Riser pipes play a critical role in our customers’ oil and gas operation, especially in offshore environments. For 60 years, we’ve served the energy industry, often supporting with materials for hostile offshore environments, including risers that must handle dynamic loads due to waves, currents and vessel motion.
The cornerstone of offshore oil & gas production
For those unfamiliar, risers transport hydrocarbons from the subsea wellhead on the seabed to the Floating Production unit on the surface. They are a cornerstone in offshore oil & gas production, facing a combination of challenges, including extreme environmental conditions, dynamic forces to high pressures and elevated temperatures.
Key riser tube applications / types
- Drilling risers
- Injection risers
- Export risers
- Gas lift risers
- Workover and interventional risers
- Subsea tieback risers
- Marginal and satellite field development
- Decommissioning risers
Main challenges for risers
- Dynamic loads: Waves, currents, and vessel motion causing fatigue and structural stress.
- High pressure and temperature: Extreme operating conditions requiring robust materials and design.
- Corrosion and erosion: Exposure to seawater, hydrocarbons, and particulates degrading riser integrity.
- Vortex-induced vibrations (VIV): Hydrodynamic forces leading to oscillations and fatigue damage.
- Deepwater challenges: High hydrostatic pressure, low temperatures, and increased lengths in ultra-deepwater.
- Installation eomplexity: Specialized equipment and expertise required for deployment and repair.
- Inspection and maintenance: Difficulties in monitoring and maintaining risers in remote subsea environments.
- Environmental factors: Harsh weather conditions and biofouling affecting performance.
- Material selection: Balancing strength, flexibility, and resistance to harsh conditions.
- Cost and downtime: High costs of production, installation, and potential operational disruptions.