PRODUCTION • PROCESSING • HANDLING
STORMY TIMES A new lease of life in
Andrew Courtney explains why oil & gas companies should be looking to introduce new approaches to repair and refurbish their equipment
D
uring the past 12 months the situation we faced as a supplier to the oil & gas sector was somewhat concerning, but no one anticipated the oil price per barrel
to drop to US$28 at the start of 2016. Te speed and depth of the impact on the supply chain within the sector has been surprising and many companies are now faced with a ‘sink or swim’ dilemma. Surface Technology has always
endeavoured to work in partnership with oil & gas customers and investigate ways in which they can reduce costs, waste and environmental impact through effective repair and refurbishment of offshore equipment. Despite the wide array of surface solutions available to repair and refurbish critical components, many oil & gas companies are not utilising these to their full effect and may be missing valuable cost saving opportunities. Here, we outline a range of critical oilfield equipment that can be repaired and refurbished and how coatings can extend their operational life. Te range of processes available include thermal spray, selective plating processes such as the Sifco Process, painting to marine specification from spot repairs to full asset re-coating, machining and grinding, NDT inspection and pressure testing.
Thermal coatings can
refurbish parts back to their original condition
VALVE APPLICATIONS Typically valve bodies and seats can suffer from corrosion and abrasive wear in use when particles are introduced between two moving surfaces. Termal spray can refurbish them to their original condition using high velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) coatings, eliminating the need to purchase new parts.
When it comes to drilling equipment, issues with the manufacturing process can also lead to a need for component salvage. For example, Surface Technology received the sealing bore of an outer connector sleeve – a critical part of the drilling system – that had been scored during the manufacturing process. A HVOF thermal coating was recommended due to its wear, corrosion and oxidation-resistant characteristics. Once coated, the surface profile of the sealing bore was re-machined to meet the manufacturer’s original specification and then comprehensive inspection and non-destructive testing (NDT) done to ensure the part had no microscopic cracks or inherent weaknesses. Meanwhile pipelines and Christmas Trees, which are used in subsea oil drilling
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operations, are subject to harsh undersea conditions, but this equipment can be cost-effectively refurbished by working with an oil & gas coating specialist. Surface Technology uses a bristle blasting method as it enables rapid spot repair to small and medium sized areas.
SUBSEA/MARINE RISERS Larger components with threaded connections such as risers and tethers for tension leg platforms present a coating challenge to the surface finishing industry due to their size and complex handling and resultant health & safety issues. Surface Technology has a facility in Renfrew, Scotland specifically for handling larger and more complex work pieces. A blowout preventer (BOP) is a large
high-pressure valve used to prevent the uncontrolled flow of liquids and gases during drilling operations. A common industry problem is mechanical damage caused to the internal sealing diameter of the valve. Te most common method of repair is to weld clad with Inconel. However, a more dynamic method of repair would be an HVOF thermal coating
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