Chapter List

Part Overview

After installation, a pipeline undergoes testing and commissioning stages. Certain procedures should be followed during testing and commissioning. Then the pipeline is ready to operate for transporting the production fluids. As the pressure in the oil/gas reservoirs is declining with time, the composition of the produced fluids (water cut and gas-liquid ratio) changes. Flow assurance engineering becomes essential. Pigging operations are conducted to clean the pipeline and identify pipeline defects. This part of the book addresses technical issues during pipeline management from pipeline testing to daily operations. It includes the following chapters:

14.1 Introduction

From its fabrication to startup, a pipeline system has to pass a series of tests. Some of these, such as the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), are done onshore at the fabrication yards with individual components. The FAT mainly consists of the inspection, testing, and reporting of the system according to the drawings, specifications, and requirements of the contract. Pipe sections must pass the FAT before they are accepted. Some of the tests, such as the pipeline hydrotest, are mainly done offshore with either a portion of the whole pipeline system or the whole pipeline system. The hydrotests are conducted to check the mechanical strength of the pipeline system and the integrity of the connections. The hydrotest is one of the pipeline pre-commissioning activities. Pre-commissioning is performed after the pipeline system is installed and all the tie-ins are completed...