Burst Tests on Pipeline With Long External Corrosion

Abstract

PETROBRAS is conducting a research project with the purpose of investigating the behavior of pipeline with long corrosion defects. In the first phase of this project, burst tests of 9 tubular specimens containing a single external simulated corrosion defect were carried out. These specimens were cut from longitudinal welded tubes made of API 5L X60 steel with an outside diameter of 323.9 mm and a wall thickness of 9.53 mm. All corrosion defects were smooth rectangular defects fabricated using spark erosion. Tensile specimens were tested to determine material properties. Each corroded specimen was instrumented with 10 post-yield strain gages rosettes, one displacement transducer and three pressure transducers. This paper describes the tubular specimens tested and the instrumentation used. The measured burst pressures are compared with those predicted by the ASME B31G, the RSTRENG 085dL, the RSTRENG Effective Area and the DNV RP-F101 (Part B) methods.