Roberto Bianchinotti

University Tutor
Prof. Ing. Francesca Verga
Master in Petroleum Engineering 2011-2012
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Project Scope
Types of Inspection
Sealine Repair Scenarios
Case Study
Conclusions
Agenda

Underwater Inspection Structure & Pipeline, Repair of
Subsea Pipeline
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Project Scope



Study of main technologies used for the inspection and
maintenance of subsea pipelines


To understand how to use these technologies in different
scenarios


Case Study: Problem Analysis and best solution


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Project Scope
Types of Inspection
Sealine Repair Scenarios
Case Study
Conclusions
Agenda
Underwater Inspection Structure & Pipeline, Repair of
Subsea Pipeline
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Types of Inspection
Assurance of suitable pipeline safety level, preventing HSE
Risks (safeguard of environment and people)

Minimization of production losses due to period of
downtime

Minimization of costs for repairing works

Compliance with obligations and regulations


Why?
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Types of Inspection
There are five types of inspections, or examinations,
depending on the procedures and means adopted
General Visual Examination (GVE)


Close Visual Examination (CVE)


Non-Destructive Tests (NDT)


Flooded Member Detection Test (FMD)


Measure of Cathodic Protection (MCP)
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Types of Inspection: General Visual Examination
Significant deformation (misshapen)
or fracture of steel tubulars

Mechanical damage caused by
collisions or falling objects

Leaks from the risers

Condition of the risers and clamps,
including 50 m distance of sealine

State of conductor pipes, paying
special attention to any anomalous
vibrations
Examination of the state of conservation of the jacket/sealine
and reveals any evident defects or damage
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Types of Inspection: Close Visual Inspection
The condition of certain anodes

Corrosion

Mechanical damage

Welds of joints and of the main and
secondary elements
The detailed visual inspection is carried out to detect defects
or damage which are visible but not evident,
and document them
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Types of Inspection: Non-Destructive tests
Non destructive tests are used to highlight fractures and
other defects, superficial or internal, and assess their
nature, location and dimension
Magnetic Particle Inspection


Alternate Current Field Inspection


Ultrasound Test
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Types of Inspection: FMD Test
The FMD (Flooded Member Detection) inspection serves to
identify any cracks through the whole thickness of a tubular
by checking for flooding of the element
flooding of the element
ROV equipped video camera and gamma ray
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Types of Inspection: Measure of Cathodic Protection
The submerged parts are protected against corrosion by
anodes of aluminium, zinc or magnesium alloys or using an
electrical current
measurements of the
potential of the structure
and galvanic anodes

measurements of the sizes
of galvanic anodes

anode sampling for
chemical and
metallographic analysis

profiles of the potential and
of the potential gradient of
submerged pipelines


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Project Scope
Types of Inspection
Sealine Repair Scenarios
Case Study
Conclusions
Agenda
Underwater Inspection Structure & Pipeline, Repair of
Subsea Pipeline
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Sealine Repair Scenarios
Depending on the extension of the damage, repair can involve
Local repair methods in case of localized damages like dents,
gouges in the steel wall, cracks on weld seams
Change of the damaged section for more extended damages that
cannot be accepted, such as damages that lead to pipeline
leakage
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Sealine Repair Scenarios: Local Damage
The main typical damage:

Pin hole leak

Pipe external damage

Damages to pipe bends

Leaking flanges

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Sealine Repair Scenarios: Extended Damage
Factors that influence the best solution:
Water depth

Extent of damage

Diameter of pipeline


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METHOD SELECTION
Sealine Repair Scenarios: Operations
LOCAL DAMAGE
what is procedure?
REPAIR ACTIVITIES
DAMAGE EVALUATION
SEA-LINE PREPARATION cleaning failure
production stopping
and sealine cutting
what is clamp?
EXTENTED DAMAGE
RECOMISSIONING
RISK EVALUATION
LEAK TEST
METHOD SELECTION
SEA-LINE PREPARATION
RISK EVALUATION
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Project Scope
Types of Inspection
Sealine Repair Scenarios
Case Study
Conclusions
Agenda
Underwater Inspection Structure & Pipeline, Repair of
Subsea Pipeline
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Case Study: Inspection Scenario
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS
ACTIVITIES TIMES
OTS-IMMERSION 74h 33
ROV-IMMERSION 91h 43
STAND BY METEO 24h
NAVIGATION TIME 32h
WORK PREPARATION 16h
VISUAL INSPECTION 15h
DATA PROCESSING 20h
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Case Study: Inspection Scenario
ACTIVITIES TOT. DIVES

TIMES
EVG & MPI 5 30h 49
FMD TEST 6 16h 7
ANODE MPC 10 44h 52
ACTIVITIES

TOT. DIVES TIMES

PREP 9 14h 44
NDT 10 18h 19
ANODE EVR 13 19h 27
RISER EVR 7 12h 12
OTHERS 9 9h 51
ROV System
Diving Sistem
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Case Study: Repair Scenario
Project data
Characteristicas of pipeline

Diameter: 14
Nominal thickness: 11,13 mm

Type of steel: X52 GRB
Platform descriptions
Platform A

Laying year: 1981

Depth: 103.5 m



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Clamp: Technical specification
Case Study: Damage and best solution
First leak:

Depth: 56 m
53 m

Distance: 683m

Second leak:

Depth: 74 m
43 m

Distance: 1050m
PROPERTY VALUE
Weight About 180 Kg
Clamp Dimension 14
Pins 1 3/8
Key Opening 2 3/16
Torque 651 ft*lb
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Case Study: Summary of operations

Failure finding & checking by ROV


Dig in leak zone


Coating removal and cleaning of
the pipeline


First breaks visual inspection


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Case Study: Summary of operations

Non Destructive Tests (NDT)


Clamp installation


Restoring the protective
coating with epoxy resin
leak test @ 31bar
positive
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Project Scope
Types of Inspection
Sealine Repair Scenarios
Case Study
Conclusions
Agenda
Underwater Inspection Structure & Pipeline, Repair of
Subsea Pipeline
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Conclusion
Life time extension 3/5 years


Reduced downtime


Avoid long and expensive repairs & interventions



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Acknowledgements


I would like to thank Eni E&P Division Management for
permission to present this work and related results
and MANUT colleagues for the technical support and
needed assistance.
San Donato Milanese 15 October 2012