How Oil and Gas Companies can derive C-Factors in the API RP 14E Erosional Velocity Models for their ‘Clean Service’ Pipelines

In designing pipeline facilities for production and transportation of oil, hydrocarbon gases or non-hydrocarbon gases – CO2 and H2 , consideration is given to pipeline integrity, flow assurance, operation and health/safety issues. Erosion-corrosion of the inner pipeline wall and/or high-pressure losses is of great concern. For many years now, many oil and gas field operators have adopted the America Petroleum Institute recommended practice 14E (API RP 14E) equation to estimate the erosional velocity. Unfortunately, the C-factor (which is an empirical constant) in the API RP 14E equation has been generalized to all field conditions. In addition, there is no concrete scientific evidence behind the basis of its formulation, and various values have been adopted based on field and laboratory experiences. In this work, we present how oil and gas companies could formulate safer erosional velocity models for their sand free or ‘clean service’ pipelines, based on the velocities calculated for the equilibrium flow rate (that is, the intersection of vertical lift performance (VLP) and inflow performance relationship (IPR)). The developed erosional velocity models can be applied, and compared with in-house correlations, for erosional velocity predictions