Kaombo Project Pipeline material, welding and AUT qualification testing for Oil & Gas

This case study details Element's role in supporting the Kaombo Project, an ultra-deepwater offshore oil development off the coast of Angola. Element was awarded a £2.5 million contract by CRC–Evans Offshore to provide pipeline material, welding, and AUT qualification testing for the project.

The company

Kaombo is a major ultra deepwater offshore project for Angola which is taking place in highly challenging sweet and sour service. With a production capacity of 230,000 barrels per day, Kaombo will develop estimated reserves of 650 million barrels. Pipe laying is expected to begin early 2016 on the project which will involve 59 subsea wells connected by 300km of pipelines at water depths of 1400m down to 1950m.

The challenge

Element was awarded a £2.5 million contract by CRC–Evans Offshore to provide pipeline material, welding and AUT qualification testing for the Kaombo Project. As well as AUT validation, the pre-production qualification requirements include mechanical testing, fracture mechanics, fatigue and sulphide stress cracking corrosion tests.

The solution

Four of Element's specialized laboratories are involved in delivering the technically demanding services. Crack Tip Opening Displacement (CTOD) and Routine Mechanical testing will be carried out in Edinburgh, with Element's Corrosion Center in Dudley performing the Sulfide Stress Corrosion tests, and Single Edge Notched Tension (SENT) and full scale riser fatigue testing conducted at Element Daventry. The large number of specimens requiring sub-sized straining and ageing are being shared between Element's Daventry and Spijkenisse, facilities.