Reelability Assessment of Adhesively Bonded Mechanically Lined Pipe

Abstract

A solution to prevent liner wrinkling in Mechanically Lined Pipes (MLP) with a standard 3.0mm thick liner during reeling, without the use of pressurisation, has been developed in the form of the GluBi® lined pipe. The liner being adhesively bonded to the outer pipe, its integrity is maintained despite the global plastic strain applied by the installation method. This new linepipe product has been qualified for offshore use through testing accompanied by a detailed Finite Element Analysis programme to fully capture the pipe and adhesive behaviours under and range of temperatures and loading conditions. The objective of this analysis program was to investigate the reelability of the GluBi® pipe. The instalability was defined as the capability of the pipe to tolerate cyclic plastic deformation representative of a typical pipeline installation by reeling without the formation of wrinkling of the CRA liner, and to maintain the integrity of the adhesive layer, particularly near the weld overlay at the pipe ends. Important areas of the GluBi® pipe design are the pipe extremities, particularly the transition between the liner and the weld overlay length. A detailed Finite Element model of the pipe was created. It captured all stages of the pipe manufacturing: pipe lining, hydrostatic expansion, adhesive curing, overlay weld deposition and reeling simulation. The pipe modelled was 312.1mm OD × 19.7mm WT SMLS 450 with a nominal 3.0mm thick Alloy 625 liner. An important validation work was performed to obtain a precise material response of the adhesive layer between liner and outer pipe. The adhesive mechanical properties were thus assessed in shearing and peeling over a range of temperatures covering all possible manufacturing and installation conditions. The model's elements and adhesive property modelling were validated against physical test results. Sensitivity analyses were done on the adhesive curing temperature, the geometry of the adhesive transition between the liner and the overlay weld at the pipe ends and on the liner thickness. The model was subjected to reeling simulation corresponding to Subsea 7's reel-lay vessels. The liner's integrity post reeling was assessed according to a range of acceptance criteria. These studies made it possible to establish parameter ranges for the safe installation of the linepipe.