GENERAL SPECIFICATION

CORROSION

GS EP COR 004

Limiting flow velocities calculations for erosion

corrosion purpose

03 09/2016 S E-C flow limits integrated to Table 1

02 09/2015 General revision, C factors updated, limit on duration
01 05/2015 Organisation change – January 2015
00 10/2012 First issue
Rev. Date Purpose of the revision

Owning entity: DSO/TEC Managing entity: DSO/TEC/COR

Other Approving entity(ies):

This document is the property of TOTAL S.A., it contains confidential information which may not be disclosed to any third party,
reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior written consent of TOTAL S.A.
The information contained in this document does not substitute for applicable laws and regulations.
 General Specification GS EP COR 004

Limiting flow velocities calculations for erosion corrosion purpose

Rev.: 03 Effective date: 09/2016 Page: 2 of 9

Contents

1. Scope ....................................................................................................................... 3

2. Reference documents ............................................................................................. 3

3. Definitions................................................................................................................ 4
3.1 Liquid Erosion-Corrosion (L E-C) .................................................................................... 4
3.2 Solid Erosion-Corrosion (S E-C) ..................................................................................... 4
3.3 Solid free fluid ................................................................................................................. 4
3.4 Fluid type ........................................................................................................................ 4
3.5 Potential Corrosivity ........................................................................................................ 5
3.6 Flow velocity calculations ................................................................................................ 6

4. Methodology ............................................................................................................ 7

5. Flow velocity limiting criteria for Erosion-Corrosion ........................................... 7

6. Flow velocity limiting criteria for pure mechanical erosion ................................ 9

7. Managing erosion-corrosion conditions ............................................................... 9

7.1 Flow velocity exceeding VLEC / VSEC ................................................................................. 9

This document is the property of TOTAL S.A., it contains confidential information which may not be disclosed to any third party,
reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior written consent of TOTAL S.A.
The information contained in this document does not substitute for applicable laws and regulations.
 General Specification GS EP COR 004

Limiting flow velocities calculations for erosion corrosion purpose

Rev.: 03 Effective date: 09/2016 Page: 3 of 9

1. Scope
This specification defines the design criteria for calculating limiting flow velocities to prevent
liquid erosion-corrosion phenomena, i.e. limitations to high velocities. Its application limits are
as follows:
• Applicable for all produced fluids, from single phase to 3 phases, as well as injection water
• Applicable to pipelines and to piping systems, including vessel nozzles.
• Carbon steel and stainless steels are addressed, as well as copper alloys (used for
aerated sea water).
This specification does not address flow velocity limitations:
• For relief piping (upstream or downstream pressure relieving equipment)
• For other causes than erosion-corrosion (vibrations, noise). In some cases, these
limitations may be more severe than the ones given in this GS. They are covered by
GS EP ECP 103
• Specific to particular equipment such as pumps, valves, compressors etc. also covered by
GS EP ECP 103
• Regarding the low velocity side, i.e. minimum flow velocities (e.g. for Top of Line
Corrosion, solid accumulation, etc.).

2. Reference documents
The reference documents listed below form an integral part of this General Specification.

External Documents
Unless otherwise stipulated, the applicable version of these documents, including relevant
appendices and addendums, is the latest revision published at the effective date of this
document.

Reference Title
API RP 14E Recommended Practice for Design and Installation of Offshore
Production Platform Piping Systems

Total General Specifications

Unless otherwise stipulated, the applicable version of these documents, including relevant
appendices and addendums, is the latest revision published.

Reference Title
GS EP COR 001 Corrosion control on production facilities: Design and construction
GS EP ECP 103 Process sizing criteria

This document is the property of TOTAL S.A., it contains confidential information which may not be disclosed to any third party,
reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior written consent of TOTAL S.A.
The information contained in this document does not substitute for applicable laws and regulations.
 General Specification GS EP COR 004

Limiting flow velocities calculations for erosion corrosion purpose

Rev.: 03 Effective date: 09/2016 Page: 4 of 9

3. Definitions
3.1 Liquid Erosion-Corrosion (L E-C)
Liquid Erosion-Corrosion is defined in this document as:
• A specific process where final degradation results from corrosion reactions with no solid
particle involved.
• The liquid flow itself contributes to a mechanical and / or enhanced chemical removal of a
protective layer (by fatigue cracking, shear stress effect, etc).
• Free liquid water is mandatory for liquid erosion-corrosion, as well as some corrosive
components in it (CO2, oxygen, H2S, etc.).

