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Long last plastics for Topside Equipment
Oil & Gas production in offshore environments puts materials under some of the most demanding conditions found on the planet. These often include intense UV radiation, corrosive salt water and abrasive sand (winds), not to mention the extreme thermal conditions found in both arctic and tropical environments. Yet all environments require the safe and efficient operation of equipment every time. Our wide material range meets these requirements and more, no matter where the equipment operates. Our grades are weather resistant; to intense UV conditions and wear from sand and splash zone applications. Compared to steel, our materials do not require the need for sacrificial cathodic protection and offer weight savings of up to 70%! This leads to a reduction on the loads of the secondary support structures and can lead to an increase in operational efficiency. This combination allows you the construction of longlasting equipment and offers significant efficiency and economic advantages, no matter your application.
Your advantages
- Naturally corrosion resistant materials
- UV and weather resistant
- Long-lasting and low maintenance: resistant to corrosive salt water and hydrocarbons
- Weight reduction (easier install/usage)
- Noise reduction during operation
Typical areas of application
- Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS)
- Clamps
- Thermal insulation (including structural)
- Sensor body housings
- LNG transportation
Product examples
Sheaves & Sheave segments
Installation & retrieval of equipment from subsea environments leads to high demands placed on the metallic or synthetic cables. To help mitigate this, switch from metallic sheaves to SUSTAMID 6G (PA 6G), as our range of SUSTAMID materials can lead to an increase in the life of your cables. This is due to the low coefficients of friction and excellent wear resistance of SUSTAMID materials, further enhanced by the excellent impact resistance, and significant weight reduction compared to steel (approximately 1/7th the weight). Materials available include grades suitable for ATEX environments as well as self-lubricating formulations. More information about SUSTAMID 6G (PA 6G)
Cable clamps
Production of riser (cable) clamps from our range of polymeric materials offer you numerous advantages over traditionally used metallic components: They are corrosion resistant, offer excellent impact resistance and do not cause damage to the corrosion protection coating of the expensive and delicate equipment (power, communications or risers) during installation and operation. Most importantly is the significant weight reduction: Switching from steel to SUSTAMID 6G (PA 6G) or SUSTARIN C (POM-C) leads to a weight reduction of over 80%. Allowing manual installation without the need for lifting equipment. Clamps made from Polystone® G (PE-HD), further reduce the weight such that should the clamps be dropped, they float and won’t damage subsea infrastructure. More information about SUSTAMID 6G (PA 6G), SUSTARIN C (POM-C) and Polystone® G (PE-HD)
Tank supports for LNG carriers
Lignostone® is a laminated densified wood which offers exception properties, making it ideal for use as tank supports (picture), chocks, fixed blocks and sliding blocks in LNG transport vessels. Low thermal conductivity, low weight, a low coefficient of friction and an ability to withstand high mechanical loadings are some of the advantageous properties that Lignostone® has. Beside this the material is suitable to operate in environments with temperatures from -196 °C to +90 °C (-320 °F to 194 °F). Lignostone® is approved by LR, BV, NKK, GL, DNV, M.W.Kellog, IHI and JMU. You can be sure of an excellent quality. More information about Lignostone®
Insulating load bearing pipe supports
Durolight®, a fibre reinforced insulating composite was designed and developed to meet the thermal and mechanical requirements of load bearing supports in LNG applications. The very low thermal conductivity and ability of this material to operate in environments with temperatures from 196 °C to +200 °C (-320 °F to 392 °F) make it an excellent choice for insulation of pipelines and also for use as thermal breaks within the Oil & Gas industry. Durolight® is naturally flame retardant & halogen free, resistant to weathering, abrasion and wear. With these exceptional properties having led to Durolight® being approved by such companies as Bechtel Corp, Linde AG and Tractebel S.A./N.V. More information about Durolight®
(Picture printed with kind permission of Pipe Support Ltd.© 2003)
Arrange technical advice
The performance and reliability of materials used for the design of machines and systems in topside applications are influenced by a variety of factors. These criteria need to be considered in order to make the right choice. Examples:
- Thermal cycling/exposure to both high and low temperatures
- Contact with corrosive seawater
- Exposure to demanding hydrocarbon fluids, (H2S, production fluids, greases)
- Extreme weather conditions (UV) and abrasion (sand/waves)
- Mechanical demands
- Tribological requirements (friction and wear)
- Weight
We are happy to advise you on the selection of suitable materials for your particular application. Just use our contact form at the bottom of the page and write to us.
