The Future of Offshore Pipelining - Offshore

8/9/2019 The Future of Offshore Pipelining - Offshore

1/10

07/01/2015 The future of offshore pipelining - Offshore

http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/print/volume-62/issue-6/news/general-interest/the-future-of-offshore-pipelining.html 1/10

Home

New research seeks to understand wax

formation | Previous Article

Next Article | Subsea pigging solution

provides new options for deepwater

production

The future of offshore pipelining

06/01/2002

By Willem J. Timmermans

President, Intec Engineering

PART II: This is the second in a two-part series about the history and the future ofoffshore pipelines.

The last three decades of offshore pipe-line work have seen some spectacular feats.

Three laybarges, including EPTM's 1601, laid the Frigg pipeline in 155-m water depth in

the North Sea in 1974. The Viking Piper laid the 36-in. line across the Norwegian

Trench in 1983. The Saipem7000 laidthe 18-in. Diana pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico in

1,800-m water depth in 1999.

The basis for the offshore pipeline industry is that there is a need for oil and gas, and

the places where oil and gasare found are not the places where it will be consumed.

Some form of transport is needed. The next assumption is that the most efficient means

of transport will continue to be a pipeline.

Growing energy consumption

The world population is forecast to almost double over the next 50 years, with China,

South Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America expected to be primary growth areas. A

growing pressure to use cleaner-burning fuel and favor gas instead of coal and fuel oil

permeates the industrialized world, and the pressure will be on the developing world to

HOME MORE PIPELINE & TRANSPORTATION NEWS THE FUTURE OF OFFSHORE PIPELINING

HOME

REGIONAL REPORTS

DRILLING & COMPLETION

FIELD DEVELOPMENT

SUBSEA

GEOSCIENCES

PIPELINES

PRODUCTION

RIGS/VESSELS

DEEPWATER

BUSINESS BRIEFS
http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/deepwater.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/vessels.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oil-production.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/pipeline-transportation.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/geology-geophysics.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/subsea.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/subsea.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/print/volume-62/issue-6/news/general-interest/subsea-pigging-solution-provides-new-options-for-deepwater-production.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oilfield-development.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/print/volume-62/issue-4/news/new-research-seeks-to-understand-wax-formation.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/print/volume-62/issue-6/news/general-interest/subsea-pigging-solution-provides-new-options-for-deepwater-production.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/drilling-completion.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/index.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/index.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oil-company-news.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/deepwater.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/vessels.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/index.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/print/volume-62/issue-6/news/general-interest/subsea-pigging-solution-provides-new-options-for-deepwater-production.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/pipeline-transportation/pipeline-transportation-news.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oil-production.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/index.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/geology-geophysics.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/vessels.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/drilling-completion.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oilfield-development.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/pipeline-transportation.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oil-company-news.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/print/volume-62/issue-4/news/new-research-seeks-to-understand-wax-formation.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/deepwater.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/subsea.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/index.html


2/10



The Saipem 7000 was tapped to lay the Blue Stream pipeline from

Turkey under the Black Sea to Russia in 2,160 m water depth.

Click here to enlarge image

Several pipelines are proposed to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The blue lines are

existing pipelines, and the red are some of the proposed lines.

follow this lead.

In 1990, coal represented about 24% of all energy sources, and oil and gas represented

50%. The world's primary annual energy demand is about 10 gigatons of oil equivalent.

This is estimated to double in the next 50 years, barring technological breakthroughs in

nuclear energy, and assuming there is no consensus to drastically reduce carbon

emissions from current levels.

The prevailing view is that there will be no shortage of oil and gas in the next 30 years.

The places where new reserves are found will be increasingly harder to get to, and

much effort will be spent on commercializing new and renewable forms of energy. Fuel

efficiency will increase through technological advances, such as the use of fuel cells in

automobiles and more efficient lighting and heating systems and appliances. Oil and

gas consumption will grow considerably over the next 30 years and beyond, but the

focus will increasingly be on gas. The developing world will show a more rapid

economic growth as it attempts to catch up.

Transportation needs

The need for pipelines to transport oil and gas includes offshore field-related flowlines

and pipelines required to get the oil to a storage vessel or tanker loading facility, and

the gas to an existing pipeline or to shore. These are usually rather short lines of limited

diameter, but the water depths in which these are installed are increasing.

Developments are taking place in depths of 1,500 m, and this will go to 3,000 m or

deeper over the next 30 years.

