Case Study Highlight: Savings in West Texas

A major producer in west Texas had been using 2” and 3” externally coated steel pipe and poly pipe for all of their oil well flow lines.

Corrosion, both internal and external, was causing considerable repair and maintenance expense as well as lost production due to downtime. The company’s Facilities Engineer had considered using polyethylene pipe but was concerned with poly’s severe pressure de-rating for use in hydrocarbon service and the reduced internal diameters.

The Facilities Engineer decided Flexpipe’s spoolable composite pipe was the solution. The project used 2.5 miles of 4” 300ANSI Flexpipe and was completed quickly and efficiently.

“We like the IDs of the pipe and the flexibility to handle higher pressures and flows,” the engineer stated. “The fact that this pipe requires fewer people during the installation is an added bonus.”

Due to the increased internal line size and reduced back pressure, individual well production increased by as much as 17 bbls/day, and all costs associated with corrosion and lost production due to the corrosion were completely eliminated.

REDUCED INSTALLATION COSTS

• Overall installation costs were decreased using Flexpipe compared to conventional pipeline installation.
• NO welding, NO x-ray, NO jeeping required means less equipment and smaller crews required on ROW.

CORROSION RESISTANT PIPELINE SYSTEM

• The need for chemical inhibitor programs was eliminated using Flexpipe.
• Less downtime equals increased production.
• Nickel-coated fittings covered with Denso Tape and Paste increased external corrosion resistance.

ROAD CROSSINGS

• During this project, Flexpipe was run under a state highway with 8.5” steel casing for the road crossing. This installation design was approved by the District Engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation.

REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL DISTURBANCE

• 4” Flexpipe was installed using a much smaller ROW as compared to steel.
• Less soil to move, less reclamation, less clean up, and faster return of the land back to its intended purpose.

BETTER FLOW CHARACTERISTICS

• 4” 300 ANSI Flexpipe provided improved flow rates relative to a 4” steel line.

Location: Near Midland, Texas

Application: Oil

Length: 2.5 miles (4.02 kilometers)

Project Scope: Flexpipe used for oil flow lines in West Texas

Pipe: 4" 300 ANSI Flexpipe

See the full West Texas case study

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