One Company's Experience in Subsea Valve Testing

Abstract

API standards establish Performance Verification Tests (PVT) requirements for subsea valves, but Petrobras' specification has considered additional requirements that contributes to evaluate the performance and improve the reliability of subsea valves, applicable to Wet Christmas Trees (WCT), manifolds and Pipeline End Manifolds (PLEM). Moreover, Petrobras' specification has included additional functional tests during qualification process. These functional test data combined with valve design data and acceptance criteria are used to compose acceptance criteria for functional tests that are performed during Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT). This paper presents an overview of these requirements that compose Petrobras' new technical specification. The goal of this specification is to reduce subsea intervention due to valve failures by improving quality and reliability of this equipment. Test results and conclusion according to Petrobras' Valve Qualification Program are also presented.