January 2014 Tube Products International
49
products & developments
Clean, capped, coiled
pipes approved for
longer storage
PE pipe specialist GPS PE Pipe Systems
has extended the safe open-air storage
period of its Excel 3C (clean, capped,
coiled) pipes from six months to a year,
following independent tests by the WRc
(Water Research Centre) and approval
from the Secretary of State.
A factory-clean pipe coil designed to
reduce installation times and costs,
Excel 3C removes the need for pre-
chlorination prior to installation.
With factory-sealed pipe ends secured
by a protective cap and an integral
towing head, it ensures that the pipe
bore is doubly protected against the risk
of contamination.
GPS states that speed
of installation, cost and
environmental advantages
have made Excel 3C a popular
choice for many of the UK’s
water companies, including
Essex & Suffolk Water and
Anglian Water, and the pipe’s
benefits have now been further
enhanced by its extended safe
storage period.
The WRc’s investigation checked for
bacterial colonisation on the inside
surface of the pipe on arrival at site
and at regular intervals during the
outdoor storage. The investigation
demonstrated that Excel 3C could be
safely stored for 12 months without
biological compromise.
GPS PE Pipe Systems
– UK
GPS Excel3C features factory-sealed
pipe ends secured by a protective cap
Insulation for subsea oil production
applications
At the Society of Petroleum Engineers’
Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition (ATCE) in New Orleans, the
Dow Chemical Company announced
a milestone in the commercialisation
process for the Dow Neptune advanced
subsea flow assurance insulation
system. Neptune P insulation for line
pipes and Neptune F insulation for field
joints are now available for offshore flow
assurance applications.
“We are proud that customers can
now confidently choose these key
components of the Neptune system
to meet their offshore flow assurance
needs,” said Alexander Lane, Dow
global business leader for oil and gas
transmission.
“We have been developing the end-to-
end system and working to bring each
component to market since launching
the Neptune Technology early last
year. Now, both of these line pipe and
field joint coating components have
successfully passed multiple rounds
of full-scale rigorous testing, ensuring
performance in the high-temperature,
high-pressure operating environments
found in deep water, as well as in
the sub-zero temperatures experienced
during cold climate installations or under
extreme service conditions.”
The Neptune system was developed
in direct response to requests from
offshore operators for subsea flow
assurance protection from the harsh
conditions encountered in the evolving
offshore
production
landscape,
including broader temperature ranges
and higher pressures.
The insulation’s tested physical
properties include flexibility down
to -40°C (-40°F), thermal stability at
service temperatures up to at least
160°C (320°F), and a consistently low
K-factor.
While competitive line pipe coating
systems can require as many as
seven layers, Neptune insulation has
two: a robust and homogeneous layer
of novel insulation over a proprietary
fusion-bonded epoxy. This simplified
system eliminates the need for multiple
materials and adhesive tie layers, which
reduces the potential risks associated
with bonding dissimilar and potentially
incompatible materials and contributes
to a thinner coating profile.
“The commercialisation of Neptune
P and Neptune F insulation is a
significant step towards bringing the
entire Neptune system to market,” said
Larry Ryan, general manager, Dow oil,
gas and mining. “This announcement
comes on the heels of the Neptune
system being selected as a winner of a
2013 OTC Spotlight on New Technology
Award, which honours new, innovative
and proven technologies that have
broad market interest and a significant
impact on the oil and gas industry’s
future. We’re excited that customers
can now use this industry-recognised
technology and benefit from its elevated
performance.”
Dow Chemical Company
– USA
