Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 17B FIFTH EDITION, MAY 2014

REAFFIRMED, MARCH 2021

Special Notes

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Copyright © 2014 American Petroleum Institute

Foreword

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Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Terms, Definitions, Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Symbols 1

   1. Terms and Definitions 1

   2. Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Symbols 12

4. System, Pipe, and Component Description 13

   1. Introduction 13

   2. Flexible Pipe Systems 13

   3. Flexible Pipe Description 17

   4. Ancillary Components 31

5. Pipe Design Considerations 32

   1. General 32

   2. System Design Requirements 32

   3. Design Overview 39

   4. Design Criteria 46

   5. Load Cases 57

   6. Analysis Techniques 61

   7. Calculation of Riser Loads 64

6. Materials 73

   1. Scope 73

   2. Materials-Unbonded Pipe 73

   3. Materials-Bonded Pipe 78

   4. Alternative Materials 82

   5. Polymer/Elastomer Test Procedures 82

   6. Metallic Material Test Requirements 84

7. Prototype Testing 88

   1. General 88

   2. Objectives of Prototype Testing 88

   3. Classification of Prototype Tests 91

   4. Test Requirements 91

   5. Test Protocol 96

   6. Procedures-Standard Prototype Tests 100

   7. Procedures-Special Prototype Tests 105

8. Manufacturing 126

   1. General 126

   2. Manufacturing-Unbonded pipe 126

   3. Manufacturing-Bonded Pipe 129

   4. Marking 133

   5. Storage 135

9. Handling, Transportation, and Installation 138

   1. General 138

   2. Handling 138

   3. Transportation 140

   4. Installation 142

   5. Precommissioning and Commissioning 161

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      Page

10. Retrieval and Reuse 165

    1. General 165

    2. Retrieval 166

    3. Reuse 168

11. Integrity Management 172

    1. General 172

    2. General Philosophy 172

    3. Failure Modes and Potential Pipe Defects 176

    4. Monitoring Methods 176

    5. Recommendations 177

Annex A (normative) Flexible Pipe High Temperature End-fitting Qualification Test Protocol:

Volatile Content Polymers 196

Annex B (normative) Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Coupon Crude Oil Exposure Test Procedure 207

Annex C (normative) Flexible Pipe High Temperature End-fitting Qualification Test Procedure:

Low Volatile Content Polymers 210

Annex D (normative) Polymer Coupon Crude Oil Exposure Test Procedure 221

Annex E (normative) Pressure Buildup Test (Unbonded Flexible Pipe Only) 224

Annex F (normative) Vacuum Test (Unbonded Flexible Pipe Only) 226

Annex G (normative) Fatigue Analysis Methodology for Unbonded Dynamic Risers 228

Annex H (informative) Composite Armor for Unbonded Flexible Pipe 249

Figures

1. Flexible Pipe Overview 14

2. Examples of Static Applications for Flexible Pipe 16

3. Examples of Dynamic Applications for Flexible Pipe 18

4. Examples of Common Flexible Riser Configurations 19

5. Examples of Flexible Pipe Jumper Line Applications 20

6. Schematics of Typical Bonded and Unbonded Flexible Pipe Cross Sections 24

7. Typical Pressure Armor and Carcass Interlock Profiles (Unbonded Pipe) 25

8. Example of Bonded and Unbonded Flexible Pipe End Fittings 28

9. Schematic Drawing of an Example Integrated Pipe Umbilical 29

10. Examples of Multibore Constructions 30

11. Flexible Pipe Application Design Flowchart 40

12. Burst Test Allowable Pressure Rate 101

13. Typical Setup for a Dynamic Fatigue Test 107

14. Schematic of Setup for the Erosion Test [12] 116

15. Typical Flowline Installation Procedure 150

16. Schematic of J-tube Pull-in Operation 151

17. Typical Lazy-S Riser Installation Procedure 153

18. Typical Steep-S Riser Installation Procedure 154

19. Typical Lazy Wave Riser Installation Procedure 155

20. Typical Steep Wave Riser Installation Procedure 156

21. Typical Free-hanging Catenary Installation Procedure 157

22. Schematic of Horizontal Lay Installation 159

23. Schematic of Vertical Lay Installation 160

24. Flowchart of Typical Integrity Management Strategy 173

A.1 Monitoring Assembly 198

C.1 Monitoring Assembly (Case II Only) 213

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Page

E.1 Schematic of Possible Test Pipe Arrangements 225

F.1 Schematic of Typical Topside Pipework Arrangement for Vacuum Testing 227

G.1 Flowchart of Overall Fatigue Analysis Methodology 248

Tables

1. Overview of Unbonded Flexible Pipe Layers 22

2. Description of Standard Flexible Pipe Families-Unbonded pipe 26

3. Description of Standard Flexible Pipe Families-Bonded Pipe 27

4. Checklist of Failure Modes for Primary Structural Design of Unbonded Flexible Pipe 47

5. Checklist of Failure Modes for Primary Structural Design of Bonded Flexible Pipe. 49

6. Recommended Allowable Degradation for Unbonded Pipes 54

7. Recommended Allowable Degradation for Bonded Pipes 57

8. Typical Static Global Analysis Load Cases-Operating Conditions 59

9. Example of Dynamic Load Cases 60

10. Example Global Analysis Load Cases for Installation Conditions 61

11. Example Local Analysis Load Cases for Installation Conditions 62

12. Typical Soil Stiffness and Friction Coefficients for Flexible Pipes 68

13. Typical Polymer Materials for Unbonded Flexible Pipe Applications 74

14. Typical Fluid Compatibility and Blistering Characteristics for Flexible Thermoplastic Pipe Polymer Materials76

15. Typical Elastomer Materials for Bonded Flexible Pipe Applications 79

16. Temperature Limits for Thermosetting Elastomers in a Bonded Flexible Pipe Liner Application 80

17. Classification of Prototype Tests 93

18. Recommendations for Prototype Tests-Modifications to Pipe Structure Design 94

19. Recommendations for Prototype Testing-Changes in Pipe Application 94

20. Potential Flexible Pipe Failure Modes and Associated Critical Prototype Tests 95

21. Recommendations for Class I Prototype Tests 96

22. Recommendations for Class II Prototype Tests 98

23. Design Acceptance for Calculated vs Measured Burst Pressure 103

24. Design Acceptance for Calculated vs Measured Failure Tension 104

25. Dynamic Fatigue Test Parameters 109

26. Layer Failure Definition 111

27. Critical Aspects for Selecting of Unbonded Flexible Pipe Manufacturing Tolerances 131

28. Critical Aspects in Selection of Bonded Flexible Pipe Manufacturing Tolerances 135

29. Marking Recommendations for Flexible Pipe Products 137

30. Potential Pipe Defects/Failure Mechanisms for Static Applications 180

31. Potential Pipe Defects/Failure Mechanisms for Dynamic Applications 186

32. Potential Pipe Defects/Failure Mechanisms for Pipe System Components 189

33. Current Integrity and Condition Monitoring Methods 194

G.1 Key Local Modelling Input Data 241

1. Typical Property Requirements for Composite Materials 257

2. Test Procedures for Composite Armor and Antiextrusion Layer Materials (1) 259

3. Minimum Raw Material Quality Control Test Requirements 262

4. Requirements of Material Specifications 263

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Introduction

Users of this recommended practice should be aware that further or differing requirements might be needed for individual applications. This recommended practice is not intended to inhibit a vendor from offering, or the purchaser from accepting, alternative equipment or engineering solutions for the individual application. This may be particularly applicable where there is innovative or developing technology. Where an alternative is offered, the vendor should identify any variations from this recommended practice and provide details.

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Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe

1. Scope

   API 17B provides guidelines for the design, analysis, manufacture, testing, installation, and operation of flexible pipes and flexible pipe systems for onshore, subsea, and marine applications. API 17B supplements API 17J and API 17K, which specify minimum requirements for the design, material selection, manufacture, testing, marking, and packaging of unbonded and bonded flexible pipes, respectively.

   
   

   API 17B applies to flexible pipe assemblies, consisting of segments of flexible pipe body with end fittings attached to both ends. Both bonded and unbonded pipe types are covered. In addition, API 17B applies to flexible pipe systems, including ancillary components.

   
   

   The applications covered by API 17B are sweet and sour service production, including export and injection applications. API 17B applies to both static and dynamic flexible pipe systems, used as flowlines, risers, jumpers, downlines, and other temporary applications of flexible pipe. API 17B does cover in general terms, the use of flexible pipes for offshore loading systems. Refer also to API 17K and Bibliographic Item [54] for offshore loading systems.

   
   

   API 17B does not cover flexible pipes for use in choke and kill line or umbilical and control lines.

   
   

2. Normative References

   The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

   
   

   API Recommended Practice 17C, Recommended Practice on TFL (Through Flowline) Systems

   
   

   API Specification 17J, Specification for Unbonded Flexible Pipe, 2014 API Specification 17K, Specification for Bonded Flexible Pipe

   DNV OS-C501 1, Composite Components, October 2010

   
   

   NACE MR0175 2, Petroleum and natural gas industries—Materials for use in H2S-containing environments in oil and gas production—Part 1: General principles for selection of cracking-resistant materials.

   
   

3. Terms, Definitions, Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Symbols

3.1 Terms and Definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

3.1.1

ancillary components

Components that are attached to the flexible pipe in order to perform one or more of the following functions:

a) to control the flexible pipe behavior;

1. DNV GL, Veritasveien 1, 1322 Hovik, Oslo, Norway, www.dnvgl.com.

2. NACE International (formerly the National Association of Corrosion Engineers), 1440 South Creek Drive, Houston, Texas 77084-4906, www.nace.org.

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