Installation of such lines and the attendant tie-in systems and risers will require

specialized deepwater vessels, of which a number are now or will shortly be in service.

This market will grow as the offshore potential of West Africa, Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico,

and other areas is tapped. Deepwater field developments will increase substantially in

number and water depth. From a pipeliner's point of view, this is a mixed blessing, as

the lines are short and actual pipeline installation is only a small part of the required

activity.


3/10


http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/print/volume-62/issue-6/news/general- interest/the-future-of-offshore-pipelining.html 3/10


In addition, these projects require the combination of specialized design and project

management, as well as installation capability, and are often contracted on an

engineering, procurement, and construction basis. It will be a market segment high in

engineering and project management content.

The market for long-distance pipelines will be dominated by gas. Over the next three

decades, more gas production regions will have to be connected to markets over

lengthening distances. This will be stimulated by offshore pipelines' advantage over

onshore lines. Offshore lines minimize issues of land ownership and concerns of

political instability. The industry's improving ability to install pipe in very deep water also

contributes to the advantage of offshore lines.

The deep work will require specialized deepwater lay vessels capable of installing pipe

at close to vertical departure angles. Increased demand will prompt the building of

additional vessels. There will be a need for deepwater gas pipeline installation of the

largest diameter possible.

Projects under consideration

A number of deepwater gas pipeline projects are being given serious consideration and

will likely be completed in the next decade:

Middle East to India and Pakistan through the Arabian Sea along the path of the

originally proposed Oman-India pipelineSeveral pipelines across the Mediterr-anean, including the Medgas line from

Algeria to Spain, which is in the preparation stages, the Libya to Sicily line, which

begins construction soon, the planned Morocco to Spain line, and a planned line

from Algeria to Italy via Sardinia and Corsica

Pipelines from northern Russian fields to Western Europe through the Baltic Sea

The Asian Gas Grid from Natuna Sea to South and East China

Pipelines from Eastern Siberia and China to Japan.

Beyond these projects, one can imagine others across the Bay of Bengal, between

Australia and Southeast Asia, along the Brazilian coast, and so on.


4/10



The Saipem 7000 laid two 24-in. lines,

along with Saipem's Castoro Otto,

which will be used for shallow water

pipelay work from 170 m water depth

to the shore.


Long distance transport

Transporting oil over long distances is still done primarily by tanker, but compared to

tankers, pipelines are a much safer means of transport, as marine mishaps

demonstrate. The distances over which oil is transported are such that pipelines are not

an economic alternative unless the cost of tanker transport increases and the pipeline

cost drops.

The cost of tanker transportation is bound to go up as stricter regulations are

implemented to reduce the risk and consequences of oil spills. It is up to the offshorepipeline industry to reduce the cost of pipelines by greater efficiency and productivity,

continuing the trend of the last 30 years, and by developing new ideas and techniques.

One such idea is the reduction in wall thickness for deepwater pipelines. The

diameter/wall thickness ratio for a pipeline in 2,000 m depth is about 20, a number that

has been steadily growing as knowledge of material properties and behavior improves.

A 30-in. diameter gas pipeline would need a 1.5-in. wall thickness, something that will

not only strain the capabilities of the pipe manufacturing industry, but also thepocketbooks of the investors. For a 1,000-km-long pipeline, this means a total of

727,525 tons of steel.


5/10



Wall thickness is governed by the collapse criteria, but if the line were installed flooded

with water, the wall thickness would be controlled by internal pressure considerations

only, provided that the internal pressure never went below a critical level. For a liquids

line, this is not an issue. For a gas pipeline, this is an issue. If the industry can assure

that the gas pressure would not go below a certain safe limit, then even a gas pipeline

can be installed wet with considerable reduction in wall thickness.

A 30-in. diameter line with 1-in. wall thickness is about neutrally buoyant when empty.

When filled with water, it weighs about 388 kg/m, so that in 2,000 m water depth, the

installation vessel has to hold up nearly 881 tons of pipe. This should be well within

feasible equipment limitations, as even today the equipment needs to be capable of

holding on to an accidentally flooded pipeline.

As the water is replaced by gas or air during start-up, the weight of the compressed gas

at about 200 bar will give enough added weight to assure stability. The question then

becomes how to safeguard the system against accidental pressure loss due to damage

to the line or operating error.

