The integrity management of flexible pipes used in subsea production plays a major role in maximizing the availability of the production systems while minimizing safety and environmental risks. One of the key areas for integrity management is the riser top section, where high tensions and curvatures result in high stresses and may lead to fatigue issues. A monitoring technique known as Monitoring Based on Optical Fiber Attached Directly on Armor Wires, or MODA, has been developed to assess the integrity of the tensile armor at the top section of flexible risers.
Introduction
A flexible pipe is composed of several layers, each having a specific function (Fig. 1). The carcass is a metallic layer designed to withstand external compression forces in the radial direction.
