Weldlink® connection system brochure

WeldLink® Connection SystemThe benchmark for weldable connectors

Contents

1 - 2 Introduction

3 Typical Onshore and Subsea Applications

4 - 5 End Termination - Spoolpiece Fabrication

6 Tie In Welding Using WeldLink®

7 Cutting Pipeline to Length Using End Termination Spoolpiece


7


Introduction

Connector technology that changed an industry.

Deepwater, huge swells, remote location and

a water injection pipeline system that needs

to last over 25 years without maintenance.

As the installation method is by reelship, the

PE lined carbon steel pipe strings need to be

welded together to form the flowlines. Quite a

series set of design inputs for any project.

Until then, no one had needed a connector

that would enable PE lined strings to be

joined by welding in any industry, onshore or

subsea. In 1994, there was no such device in

existence. Never mind the added challenge

that it would have to be capable of being

reeled and straightened several times as part

of the Pre-Qualification Testing plan and for

installation. Necessity is often the mother of

invention and sometimes, from the toughest

of challenges emerges the most rugged

of solutions.

The WeldLink® connector was designed

to satisfy those demands successfully by

engineers from the organisation responsible for

the development of Swagelining® technology.

Since those days, polymer lining and weldable

connector technologies have been applied

together on many ground-breaking – and

ordinary – projects onshore and subsea.

Since its first application in that remote

subsea field development in 1995, the

WeldLink® has been used more often than

any other connector to join PE lined carbon

steel flowlines for installation in the subsea

environment.

As a testimony to its originality, the design

has stood the test of time and the connector

remains in use today in onshore and subsea

projects. Over 3000 WeldLinks have been

installed in subsea projects completed in the

Atlantic Frontier, UK and Norwegian North

Sea, Nigeria and Angola. Onshore use includes

Middle East, West Africa and North Africa.

Email: [email protected] • International calls: +44 (0) 141 404 8011 • International faxes: +44 (0) 141 404 8029 • www.swagelining.com

1

The WeldLink® Connector has many ‘firsts’

to its credit since it entered service:

• First weldable connector used in reeled

subsea water injection

• Installation in subsea pipelines by reel- lay,

CMDT (bundle), J-lay and HDD

• Installed in double joints and in 1500m

strings

• Smallest WeldLink® Connector

used to date is 4”

• Largest WeldLink® Connectors

used to date is 24”

• Post reeling, the WeldLink® has been

hydrotested to 476 bar (7000 psi)

• Installed by J-lay in a riser system

in 2000m (6500 ft) water depth

• Approaching 20 years in continuous

subsea service


2


Introduction

Proven reliability underpins its longevity in service

In 2007, a PE lined section from the end of

a water injection flowline was retrieved from

the seabed when the system architecture

was being modified. The spool comprised

a WeldLink® connector that was welded to

a clad flanged end termination. The pipe

section was lined with a PE80 (MDPE) and

terminated by a compression ring inside the

WeldLink®.

The water injection flowline had been

installed by reeling followed by 13 years in

high pressure service (280 bar) before being

retrieved from the seabed. The PE line spool

and connector were subjected to a detailed

condition assessment that looked at every

part of the corrosion protection and the end

connector details.

The full condition assessment was delivered

in a conference paper which is available

for download via www.swagelining.com/

effectivenessf.html. In summary, the detailed

inspection found that the carbon steel

flowline remained in excellent condition

despite the harsh service environment. In

particular, the WeldLink® seal was found to

be intact by physical testing and this was

supported by the condition of the internal

wall of the carbon steel host pipe which had

suffered almost nil corrosion.

From its origins in the harshest of service

in 1994, the WeldLink® design is subject to

continuous review to ensure the product

remains compliant with current pipeline

design codes whilst being adapted for

changing installation and operational

conditions. One example of this review

process is a plan to fabricate end termination

spoolpieces onshore using WeldLink®

Connectors. The PE lined spools would be

welded to the PE lined flowline offshore to

enable flowline to be accurately cut to length

without the need for CRA end termination

pipes. This is an example of using weldable

connector technology to enable pipelay route

variation with increased flexibility and lower

costs. This plan is illustrated herein.

The WeldLink® Connector changed the

way that PE liners are used subsea. It is an

example of truly enabling technology.

The reliability and cost effectiveness of

delivering internal corrosion protection

by polymer lining in high pressure subsea

flowlines would not have been possible

without this pioneering connector.

The WeldLink® is a registered trademark.

The WeldLink® Connector is protected by

a range of patents globally


Typical Onshore and Subsea Applications

Reel Lay

OnshoreJ - Lay

Typical tie in connection

CRA completionGirth Weld

Non-lined surface protected by CRA Cladding

Controlled Mid Depth Tow

Sea bed

Tether


3

Carbon SteelProject Pipe or Forging

CRACladding

COMPONENTS FABRICATIONS

End section machined and inlaid with CRA Cladding

Continuedon next page

• Project matched pipe • End section machined and inlaid with CRA cladding

CRACladding

WeldPrep

CS to CSWeld

Project Pipe Cut to Length

• CRA cladding machined to form castellations and cut to length spool connected with CS to CS weld

Profile

MachinedCastellations



End Termination - Spoolpiece Fabrication

4

Polymer Liner Liner Swagelined to steel fabricated spool

CRA Compression Ring

• CRA compression ring fabricated to engineered design

• Polymer liner pipe supplied from project stock

• Compression Ring installed and liner machined back to expose CRA section

COMPONENTS FABRICATIONS

Compression Ring in place


5


End Termination - Spoolpiece Fabrication

Carbon Steel to Carbon Steel

Weld

Carbon Steel to Carbon Steel

Weld

CRAGirth Weld

PolymerLiner

Carbon Steel PipeLineCastellations

Compression Ring

Detail View

CRAInlay

CRAInlay

CRA GirthWeld


6


Tie In Welding Using WeldLink®


7


Cutting Pipeline to Length Using End Termination Spoolpiece

The PE Lined Flowline is cut to length offshore

LinerBridge Connector enables carbon steel tie in welding

in the field

The end termination spool is completed onshore

• If the PE lined flowline is terminating in an in-line facility (PLET, Tee, Valve etc.) the PE lined End Termination Spoolpiece may be pre-welded to the in-line facility onshore. Offshore tie in remains a carbon steel weld using the LinerBridge®

CS to CSGirth Weld

Weldlink® connection system brochure

Documents

Transcript of Weldlink® connection system brochure