Exploration • Drilling • Field Services
A frequently asked question in regard to the usage of plasticised ropes in subsea lifting operations is ‘what is the behaviour of the plastic jacket under high pressure, such as in a water depth of 3,000m?’ To find answers to this particular question, tests in a pressure chamber at 300bar water pressure have been conducted. Te rope that was tested was a 70mm compacted, rotation-resistant rope with a plastic-coated steel core. Te test sample was sealed with resin at both sides of its cut surface. After the test the sample was opened to
investigate the impacts of the pressurisation. In brief, the findings of the pressure test were that high water pressure won’t have negative effects on the plastic jacket of a plasticised wire rope. Tese findings are also supported by experiences from the field, where such ropes are successfully used in subsea lifting on a deep water geophysical research vessel down to water depths of 6,400m.
Summary
When it comes to the selection of wire ropes for offshore lifting operation it is important to get down to the nitty-gritty of the different performance
Fig. 2. Pressure chamber: a wire rope sample prior to the testing.
attributes of the products currently on the market. Attributes such as plasticised steel cores and heat-resistant core lubrications are not visible at first glance but they have a crucial contribution toward the cost-effective and safe performance of such activities. l
For more information ✔ at
www.engineerlive.com/iog
Robert Traxl is head of R&D for Wire Rope at Teufelberger in Austria.
www.teufelberger.com
LED safety sign deployed on offshore rigs W
ell known oil and gas company Perenco has become the first operator
to install a digital safety sign on its offshore oil rigs. The custom-designed display from sign specialist Messagemaker Displays relays continual updates on critical safety information. It also features a temperature window. The new sign, which is positioned
adjacent to a connecting door, features a message of the day, comprising a single scrolling line of text in bright red LEDs that provides a crystal-clear display, viewable from a distance and on approach. Supplied with all the necessary software, the system allows a series of messages to be programmed into the display, offering an instant update on key safety issues. A dedicated temperature window enables staff
to monitor changes in local conditions at any given time – an important safety requirement aboard the company’s rigs. Colourful and visually striking, the wall-
mounted 1200mm x 400mm aluminium display is finished in a white powder coating, personalised with custom-produced vinyl graphics. Incorporating a daylight readable display, the plug-and-play sign is viewable from angles up
46
www.engineerlive.com
to 160° and offers a durable, maintenance-free solution with a typical life of not less than 100,000 hours. One of the largest exploration companies in the
world, Perenco is involved in operations both on- and offshore and is represented in 15 countries. Messagemaker offers a range of industrial
LED and safety displays that provide a permanent high-visibility reminder to help increase awareness and reduce accidents, or to provide feedback on performance statistics, to keep staff informed and motivated. The UK-based company offers a bespoke design and manufacture service to meet users’ site- specific requirements. LED displays can be configured to show simple
statistics related to the application they are used for (e.g. number of days since last incident, percentage of rubbish recycled, performance against target, etc) along with date/time, as well as displaying a fixed or flashing text message to provide general information or specific reminders. All displays are easy to programme and use and can be updated automatically, using a PC or in some cases with infrared controls. Display options include variable page timers and up to 16 different ‘text appear’ effects. Messagemaker has over 20 years
of experience in developing, manufacturing, installing and supporting digital LED displays. With manufacturing facilities in the both the UK and China, the company is able to provide the flexibility and lead times that come from local supply, while offering quality manufacture at a competitive price. As a member of the Stocksigns Group,
MessageMaker says it can offer the additional resources and peace of mind that comes from being part of a company with a turnover of £7 million plus, with a staff of over 70 people. l
For more information visit
www.messagemaker.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100