ON APPLICATION OF PIPES FROM POLYMER MATERIALS FOR FIELD PIPELINES

Abstract

According to the Federal State Budgetary Institution «Central Dispatch Office of the Fuel and Energy Complex» for 2018, in Russia 92 % of incidents and accidents with oil spills occurred due to corrosion. At the same time, about 45 % of pipelines are operated in aggressive soils, 30 % - in slightly aggressive environments, and only 10 % do not need active anti-corrosion protection. According to Rostechnadzor, the total length of the field pipelines reaches 300 thousand km. At the same time, the deterioration of the main stock of production pipes reaches 70 %. Since the most used material for the construction of pipelines is steel, the main problem in the transportation of hydrocarbons is external and internal corrosion of pipelines. In this regard, one of the key points is the replacement of metal pipelines with reinforced polymer pipes that combine corrosion resistance, low moisture absorption, and high dielectric performance. The aim of this work is to analyze the use of pipes made of polymeric materials for field pipelines used to transport hydrocarbons in Russia and abroad. Tasks: - analysis of the operating experience of reinforced polyethylene pipes used for the transportation of hydrocarbons in Russia and abroad; - consideration of the main problems arising during the operation of composite pipelines; - comparison of the characteristics of pipes used in different countries. In the course of the study, the regulatory documents on foreign and domestic polymer pipelines were studied and a generalized analysis of these pipes was carried out. The problems faced by the oil and gas industry in the transportation of hydrocarbons are identified. The history of Western and domestic use of polymer pipelines is considered, on the basis of which the relevance of the use of composite pipelines based on polyethylene is substantiated.