Oilfield technology firm Airborne Oil & Gas and engineering company SÍMEROSTechnologies have signed a collaboration agreement which aims to deliver the first qualified Thermoplastic Composite Pipe (TCP) Risers in the deepwater region Brazil.
Last year, Airborne Oil & Gas commenced its TCP Riser qualification program. The technology is believed to be a world first for fully bonded, free-hanging composite risers with the aim of providing a disruptive new Riser pipe technology for operators with international deepwater applications.
The program is receiving funding from a major operator in the region and is aimed at qualifying the TCP Riser for dynamic deepwater applications, including for pre-salt and highly corrosive conditions, against an ambitious timescale.
Airborne Oil & Gas’ TCP riser design aims to deliver the lowest cost solution for total installation of dynamic risers in deepwater applications, whilst offering maximum flexibility to operators in terms of subsea configuration and choice of installation vessel, according to a press release.
Airborne Oil & Gas vice president Brazil, Renato Bastos said: “Following our announcement in June last year regarding our TCP Riser qualification program, we are very pleased with the opportunity to add SÍMEROS to our partnering approach in Brazil to support on local qualification, development and manufacturing of the TCP end fittings.
“With tremendous support from our clients, we have developed the TCP Riser with optimal characteristics for cost, weight and bend radius, while using robust materials with many years of proven track record in the field.”
The TCP flowlines and risers developed by Airborne Oil & Gas can be installed by existing flex-lay and reel-lay vessels and be installed in the flexible and cost effective free hanging catenary mode. “Installed in free hanging catenary configuration, our TCP Riser provides the opportunity for significant savings on typical FPSO development, through faster installation and avoiding the need to use buoyancy modules”, said Oliver Kassam, Airborne Oil & Gas CEO.
The collaboration aims to deliver the first TCP riser to be qualified in Brazil.