New Standards in Flexible Pipe Technology Including API Spec 17j
Authors: Grealish F.W. , Bliault A. , Caveny K.P. 
Published: October 2008

Recent and future developments in the offshore industry will see the use of flexible pipes in more severe applications than previously. Included in this is its use in deep water, high temperature, high pressure and sour service applications. Thereis therefore a requirement in the industry for the development of consistent standards for the specification, design, materials, manufacturing and testing of flexible pipes.

A Joint Industry Project (JIP) commenced early in 1994 to develop these new industry wide standards for flexible pipe. The 20 participants to the JIP included twelve oil companies, three manufacturers, three regulatory authorities and three contractors. The first phase of the project involved the development of a standard specification for flexible pipe, with a second phase, presently ongoing, to develop a new recommended practice for flexible pipe.

The initial development of the industry standard specification was completed in May of 1995 and the document was subsequently submitted to API for technical review. This was completed by December 1995. The specification was updated accordingly in cooperation between API and the JIP, and subsequently released in January 1996 for API. The specification is expected to be adopted and published as API Spec 17J by the middle of 19%. The specification will also be incorporated during 1996 into the new 1S0 series of standards for subsea equipment. The recommended practice will update API RP 17B to supplement the pipe specification and incorporate new technological developments.

This paper discusses the scope, including new developments, addressed by API Spec 17J and also describes significant aspects in the updating of the recommended practice. This development of new standards within the flexible pipe industry is in line with the objectives of initiatives such as CRINE and NORSOK.

Introduction

Since being first used in the 1970s, flexible pipe applications have progressed enormously. Recent and future developments in the offshore industry will see the use of flexible pipes in more severe applications than previously. These include deep water, high temperature, high pressure and sour service applications. In addition, the pipe designs are continually evolving, with major changes such as the use of different shaped amount wires and different materials (e.g. composites).

Because of the complexity of flexible pipes and the severity of the applications, the development of design standards has been an important part of the technological advancements in the industry. Developments in this area have included API [1], Bureau Veritas [2] and Veritec [3] documents. These documents have in gencrai concentrated largely on flexible pipe systems and tend oniy to give guidelines and recommendations. All of these documents were written in the 1980s and there is a need for updating to address the changes that have occurred in flexible pipe technology since then. A more recent publication in 1994 by Day [4] addresses their certification requirements for flexible pipes.