Considering what the oil industry has achieved thus far, this does not appear to be an

insurmountable problem. But the long-distance oil pipeline issue still has not been

resolved. Installing a water-filled line is feasible, and the oil pipeline wall thickness

would be even less because the operating pressures are generally lower.

In fact, one could even think of a thin-walled membrane similar in shape to a fire hose

that can be reeled off from a surface vessel or a system crawling along the seabed. It

would be inflated to its cylindrical shape once oil is pumped into it under sufficient

pressure to overcome the difference in hydrostatic head between the seawater outside

and the crude oil inside. In 3,000-m depth, this is about 45 bar.

To overcome the difference in gravity, weight would have to be added to keep the line

from floating. In a 24-in. inner diameter pipeline, this difference is about 45 kg/m. The

pipe material would have to be a flexible thin wall material, such as a high strength

metal or a composite or a fabric. To add the necessary buoyancy, and to avoid cracking

in the thin wall, small diameter lines would be incorporated in the design.

While the future is being created, let's add another feature to the scheme. The problem

with long distance oil pipelines is that they require pump stations at regular intervals,

which is impractical along a long-distance deep ocean oil pipeline. Pumping facilitieswould have to be stationed on the seabed.

Technology is already in an advanced stage of development in connection with long-


6/10



New research seeks to understand wax

formation | Previous Article

Next Article | Subsea pigging solution

provides new options for deepwater

production

distance subsea tie-backs. The electrical power to drive these subsea pump stations

would be supplied via cables inside the small diameter lines already set to be

embedded in the pipeline.

Fiber optic communication cables are rapidly encircling the world. Why not encircle

Earth in a network of oil pipelines? Before this can happen, however, it might be better

to prove the technology with water pipelines and at the same time provide much

needed water to dry regions like the Middle East.

Conclusion

This, then, is the look of the next 30 years:

Deepwater fields up to 5,000 m with their flowlines, risers, and subsea

connections

Long-distance gas transmission lines in 3,000-4,000 m water depth

Potential pipeline alternative to tanker transport

Application of new materials.

Pipelines are more than physical conduits for transport of one commodity or another.

They can be links between different worlds, encouraging economic development whereit is sorely needed and creating forms of cooperation between societies. In business

around the world, the oil and gas industry has the opportunity to improve relations. The

business world has always been ahead of the politicians in building such bridges.

Editor's Note: This is an adaptation of a keynote speech that was delivered at the

Offshore Pipeline Technology Conference in Oslo, Norway, in 2000.

More Offshore Issue Articles

Offshore Articles Archives

RELATED ARTICLES
http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/print/volume-62/issue-4/news/new-research-seeks-to-understand-wax-formation.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/index/current-issue.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/print/volume-62/issue-6/news/general-interest/subsea-pigging-solution-provides-new-options-for-deepwater-production.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/index/Past_Issues.html


7/10



In-line inspections guide offshore field management

decisionsDec 12, 2014

Assessing the working condition of aging offshore pipelines is a challenging process made

more complicated by their location on the seafloor and limited access points. An operator off

the coast of ...

Bowtech supplies Isotek with miniature cameras for

subsea useDec 12, 2014

Bowtech Products Ltd. is supplying miniature underwater cameras with integral LEDs to

Isotek Oil and Gas Ltd. for use on a diverless subsea pipeline repair system.

PRCI develops comprehensive approach to subsea

pipeline integrity managementDec 11, 2014

Pipeline integrity has always been a critical issue.

Saipem continues construction on South Stream pipelineDec 2, 2014

Commenting on statements made by Russian authorities and Gazproms chairman in the

media with regard to a contract for the construction of the South Stream pipeline, Saipem

states that it has not r...

Russia, Turkey agree on Black Sea gas pipelineDec 2, 2014

Officials from Gazprom and Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corp. have signed a memorandum

of understanding to construct an offshore gas pipeline across the Black Sea toward Turkey.

