Risk assessment of the erosive process in the production pipeline of an Wet Christmas Tree as an indicator for inspection request

Abstract

Wet Christmas Trees (WCTs) pipes are susceptible to erosion owing to the presence of solid particles in the oil. The thickness measurements of these pipes are performed using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). This study aims to assess the risk of leakage caused only by erosion, specifically for curved sections, based on the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) methodology. Data processing was performed using the Monte Carlo method by utilizing the operational and design data from a WCT with the aid of @Risk 8.2 software. The results demonstrate that the risk of leakage is too low, mainly because the design of the pipes of this WCT is conservative. However, the operator is responsible for determining their tolerance level and scheduling inspections accordingly. Through sensitivity analysis, was observed that an increase in sand content, water, oil, and gas flow rates most significantly impacted thickness reduction due to erosion.