Piping

Introduction
A well testing layout is made of several pieces of surface testing equipment
linked together with pipes and hoses that provide the path for the well
effluent. The "Surface Test Equipment" drawing shows the different pieces of
equipment and the piping that connects them. These piping connections can
consist of rigid piping, articulated piping, or flexible hoses. The ability to combine
these different types of piping in different ways makes it possible to handle any type
of well testing layout.

Rigid piping, made of straight pipes and elbows, is used when no movement is needed
between surface testing equipment. Articulated piping or flexible hoses are used when
a relative movement between two elements is necessary. A typical place where
articulated piping is used is the line connecting the flowhead to the choke manifold.
Flexible hoses allow the flowhead to be moved up and down when setting the packer
or manipulating tools downhole.

All the elements of a well testing layout--the piping and the surface testing
equipment--are attached together with wing union connections called Weco unions.
Objectives
Upon completion of this training page, you should be able to:

List the main categories of piping used in a well testing setup.

Explain how the working pressure for a pipe with union connections is
defined.
List the colors used in the Schlumberger working pressure color code and their
associated working pressures.

Upon completion of the practical exercises for the piping, you should be able to:

Draw a standard well testing layout and specify the type of piping used to
connect the different elements.

Principles of Operation
Piping Designation

A pipe is defined by its nominal size (approximate diameter) and the type of wing
union attached to the pipe. A 3 in. nominal diameter pipe equipped with a type 602
wing union is usually referred to as a 3 in., 602 pipe. The nominal size does not
correspond exactly to the external or internal diameter of the pipe, instead it
represents either 3 or 4 internal diameters depending on the thickness of the metal
wall. Detailed explanations of pipe diameters are covered in the "Well Test Piping"
chapter of the Field Operating Handbook (FOH) for Surface Well Testing. Wing
unions are classified by a figure that indicates the cold working pressure (CWP), as
described in the next topic.

Color Code and Pressure Rating

Piping exists in a wide range of pressure ratings. It is very important to use piping that
can handle the expected pressures for a given job. To facilitate piping identification
and avoid confusion, Schlumberger defines its own piping identification system using
a color code scheme that is based on the pressure rating of wing union connections.

The following table summarizes the main color codes used at Schlumberger

Piping Color Codes and Pressure Ratings

Color Code Figure CWP WP (Schlumberger)

yellow 602 6000 psi 3000 psi

red 1002 10,000 psi 5000 psi

black 1502 15,000 psi 10,000 psi

 white 2202 20,000 psi 15,000 psi

The wing union connections are classified by a figure that indicates the cold working
pressure (CWP) and the sealing method. The CWP is the maximum pressure at which
the manufacturer guarantees the union not to leak. Expressed in psi, the CWP is easily
calculated by multiplying either the first (e.g., 602) or the two first digits (e.g., 1002)
of the figure by 1000. The last two digits (e.g., 02) refer to the sealing method. For the
figures listed in the "Piping Color Codes and Pressure Ratings" table, the sealing
method consists of a lip-type seal ring and a metal-to-metal seal.

The far right column of the table indicates the working pressure for wing union
connections (e.g., 602, 1002, 1502, and 2202) approved by Schlumberger for well test
applications. This pressure refers to the wing union and must not be confused with the
working pressure of the pipe. The pipe on which the union is welded or screwed has a
different pressure rating.

To determine the pressure rating for a whole piece of piping, both the pipe and wing
union working pressures (WP) must be compared. The lower WP is chosen as the
working pressure for the entire piece.

The following example is based on a 3 in. size pipe equipped with a 3 in., 602 wing
union.

The WP for 3 in. pipe is 2553 psi (This is taken from a table in the Field
Operating Handbook (FOH) for Surface Well Testing.)
The WP for the 3 in., 602 wing union is 3000 psi.
Therefore, the WP of the whole pipe is 2553 psi.

This example applies only to new pipe. Wear and corrosion make it necessary to
inspect piping regularly and down rate the pressure rating accordingly. Therefore,
color coding is meaningful only if regular pipe inspections are performed and color
coding updated. The "Well Test Piping" chapter in the Field Operating Handbook
(FOH) for Surface Well Testing details how to calculate the pressure rating for
corroded piping.

NOTE: When using Figure 2202, be aware that different companies use different
inside diameter (ID) measurements for the same figure. At Schlumberger, we only use
Weco Figure 2202 3 in. for 15 kpsi WP. It has an ID of 3 in., whereas other company's
Figure 2202 3 in. do not have a 3 in. ID. (e.g., Anson Figure 2202 3 in. has a 2.5 in.
ID.)

Equipment
Piping is classified into three categories:

Rigid piping
Articulated piping
Flexible hoses
Rigid Piping

Rigid piping consists of straight pipes of different lengths (1, 2, and 5 meters are the
most common lengths) and elbows (typically 90 degrees).

Some advantages of rigid piping are:

Good resistance to abrasion

Not expensive
Almost maintenance free

Available in different lengths

Some disadvantages of rigid piping are:

Low resistance to temperature unless fitted with expensive

high temperature seals
Each pipe requires a seal
Weight

Articulated Piping

Articulated piping consists of 90 degrees elbows connected with

swivel joints that allow rotation in one, two, or three planes.

Some advantages of articulated piping are:

Easy rig up
Can be configured in an unlimited variety of ways to suit practically any
surface testing layout

Some disadvantages of articulated piping are:

Large number of seals

When bearings fail, it is time consuming to change them

Flexible Hoses
Flexible hoses are made of rubber or polymer protected by a flexible
metallic carcass such as Coflexip.

