TPi July 2015

22 / 64

business & market news
20 Tube Products International July 2015
Resin achieves NORSOK M-710 compliance
for oil and gas applications
Solvay Specialty Polymers, a global
supplier of high-performance
thermoplastics, announced at the
Offshore Technology Conference
that semi-finished tubes made of its
KetaSpire® KT-820 NT PEEK resin
achieved NORSOK M-710 compliance
for use in highly demanding oil and gas
applications.
The M-710 standard specifically defines
requirements for critical non-metallic
(polymer) sealing, seat and back-
up materials for permanent sub-sea
applications.
ATO Srl, a supplier of sealing
components, manufactured the
semi-finished tubes using its Stabil
hot compression moulding process.
Following the certification of KetaSpire
PEEK, ATO unveiled plans to specify
the polymer for additional products
distributed under its Stabil label,
including bearings, seals and back-up
rings that target critical oil and gas
equipment and installations.
Element Hitchin, an independent testing
and analytical laboratory (formerly
known as Materials Engineering
Research Laboratory, or
MERL) evaluated KetaSpire
KT-820 NT PEEK according to
NORSOK M-710 multi-phase
sour service conditions in
fluid at 10 per cent hydrogen
sulphide, 5 per cent carbon
dioxide and 85 per cent
methane at 10 MPa (100
bar), and at test temperatures
between 200°C and 220°C
(392-428°F).
The exposure testing spanned
49 days and periodically
measured swelling and tensile
properties of the KetaSpire
KT-820 NT resin samples.
The tests showed Solvay’s
PEEK delivered very good resistance to
sour gas and no measurable chemical
deterioration during the test period.
“As the sealing industry continues to
specify very high performance, quality
and durability, we are excited to
collaborate with Solvay as an innovative
global supplier of PEEK resins,”
said Davide Polloni, business export
manager for ATO. “Our relationship
ensures access to cutting-edge new
materials as well as Solvay’s industry-
leading technical expertise as ATO
seeks to develop advanced solutions for
challenging oil and gas applications.”
KetaSpire PEEK offers a combination
of strength, toughness and fatigue
resistance, with a continuous-use
temperature of 240°C (464°F). It also
exhibits highpurity and consistent quality
in processing and part performance.
Glass fibre-reinforced and carbon fibre-
reinforced grades provide a wide range
of performance options for demanding
applications.
Solvay Specialty Polymers – Belgium
ATO Srl – Italy
Semi-finished tubes manufactured from KetaSpire
KT-820 NT PEEK resin achieved NORSOK M-710
compliance
Photo credit: ATO Srl
Quanta selected for Maurepas
Pipelines Project
Maurepas Pipeline LLC, a subsidiary of
SemGroup Corporation, has selected
Quanta Services for the Maurepas
Pipelines Project. Quanta subsidiaries,
including Price Gregory International,
QPS Engineering and Quanta Capital
Solutions, assisted with the development
of the project for SemGroup, and will
provide engineering, procurement and
construction services.
Engineering, permitting, right of way
acquisition and materials procurement
have commenced. Construction is
expected to begin in the third quarter
of 2015, with completion expected in
the third quarter of 2016. The Maurepas
Pipelines Project has three separate
pipelines measuring approximately 100
miles in aggregate, consisting of 24",
12" and 6" diameter pipe, and three new
pumping stations.
The project spans the Ascension, St
Charles, St James and St John the
Baptist parishes in Louisiana, USA.
Once completed, the pipeline system
should enable local refineries to
integrate and optimise their operations,
and should provide the refineries
with pipeline access to domestically
produced crude oil. Quanta Services
is a specialised contracting services
company, delivering infrastructure
solutions for the electric power and oil
and gas industries. Quanta’s services
include designing, installing, repairing
and maintaining energy infrastructure.
In certain markets Quanta licenses fibre
optic telecommunications infrastructure,
offers lit network management
services and provides related design,
procurement, construction and
maintenance services.
Quanta Services, Inc – USA