Outstanding deep-water flowline protection

Citation

(2002), "Outstanding deep-water flowline protection", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 49 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2002.12849eab.006

Outstanding deep-water flowline protection

Outstanding deep-water flowline protectionKeywords: Polyurethane, Corrosion protection, Pipelines

"Hyperlast Syntactic" polyurethane is providing outstanding protection and insulation to goose-necks, Xmas trees, spools, pipelines and anchor blocks in the deep-water fields off the coast of West Africa, and in the Gulf of Mexico (see Plate 5).

Nearly 5km of production spools from tower-to-bundle, bundle-to-bundle, and bundle-to-manifold are coated with "Hyperlast Syntactic" DW512-300 in the Girassol oil and gas field, situated 210km north-west of Luanda, West Africa, where 40 wells (23 production) are sited in 1,350m (4,400ft) of water.

Plate 5 "Hyperlast Syntactic" polyurethane is providing outstanding protection and insulation to goose-necks, Xmas trees, spools, pipelines and anchor blocks in the deep-water fields off the coast of West Africa, and in the Gulf of Mexico

On the surface, buoyancy tanks use Hyperlast 7850265 insulated anchor blocks, as do the risers that form the goose-necks. The Hyperlast materials were applied to the spools, goose-necks and production bundles, all to a just-in-time (JIT) production schedule.

High impact strength, thermal insulation and corrosion protection are said to be the proved and essential "Hyperlast Syntactic" properties necessary for a coating that will last the lifetime of a flowline.

The 37.5km long La Ceiba Phase no. 2, 10in pipeline, coated by Bredero, with 48mm (2in. approximately) of "Hyperlast Syntactic" DW512-150 polyurethane, lies at a depth of 717m (2,330ft), nearly 3.5km off Equatorial Guinea.

Operating at 80°C, this pipeline is said to rely heavily on the "Hyperlast Syntactic" properties of exceptional insulation and high protection – essential in maintaining a successful flowline.

Located some 600km east of New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico, two pipelines with a combined length of 55km and coated with "Hyperlast Syntactic" DW512 polyurethane, have been laid at depths varying from 1,006m to 1,677m (5,450ft).

The pipe-in-pipe configuration at BP King is a 12.75in outer sleeve containing hot water that surrounds an 8in, 82°C flowline. The outer sleeve is coated in "Hyperlast Syntactic" DW512-150 and DW512-300, dependent on depth of use. The pipe jointing was completed using Hyperlast 2874016 as primer, and Hyperlast 2851239 as the top coat.

The "Hyperlast Syntactic" polyurethane outer coating is reported to easily resist the hydrostatic pressure at these depths (1,677m) and far beyond, with the first-class thermal insulation and abrasion resistance also unimpaired. Additionally, simulated tests recently carried out in partnership with Heriot-Watt University, confirm that water ingression at this depth is minimal over a 20-year period.

Further details are available from: Hyperlast Ltd. Tel: 01663 746518; Fax: 01663 746605; E-mail: help@hyperlast.com; Web site: www.hyperlast.com