Some advantages of flexible hoses are:

Flexibility
Various lengths
Virtually maintenance free
Resistant to corrosive fluids (Coflexip)
Very reliable

Some disadvantages of flexible hoses are:

Low resistance to high temperature (Coflexip)

Expensive (Coflexip)
Heavy. A crane is needed for the installation (Coflexip)
Repair done only by specialists (Coflexip)
Fragile when not protected with a metallic carcass

Piping Selection Guidelines

The principal criteria for selecting the type of piping are:

Working pressure
The working pressure of the piping is dictated by the Schlumberger Pressure
Operations Manual:
"When the stream pressure is reduced in stages, each section of the surface
testing equipment shall be selected either to withstand the maximum expected
shut-in wellhead pressure, or the different piping sections shall be protected by
a suitable pressure relieving device triggered at the maximum working
pressure of the individual sections."
Flow rate
The size or diameter of the piping depends on the maximum expected flow
rate. The most common sizes of piping used are 2 in. and 3 in. diameters, and
4 in. diameter piping is sometimes chosen for high gas rate tests.

Detailed informations on pipe sizes and flow velocities is available from these
sources: the Field Operating Handbook (FOH), Vol. I," a software program
developed by the Early Production Facilities (EPF) group in Schlumberger,
and the API Recommended Procedures 14 E (API RP 14 E).

Relative movement and layout of the well test equipment

Because of pressure loss and erosion in the pipes, it is best to keep piping
routes as straight as possible. However, this is not always possible. To
facilitate the connection between some pieces of equipment, the piping layout
must combine rigid piping, articulated piping, and flexible hoses.

Additional piping selection criteria include:

Service type
 All the rigid piping used should be of H2S service type with welded wing
unions connections. Rubber hoses and articulated piping must be selected in
accordance to the service type required (H2S or non-H2S).

Piping Racks and Baskets

To prevent unwanted accidents, it is highly recommended to use certified racks and

baskets which have been especially designed for storing and transporting piping.

Safety
The following is a list of key safety considerations for piping:

When high flow rates are expected, firmly anchor the flow lines to the rig
structure or to the ground.
Hoses must be attached to heavy pieces of equipment because they can swing
under pressure.
Never try to loosen or tighten connections under pressure.
Do not use steel hammers to tighten wing union connections. Brass or copper
hammers must be used to prevent sparks. They must be in good working
condition to avoid injuries from metal chips that can break off of these
hammers.
After every job, the piping must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent corrosion
from well fluids.
Before storage, the piping connections must be greased and covered with
greased adhesive tape.
Rigid piping must be repainted when necessary to prevent rust corrosion.
Thickness measurements on rigid and articulated piping will help to detect
corrosion and erosion and to avoid failures resulting from these problems.
In desert locations, do not put grease on the threads. The sand sticks to the
grease and prevents proper connections.
Coflexip hoses must be chosen in accordance to the temperature, pressure, and
fluid type expected. Refer to the manufacturer's specifications.
Maximum working temperature versus exposure time limits and minimum
bending radius specifications must be respected for Coflexip hoses.
For Coflexip hoses, accurate records of pressure and temperature exposure
versus time must be maintained.
Each individual piece of piping must be labelled with its working pressure and
service type stamped on a permanently attached metal band.
Piping falls under the scope of the Schlumberger Pressure Operations Manual.

Maintenance
The basic maintenance of the piping before and after every job consists of:

A visual inspection to check for wear and corrosion of the pipe and the
connections.
The seals of the connections must be verified and changed when damaged.
 Threads and sealing surfaces must be cleaned with a wire brush or fine emery
cloth.
Swivel joints of articulated piping must be checked for leaks. Bearings must
be greased or changed when necessary.
Hoses must be maintained as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

A regular maintenance (Q-check) once a year consists of:

All the points listed above.

X-ray or ultrasonic inspection of the metal thickness for articulated and rigid
piping must be done especially when submitted to high fluid velocities and
sand production.
After inspection, the piping must undergo a hydrostatic test at test pressure.
Color code piping according to the results of inspection and testing. (The
piping color may need to be changed if working pressure is down-rated as a
result of inspection and testing.)

Summary
In this training page, we have discussed:

The different types of piping in used by Schlumberger.

How the pressure rating for rigid piping is calculated.
The purpose of the Schlumberger color code and the pressures associated with
the colors.
The guidelines for selecting piping.
Some key safety points about piping.

Self Test
1. Why is articulated piping or flexible hoses used between the flowhead and the
choke manifold?
2. What is the purpose of the Schlumberger piping color code?
3. How is the piping for a surface testing layout selected?
4. What is important to check regularly on rigid and articulated piping? Why is it
important to check this?
5. How are piping elements connected?
6. How is the seal made for a figure 1002 connection?
Introduction

The different elements of a well testing layout are connected together with piping to
provide the flow path for the effluent. The piping consists of different sizes of rigid
pipes and hoses which are selected according to their working pressure, flowrate, and
the relative movement between the elements.

Features and Benefits

Piping is available in a broad range of diameters and pressure

ratings. It can be divided into three main categories:

Rigid piping which consists of straight lengths and

elbows.
Articulated piping made up of straight lengths attached
together with swivel joints that permit any possible
orientation.
Flexible hoses that are usually made of rubber or polymer protected with a
metallic carcass.

All the piping elements and hoses are linked together with quick wing union
connections.

A broad variety of piping provides the flexibility necessary to accommodate all types
of surface testing layouts.

Applications

Piping is the essential link between the different pieces of equipment in a surface
testing layout. In well testing, piping is used whenever fluid has to be transported
from one point to another.