3.2 Solid Erosion-Corrosion (S E-C)

Solid Erosion-Corrosion is defined in this document as:
• A specific process where final degradation results from corrosion reactions with solid
particles promoting the physical / mechanical removal of a protective corrosion layer.
• This corrosion mode is not exclusive of the previous L E-C (both being possible).
• As for L E-C, free liquid water is mandatory for erosion-corrosion, as well as some
corrosive components in it (CO2, oxygen, H2S, etc.).
• The presence of solid particles enhances the damage to corrosion layers.
• S E-C may occur at lower velocities than L E-C, when the flow rate of solid particles is
higher than limits given in section 0.
• Only non-passive materials are at risk of S E-C

3.3 Solid free fluid

The absence of solid particles is defined as follows:
• For gases considering that all sand is present in the gas phase:
- Particle size below 30 µm (less than 5% mass > 30 µm)
or
- Sand flow rate lower than 1 kg/Million Sm3 of gas.
• For multi-phase fluids or liquids considering that all sand is present in the liquid phase:
- Particle size below 30 µm (less than 5% mass > 30 µm)
or
- Sand concentration less than 3 kg/1000 m3 of liquid.

3.4 Fluid type

The boundary between liquid/multiphase and gas service is defined in GS EP ECP 103.

This document is the property of TOTAL S.A., it contains confidential information which may not be disclosed to any third party,
reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior written consent of TOTAL S.A.
The information contained in this document does not substitute for applicable laws and regulations.
 General Specification GS EP COR 004

Limiting flow velocities calculations for erosion corrosion purpose

Rev.: 03 Effective date: 09/2016 Page: 5 of 9

3.4.1 Liquid hydrocarbon service

Liquid hydrocarbon service is defined with a gas phase limited to residual amounts, with no
significant impact on flow regime.

3.4.2 Gas service

Gas service is considered sweet in this specification as long as the molar ratio H2S / CO2 is
below 5%.
Gas is considered wet by default.
Gas is considered dry when the normal service temperature is at least 10°C above the water
dew point in the gas at the same location.

3.5 Potential Corrosivity

The "Potential Corrosivity" represents the uniform corrosion rate of a bare steel surface by the
water contained in the corrosive environment, assuming no protective effect by corrosion
products, no corrosion inhibition, no localized attack effect and no water wetting limitation by
any other component of the corrosive environment.
The classification used in the specification is:
• High: High Potential Corrosivity (> 1 to 2 mm/y without corrosion inhibition) and no
likelihood of a highly protective corrosion layer under high flow velocities.
• Medium: Moderate Potential Corrosivity (< 1 to 2 mm/y without inhibition) or "flow
resistant" corrosion layer.
• Low: Low Potential Corrosivity (< 0.1 to 0.2 mm/y without inhibition), or no risk of
metal/water contact, or highly "flow resistant" corrosion layer.
The Potential Corrosivity shall currently be evaluated with the PreCorr tool (Ref.
GS EP COR 001). However if this tool is not available, Figure 1 shall be used to determine the
worst case corrosivity of current reservoir waters as a function of temperature and partial
pressure of CO2.
Figure 1 – Corrosivity for 2 and 3 phase production, worst case
Temp

PCO2 10°C 20°C 30°C 40°C 50°C 60°C 70°C 80°C 90°C 100°C 110°C 120°C
0,001 bar
0,002 bar Low corrosivity
0,005 bar
0,01 bar Medium Corrosivity
0,02 bar
0,05 bar
0,1 bar
0,2 bar
0,5 bar
1 bar
2 bar
5 bar High Corrosivity
10 bar
20 bar
50 bar
100 bar

This document is the property of TOTAL S.A., it contains confidential information which may not be disclosed to any third party,
reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior written consent of TOTAL S.A.
The information contained in this document does not substitute for applicable laws and regulations.
 General Specification GS EP COR 004

Limiting flow velocities calculations for erosion corrosion purpose

Rev.: 03 Effective date: 09/2016 Page: 6 of 9

3.6 Flow velocity calculations

All flow velocity limitations given in this document refer to the sum of superficial velocities
defined as mixture velocity in GS EP ECP 103.
VAPI critical erosion velocity determined in API RP 14E using C factors detailed in Table
1Table 1
VMax absolute maximum velocity detailed in Table 1 independent from VAPI
VLEC velocity not to be exceeded to prevent L E-C
VSEC velocity not to be exceeded to prevent S E-C
VSPPS velocity not to be exceeded to control solid particle erosion below 0.1 mm/y

The actual flow velocity of the fluid shall be calculated on the basis of worst case conditions, i.e.
using the scenario that results in the highest mixture velocity.

