In case of a Weld On Connector’s riser using ASTM A182 F22 forged joints, high strength (SMYS of 80 ksi) steel pipes for sour service (hardness below or equal to 250 HV 10 ) suitable for welding to the connectors are required. Welding is challenging because of the Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) needed to reduce the hardness in the F22 HAZ while maintaining the required strength in the pipe. Theoretical evaluations were performed by means of metallurgical models and a potential solution was identified in grade P22-like steel (2¼ Cr - 1 Mo), with minor modifications with respect to the standard ASTM A335 and supplied in Q&T condition. A trial heat was cast and hot-rolled into pipes. After water quenching, the response to tempering was assessed by means of laboratory heat treatments and subsequent mechanical testing, together with metallurgical examination. Simulated PWHTs were also performed on Q&T material. 80 ksi grade P22 seamless pipes were finally produced and qualification involved mechanical testing before and after simulated PWHT: SMYS of 80 ksi and HV 10 ≤ 250 requirements were met. The material also exhibited excellent toughness and resistance to HIC and SSC cracking.

The paper describes the laser pipe end measurement systems developed by Tenaris to perform the automatic dimensional inspection of pipe ends (measuring OD, ID, WT) and the software’s applications which analyze the collected data. The measurements performed by the Laser End Measurement System (LEMS) can give great advantages to end users and laying companies allowing a more efficient pipe alignment prior welding. This is of particular importance in offshore oil recovery industry, where the fatigue requirements of pipelines subject to high dynamic loads are continuously increasing, as the exploitation is moving in harsh environments. Fatigue is normally the limiting design criterion for products like Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs) or fatigue sensitive flowlines, and it represents its major engineering challenge. One way to minimize the risks of girth welds’ fatigue failure is to minimize the pipes abutting Hi-Lo [1,2]. This task could be accomplished by the use of laser pipe ends measurements analyses in conjunction with dedicated software. This paper provides details on the implementation and validation processes of automatic measurement systems (fixed and portable) to determine pipe ends dimensions with precision and repeatability. In addition, the features and the capabilities of the fit-for-purpose to the end user automatic applications are showed. These features include the Best Matching (search of the alignments which minimize pipes abutting Hi-Lo), the Counter-Boring (analysis of the best ID/OD to which machine the pipe ends counter-bore and of the forecast of the machined WT after counter boring), and the sorting in families (determination of pipes groups according to their ID/WT/OD tolerances).

Tenaris and Centro Sviluppo Materiali (CSM) launched a Joint Industrial Project aimed at developing heavy wall line pipes. The suitability for very severe applications, involving high service pressures and temperatures, the latter causing large strain fluctuations, in presence of an aggressive sour environment, is analyzed both theoretically and experimentally, including small and full pipe models. The full project program aims at developing a new generation heavy wall product, supported by: a comprehensive laboratory analysis of the material response under severe mechanical loading in aggressive environment; and full scale testing program, including both pipe and girth weld. Both investigations are mainly addressed to basic understanding of impact on design criteria from interaction between severe loading and aggressive environment. Two papers have been already presented on this project, [2] and [3]. The present paper deals with the study, carried out in cooperation with Saipem Energy Services, aimed at setting up a tool for the prediction of ratcheting extent for the pipeline in pressure subjected to axial cyclic, even plastic, straining. In such conditions, ratcheting may develop in the circumferential direction, as a consequence of both material cyclic performance and bi-axial plastic flow. So, detailed characterization of material is required, as well as calibration of plastic performance parameters, particularly in relation to relevant modeling. The final objective of the study is to establish a threshold for the plastic strain development at peak load, beyond which circumferential ratcheting may develop. A numerical model was set up, on-purpose developed and implemented on commercial software, where reverse yielding is modeled by kinematic hardening referring to Von-Mises yield criterion. Use of relevant parameters describing/approximating the actual material response has been made, based on laboratory Multi Plastic Straining Cycling (MPSC) of pipe full thickness samples. Full scale testing of pressurized X65, 10 3/4 ″ OD × 46 mm WT linepipe has been performed including plastic axial and cyclic straining. A huge measurement campaign allowed to establish the relevant parameters that characterize the response from numerical modeling, facilitating the validation of the set up by comparing the actual ratcheting exhibited by the heavy wall pipe with predictions obtained by the model. Limits of current tools for numerical modeling are also shown, with some degree of dependence on applied straining sequence. Possible paths of numerical modeling improvement are then envisaged.

Tenaris together with Centro Sviluppo Materiali launched a Joint Industrial Project aimed at developing heavy wall linepipes and evaluating their suitability for very severe applications possibly involving high service pressures and temperatures, large strains applied to the line, aggressive sour environment. The full project programme includes development of a the new generation of heavy wall products, laboratory scale evaluation of the material response when subjected to severe mechanical and environmental loading, evaluation of full component, pipe and girth weld, behaviour by means of full scale testing. Another technical publication in this conference (OMAE2009-79153) reports the activities of development of the new generation of heavy wall seamless pipes. In the present paper indeed, main outcomes of laboratory testing activities of the above programme on pipe material (grade X65, outer diameter 10 3/4 ″ , wall thickness 46 mm) are reported as far as pipe body material properties are concerned. A fitted for purpose special testing programme, including mechanical and SSC laboratory scale testing, has been executed. Full thickness longitudinal specimens were extracted from the pipe body to apply severe strain cycling (1% and 2% maximum strain for various numbers of cycles, up to 200 cycles). Material showed a very encouraging behaviour, exhibiting an important reserve of strength even after application of severe strain cycling. Both mechanical, tensile compressive and toughness, properties and stress corrosion properties resulted to be suitable for the envisaged applications. Furthermore the pipe material showed suitable mechanical and stress-corrosion properties even after the severe cycling as well as after severe cycling and subsequent ageing. The influence of different straining conditions was also investigated, showing no significant difference in material properties after strain–ageing, due to different straining histories.

Offshore industry has evolved to meet numerous challenges, e.g. deep water, high currents, high pressure and high temperature (HPHT), and sour reservoirs, facing deepwater exploration. The trend in flowline specifications for deepwater offshore fields is a consequence of complex oil-gas field conditions, such as HPHT and developments in design criteria (i.e. limit state design), welding and laying technologies. The technological evolution exhibits a trend towards an increasing wall thickness (WT) to provide sufficient resistance for the very high operating pressures. Furthermore, the pipelay operations, especially when linepipes are installed by means of the reel laying method, cause repeated plastic bending and straightening deformation cycles. These cyclic loads affect final material stress-strain properties. Reeling is currently applied to an increasing range of pipe geometries, being the present limit given by pipes with 16 ″ outer diameter (OD) and 30 mm wall thickness (WT). Other pipeline installation techniques, for example, J-lay, S-lay and steep S-lay also introduce plastic strain. All previous factors mentioned before and adding one more variable when exploring and producing in regions alike to the Artic where low temperatures implied several material challenges calls for high performance seamless pipes tailored to the specific application required by the oil and gas industry. In this paper, a description is given of the results of latest fundamental studies on high-strength heavy-wall steel materials manufactured by Q&T processing. This work is part of an on-going development program on high performance heavy wall seamless pipes for special applications such as HPHT, low temperature design criteria, sour requirements and studying the material under the strain based design criteria involving metallurgical modeling, laboratory tests, industrial trials and advanced metallographic examinations. The most recent findings and overall conclusions are reported hereafter, these results have been exploited by Tenaris to manufacture a limited production seamless pipes in a wall thickness range from 40 mm to 48 mm in steel grade X65 Sour Service.