TPi May 2015

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May 2015 Tube Products International 35
products & developments
Overcoming the challenges
of deeper subsea production
“We help you get there” was Sandvik’s
theme at the Subsea Tieback Forum,
held in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA,
recently in March.
Examples of the company’s corrosion-
resistant alloys and other high
performance materials for tube,
pipe, wire, welding consumables and
powder-based hot isostatic pressed
(HIP) components were on display.
Subsea tiebacks – an increasingly
important component of oil and gas
production – facilitate linking new wells
to existing production platforms.
Specification, development and
installation of the tiebacks have to be
carefully considered in light of these
more remote and deeper wells, which
pose higher pressures and corrosion
threats to the tiebacks themselves.
During the material selection process,
environmental conditions of the wellhead
and the presence of corrosive elements
such as hydrogen sulphide, chlorides
and carbon dioxide are important to
consider in achieving resistance to
localised corrosion, particularly pitting,
crevice corrosion and stress corrosion
cracking.
“We know the increasing demands
that these deeper subsea oil and gas
production requirements are placing on
vital subsea tiebacks so it is important
to extend the life of the production
infrastructure,” said Leandro Finzetto of
Sandvik.
Sandvik seamless tubular materials
for subsea tiebacks are installed in
some of the most remote locations
throughout the world, in challenging
and demanding applications, helping
turn deposits that were previously
regarded as uneconomical into cost-
effective reality.
Sandvik Materials
Technology has invested
significantly in setting up
its global oil and gas team
to work closer with its
customers worldwide.
Sandvik Houston is strategically present
to support and meet the customers’
challenges. “Our new Duplex materials
will enable even longer seamless
continuous subsea tiebacks as we
continue to develop new, stronger,
better corrosion resistance, enabling
lighter materials in order to optimise
the performance over many years,”
concluded Mr Finzetto.
Sandvik Materials Technology –
Sweden
High performance
materials from Sandvik