Petronas’ TCP Flowline for Hydrocarbon Service

 

Project description: The world's first crude oil TCP Flowline
In 2012, Petronas Carigali contracted Strohm for the development & qualification of non-metallic, subsea flowline. Petronas have a large stock of corroding subsea flowlines that suffer from Sulphur Reducing Bacteria (SRB), or Microbacteria Induced Corrosion (MIC), for which Petronas seeks a solution in the form of taking the corrosion element out of the equation. The qualification program included, besides a variety of lab and prototype testing, full scale offshore installation testing. With successful completion of the whole program, a pilot flowline was installed in 2017. 

 

Key system characteristics

Lower total installed cost:

  • Fast installation
  • Terminated offshore
  • Single operation platform tie-in
  • No divers

Lower total cost of ownership:

  • No corrosion
  • Less pigging
  • No inhibitors, biocides pumping

Specifications

  • Inner Diameter: 6''
  • Pressure rating: 100 bar
  • Water depth: 50 m
  • Length: 500 m

Scope of Work
The Petronas pilot for a crude oil flowline was installed in West Lutong. Key project scope split in two main elements:

Platform to platform I-tube connection:

  • ​TCP Flowline I-tubes on both platforms
  • TCP pull-through I-tube, pipe termination onsite
  • I-tube assembly lifted in place at both platforms

 Pre-assembly of TCP Flowline and pull to install offshore:

  • On-bottom stability through chain connected to flowline
  • Tug-boat taking flowline to location
  • Cutting of buoyancy to sink flowline, divers to connect flowline end-fittings to I-tube sections

Execution
Pilot project proved following TCP specific elements:

  • TCP pull-through I-tube and onsite termination
  • TCP on-bottom stability measure by means of chain
  • Installation of the world’s first TCP for crude oil service
  • Completing TCP Flowline qualification for Petronas

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