Hydraulic pipe

for hydrocarbonsfor crude oilfor natural gas

Overview
Continental is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of bonded production flexible lines. For over 50 years the company has specialised in metallic-reinforced bonded elastomer hoses and was the first to achieve certification under the API 17K standard. Continental offers a portfolio of hoses for production applications including topside jumpers, subsea jumpers, risers, flowlines and tie-ins to meet the needs of oil & gas operators and engineering contractors.

Sustainable Benefits

• Low environmental risk: Bonded production flexible lines are designed and manufactured to the API 17K standard, delivering high levels of safety and reliability in production service.
• Application-specific engineering: Tailoring the line construction to the actual service reduces material use and manufacturing footprint, optimising lifecycle investment.
• Long service life: Continental production flexible lines are designed for a service life exceeding 20 years, minimising replacement frequency.

Applications

• Topside jumpers
• Subsea jumpers
• Flowlines
• Tie-ins
• Risers
• Natural gas hoses for FSRU vessels

General construction of a Bonded Production Flexible Line
These flexible lines use a bonded (vulcanised) construction combining steel and elastomeric materials. Individual layered elements of the hose wall are vulcanised into a single bonded unit. Hose assemblies are manufactured to specified lengths as a single bonded unit where couplings are chemically bonded integrally to the hose.

Typical construction layers and components

• Stainless steel interlock stripwound tube: Protects the polymer lining from mechanical damage, prevents blistering in high-pressure gas service and decompression with vacuum service, supports the hose wall and facilitates pigging. Material options include AISI 316L or 254 SMO depending on conveyed medium.
• Polymer lining: Serves as the fluid barrier, protecting the hose from corrosive or abrasive effects of the conveyed medium. Lining thickness is selected based on pressure, ID and medium; materials are chosen to withstand crude oil, seawater, gases, hydraulic fluids, etc.
• Textile plies: Distribute internal pressure forces.
• Stiffening spiral (not shown): Prevents collapse under axial load and external pressure and reduces kinking in tight bends.
• Elastomeric cushion plies: Ensure adhesive bonding between layers.
• High-strength steel cable reinforcements: Main load-bearing elements that determine internal pressure resistance; cables are zinc- or brass-coated for enhanced corrosion resistance.
• Gas leading plies: Allow diffused gases to migrate to venting points.
• Fire resistant plies: Provide protection against flame exposure at 704°C (1300°F) for at least 30 minutes.
• UV resistant elastomeric cover: Protects the hose from impact, abrasion, weathering, seawater and oil.
• Outer stainless steel stripwound protection: Shields the hose from external mechanical damage; material typically AISI 316L.

Technical characteristics / specifications

• Certification: API 17K (metallic reinforced bonded elastomer hoses)
• Typical service life: designed for over 20 years
• Construction: bonded steel and elastomeric layered hose, vulcanised into a single bonded unit
• Materials: stainless steel interlock stripwound tube (AISI 316L or 254 SMO), polymer linings selected per conveyed medium, zinc- or brass-coated high-strength steel cables
• Fire resistance: designed to withstand flame exposure at 704°C (1300°F) for at least 30 minutes (fire resistant plies)
• UV and environmental protection: UV resistant elastomeric outer cover and optional outer stainless steel stripwound protection (AISI 316L)
• Applications: topside and subsea production jumpers, risers, flowlines, tie-ins, natural gas hoses for FSRU vessels