TPT November 2011

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16 November 2011 ›
Industry News
Investigating corrosion fatigue on
subsea flexible pipes
CORROSION testing firm Exova has won a
contract to work for Technip to investigate
the effect of high-pressure corrosion
fatigue on the life of the tensile armour wire
component of flexible pipes.
Flexible oil and gas pipelines and risers
are used to connect subsea installations
to floating production facilities. The flexible
nature of dynamic riser systems has been
a key driver in allowing the industry to
move away from traditional fixed platform
systems, to develop fields in deeper waters
with floating technology.
One of the main challenges of operating
in deep and ultra-deep water is the
challenging environmental conditions for
flexible pipe systems. Exova has responded
to this challenge by developing bespoke
facilities capable of corrosion fatigue testing
at elevated temperature and pressure.
In increasingly chal-
lenging environments,
one of the significant
concerns regarding
flexible pipe integrity
is the condition of the
annulus. If the annulus
becomes flooded by
ingress of seawater
through the external
sheath, this could lead to
corrosion and a possible
impact on service life.
Exova has designed
equipment that is able
to conduct testing at
up to 50 bar and 150°C in simulated sour
environments. These new test facilities
allow investigation of properties over
a wide range of service environments,
which includes continuous gas bubbling
at pressure to stimulate the annulus
environment. The data generated from
the tests will contribute towards the
technological advancement of flexible
pipelines and risers, which are deployed in
hostile locations.
Lee Best, general manager at Exova
Daventry and Exova’s Corrosion Centre,
said, “Corrosion has often been identified as
the most common in-service cause of failure
in pipelines, causing loss of containment
failures of hazardous materials. We have
worked closely with Technip to respond
to the demanding test requirement and
developed a state-of-the-art testing facility
that further enhances our corrosion testing
capabilities.”
Exova – UK
Email:
Website:
New managing director
for Flextraction
FLEXTRACTION Ltd, a supplier and
manufacturer of local exhaust ventilation
(LEV) products, has announced that Lee
Darton has been appointed managing
director. Mr Darton has many years’
experience in the fume and dust extraction
equipment industry. He has been with
Flextraction for over 12 years, as sales
manager and most recently as general
manager (products).
Wally Gilder, chairman of Flextraction,
commented: “Lee has played a significant
role in the development of this company
and has created a fully focussed and
committed sales and after sales team.
Under his guidance we have seen our
market share continue to increase and this
appointment comes at a time when the
company is experiencing improved trading
conditions and the introduction of a wider
product portfolio. It is just reward for all his
commitment and endeavours.”
Mr Darton said, “Flextraction
has a comprehensive range
of dust and fume extraction
products that cover a multitude
of industries, which we
continually strive to improve and
develop. This marketing strategy
has led to increased order books
both from the UK and from new
markets in Europe. Working
with the UKTI (UK Trade and
Investment) in order to find
defined partners in Europe has
led to the recent appointment of
a distributor in France for our HPD products
(hood positioning devices). This in turn has
resulted in increased production of HPDs.
“We are continuing to drive our export
business forward and are currently looking
at defined partners in both Germany and
Spain. My appointment as managing
director will help us take the company
forward as part of our ongoing marketing
and investment strategies, both in the long
and short term.”
Flextraction Ltd – UK
Fax: +44 1664 480244
Email:
Website:
Lee Darton, Flextraction’s new managing director
The subsea pipes
that Exova will be testing
for corrosion fatigue