TRENDING NEWS

There is no current content available.
http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/2014/12/bowtech-supplies-isotek-with-miniature-cameras-for-subsea-use.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/print/volume-74/issue-12/flowlines-and-pipelines/in-line-inspections-guide-offshore-field-management-decisions.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/2014/12/russia-turkey-agree-on-black-sea-gas-pipeline.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/print/volume-74/issue-12/departments/offshore-automation-solutions/prci-develops-comprehensive-approach-to-subsea-pipeline-integrity-management.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/2014/12/saipem-continues-construction-on-south-stream-pipeline.html


8/10



OFFSHORE TOPICS

Drilling & Completion

Field Development

Subsea

GeosciencesPipelines

Production

Rigs/Vessels

Deepwater

Business Briefs

REGIONAL REPORTS

Africa

Asia

Australia & New Zealand

Canada

Latin America

Middle East

North Sea & EuropeRussia

US & Gulf of Mexico

Offshore

Digital MagazineLook Inside

Current Issue
http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports/canada.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports/middleeast.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports/africa.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports/australia-newzealand.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports/us-gulf-of-mexico.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/pipeline-transportation.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oil-production.htmlhttp://digital.offshore-mag.com/http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports/asia.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/geology-geophysics.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/subsea.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/vessels.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/index/celebrate60/interview-videos.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports/northsea-europe.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oilfield-development.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/deepwater.htmlhttp://digital.offshore-mag.com/http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports/russia.htmlhttp://digital.offshore-mag.com/http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports/latin-america.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/drilling-completion.htmlhttp://digital.offshore-mag.com/http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oil-company-news.html


9/10



Offshore Top 5 Projects 2013

Topsides, Platforms & Hulls 2014 Advisory

Board

Topsides, Platforms & Hulls Opening Plenary

Session

MORE EVENTS

transcript will not be considered.Key accountabilities

Operator Intern job training may include: Learn

safe operating behaviors and skills in theIndustry....

Laboratory Engineer

LATEST EVENT SLIDESHOWS

UPCOMING EVENTS

Offshore West Africa Conference & Exhibitionhttp://www.offshorewestafrica.com/index.html

Tue, Jan 20, 2015 - Thu, Jan 22, 2015

Offshore Middle East Conference & Exhibitionhttp://www.offshoremiddleeast.com/index.html

Mon, Jan 26, 2015 - Wed, Jan 28, 2015

Topsides, Platforms & Hullshttp://www.topsidesevent.com/index.html

Tue, Feb 3, 2015 - Thu, Feb 5, 2015

OIL & GAS JOBS
http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/slideshow/2014/08/top-topsides-2014-conference-moments/pg001.htmlhttp://www.offshoremiddleeast.com/index.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/slideshow/2014/08/top-topsides-2014-conference-moments/pg002.htmlhttp://www.topsidesevent.com/index.htmlhttp://www.offshoremiddleeast.com/index.htmlhttp://www.topsidesevent.com/index.htmlhttp://www.offshorewestafrica.com/index.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/events.htmlhttp://www.offshorewestafrica.com/index.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/articles/slideshow/2014/11/offshore-top-5-projects-2013.html


10/10


h // ff h / i l / i / l 62/i 6/ / l i / h f f ff h i li i h l 10/10

UTILITY

Home

About Us

Advertise

Contact Us

Subscribe

Events

OTC

RSS

Company News

Special Reports

TOPICS

Regional Reports

Drilling & Completion

Field Development

Subsea

Geosciences

Pipelines

Production

Rigs/Vessels

Deepwater

Business Briefs

Copyright 2007-2015 PennWell Corporation, Tulsa, OK. All Rights Reserved. Terms and

Conditions | P rivacy P olicy

BP

Country:United States

future.BP's Upstream segment focuses on finding

reserves of and developing the means to extract

and process it and then consistently producing and

transporting it to market....

Construction Manager (Constr.M)

Search More Job Listings >>
http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/deepwater.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/advertise.htmlhttp://www.ogfj.com/http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oil-production.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/index.htmlhttp://www.ogpe.com/http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/geology-geophysics.htmlhttp://www.pennwell.com/index/privacy-policy.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oilfield-development.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/subscribe.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/ogfj/en/terms.htmlhttp://www.ogfj.com/http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/rss.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/supplements.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/vessels.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/events.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/pipeline-transportation.htmlhttp://www.ogj.com/http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oil-company-news.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/index/about-us.htmlhttp://www.pennenergy.com/http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/index/offshore-technology-conference.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/drilling-completion.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/subsea.htmlhttp://www.pennwell.com/http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/regional-reports.htmlhttp://careers.pennenergyjobs.com/jobs/results/keyword/oil-and-gas?radius=0http://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/index/contact-us.htmlhttp://www.offshore-mag.com/content/os/en/oil-company-news.html

The Future of Offshore Pipelining - Offshore

Documents

Transcript of The Future of Offshore Pipelining - Offshore