Modification of the remaining useful life equation for pipes and plate processing of offshore oil platforms

Abstract

Incorporation of an adequate maintenance program related to the ageing of industrial facilities occurring in offshore oil platforms is vital to reduce costs and avoid catastrophic failures. In the present work, a set of components (i. e. pipes, plates, and elbows) were removed from offshore oil platforms from different processes with 20 years of uninterrupted operation. The component's characterization consisted of chemical composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties. A collection of results was made to evidence several indicators to keep track of crucial deviations of processing components. These indicators should be taken into account when actions must be taken to guarantee the mechanical integrity of the studied components. From 68 studied samples, 16 samples did not fulfill their chemical composition, 37 samples showed a banded microstructure, 36 samples did not fulfill their mechanical properties, and all of them showed the presence of non – metallic inclusions associated with a pitting corrosion mechanism. These results compilation allow for modification of the remaining useful life equation, RUL, (used to calculate the remaining useful life of a variety of asset types). Thus, the outcome of the modified equation indicates where and when it is necessary to remove components before its catastrophic failure.