Open Competition 3 - Chemistry and Materials

Fiber Optic Sensor Suite for Corrosion and Flow-Assurance Monitoring in Deepwater Flowlines

Sponsor: Luna Innovations Incorporated

• Project Performance Period: 10/1/2001 - 9/30/2004
• Total project (est.): $2,056,407.00
• Requested ATP funds: $1,428,061.00

As oil reserves in shallow water are being rapidly depleted, the number of deepwater oilfields in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to double within the next year. The carbon and low alloy steel pipelines used in deep water are subject to corrosion, solids buildup, and sand-induced erosion. Because commercially available instruments are not appropriate for monitoring pipeline condition, costly regularly scheduled preventive maintenance is required. The average repair costs $4 to $5 million, in addition to the lost revenue while the line is out of service. Luna Innovations Inc. proposes to develop an advanced fiber-optic sensor suite for monitoring corrosion and flow in flowlines used in deepwater oil and gas applications. Optical fibers are ideal for this environment because they do not corrode, are resistant to most chemicals, can operate at elevated temperatures and pressures, and can be adapted to make multi-point measurements through a single monitoring location. The new system will be based on Luna's patented extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) and long-period grating (LPG) technologies. EFPI uses a distance measurement technique based on a phenomenon that arises between a fiber and a reflective surface, and LPG is based on changes in the refractive index of photosensitive fiber in response to light exposure. In the three-year project, Luna will adapt the sensor designs to measure parameters such as acidity, metal ions, temperature, pressure, and shear stress; and develop new packaging techniques suitable for the harsh conditions and large flow forces associated with deepsea pipelines. InterCorr International, a subcontractor, will provide corrosion and flow-assurance testing services to help validate the technology. If successfully developed and commercialized, the sensor suite will enable monitoring of flowline state in real time. Maintenance staff will be able to make decisions about repairs with a high degree of confidence that schedules and costs are optimized, resulting in lower production costs. The technology also will substantially reduce the risk of environmental damage caused by failure of unmonitored subsea flowlines, and, by increasing the efficiency of U.S. oil operations, help reduce dependency on foreign oil. The demand will be great as nearly 70 new deepwater oil fields will be developed by 2002, and an estimated 1,500 miles of new underwater pipeline are expected to come on-line annually over the next 10-20 years.

For project information:

Karin Clark, (540) 961-4527
kclark@lunainnovations.com

ATP Project Manager

Linda Schilling, (301) 975-2887
linda.schilling@nist.gov