Análisis de la viabilidad económica de la implementación de tuberías flexibles para transporte de hidrocarburos: un estudio desde el análisis de resultados

Abstract

One of the most important processes in the value generation chain of a company dedicated to the extraction of hydrocarbons is the transportation of hydrocarbons to the treatment, conditioning, and processing plants. According to statistics presented by the National Planning Department (DPN), about 90% of the hydrocarbons produced in the country tend to be transported through pipelines called ducts, whose main characteristic is that they are made of metallic materials which, depending on the phase being transported, are assigned a suffix to describe the fluid (Oil Pipelines, Gas Pipelines, Polyducts). However, this type of pipelines presents several problems, both economic and operational, associated to corrosion, chemical treatments, and assemblies in geometrically irregular areas. To solve this problem, several companies have proposed the use of flexible pipes, built with non-metallic components, which improve the quality, durability, and installation of the product. As a proof of entrepreneurship, the company REDO S.A.S. arises as a family business initially focused on the commercialization, installation, and specialized technical assistance of metallic and non-metallic piping technology. Based on the above, this project analyzed the economic feasibility of the implementation of flexible pipes for hydrocarbon transportation, considering three of the main brands in the market, and comparing the results with the implementation of conventional pipes. This was done through a profit and loss statement and complementary economic studies (IRR, NPV, etc.). As a conclusion, it was evidenced that the flexible pipeline allows reaching much higher economic margins, with rates of return above those achieved with conventional technology and a much faster payback time.