This document is the property of TOTAL S.A., it contains confidential information which may not be disclosed to any third party,
reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior written consent of TOTAL S.A.
The information contained in this document does not substitute for applicable laws and regulations.
 General Specification GS EP COR 004

Limiting flow velocities calculations for erosion corrosion purpose

Rev.: 03 Effective date: 09/2016 Page: 7 of 9

4. Methodology
Assessment of the limiting flow velocity shall be carried out as per methodology in Figure 2.
Figure 2 – Methodology for assessment of limiting flow velocity

5. Flow velocity limiting criteria for Erosion-Corrosion

C max criteria (and corresponding VAPI) apply to either S E-C (Solids) or L E-C. Vmax criteria
apply to L E-C conditions only, i.e. with a solid-free fluid.

The C values and the API equation are only applicable to carbon steel. For other materials such
as stainless steel, copper-nickel, titanium, GRP, etc., there is only one criterion, which is the
maximal total velocity (Vmax) given in Table 1 below.

This document is the property of TOTAL S.A., it contains confidential information which may not be disclosed to any third party,
reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior written consent of TOTAL S.A.
The information contained in this document does not substitute for applicable laws and regulations.
 General Specification GS EP COR 004

Limiting flow velocities calculations for erosion corrosion purpose

Rev.: 03 Effective date: 09/2016 Page: 8 of 9

Table 1 - Velocity limitation criteria

Material & With Solids / without
C max V max
Fluid corrosion solids, vs Potential
(US units) (m/s)
control Corrosivity (section 3.5)
CS, no inhibition LE-C: High/Medium/Low 100/130/ 130 20
SE-C: High/Medium/Low 75/ 75/100 NA
3Φ Produced fluid
CS, inhibited LE-C: High/Medium/Low 130/130/160 30
2 Φ Oil + water
SE-C: High/Medium/Low 100/100/100 NA
SS N/A N/A 50
LE-C: High/Medium/Low 100/100/130 20
CS, no inhibition
SE-C: High/Medium/Low 75/ 75/100 NA
Hydrocarbon containing fluids

CS, inhibited
Wet sweet gas LE-C: High/Medium/Low 130/130/160 30
SE-C: High/Medium/Low 100/100/100 NA
SS
N/A N/A 50

CS, no inhibition LE-C: High/Medium/Low 130/130/160 20

SE-C: High/Medium/Low 75/ 75/100 NA
Wet sour gas,
CS, inhibited LE-C: High/Medium/Low 130/130/160 30
condensed water only
SE-C: High/Medium/Low 100/100/100 NA
SS N/A N/A 50

CS, no inhibition LE-C: High/Medium/Low 100/100/130 20

SE-C: High/Medium/Low 75/ 75/100 NA
Wet sour gas,
CS, inhibited LE-C: High/Medium/Low 130/130/130 20
with reservoir water
SE-C: High/Medium/Low 100/100/100 NA
SS N/A N/A 50

CS, no inhibition ≥ 250 50

Dry or non condensing gas Low
SS N/A 100
CS, no inhibition Produced water or Sea 6
Water de-aerated by 10
Injection water CS, inhibited produced gas

De-aerated by vacuum
CS, no inhibition 8
stripping
Water

GRP
N/A 8
Copper alloys
N/A 3
Natural sea water Highly alloyed
N/A N/A
SS
N/A N/A
Ti alloys

This document is the property of TOTAL S.A., it contains confidential information which may not be disclosed to any third party,
reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior written consent of TOTAL S.A.
The information contained in this document does not substitute for applicable laws and regulations.
 General Specification GS EP COR 004

Limiting flow velocities calculations for erosion corrosion purpose

Rev.: 03 Effective date: 09/2016 Page: 9 of 9

6. Flow velocity limiting criteria for pure mechanical erosion

The erosion rate shall be evaluated with SPPS (Sand Production Pipe Saver) model or
equivalent. Evaluation criteria are given in GS EP COR 001. Limiting flow velocities / flow rates
shall be assessed to assure an erosion rate below 0.1 mm/y.

7. Managing erosion-corrosion conditions

7.1 Flow velocity exceeding VLEC / VSEC
Flow velocity situations exceeding erosion-corrosion situations (either S E-C or L E-C) can be
accepted during transient periods as long as no water is present which could wet the pipe wall
(e.g. during the first period of production of oil fields):
• BSW < 0.1% for condensate and light crudes (density < 0.85 kg/m3)
• BSW < 0.5% for heavy crudes (density > 0.85 kg/m3),
The maximum duration that can be accepted with flow velocity above limitation shall be such
that no more than 25% of the available corrosion allowance is consumed during this period.

This document is the property of TOTAL S.A., it contains confidential information which may not be disclosed to any third party,
reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior written consent of TOTAL S.A.
The information contained in this document does not substitute for applicable laws and regulations.