Offshore staff
TOKYO, Japan — MODEC and Toray Industries have developed a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) patch technique for repairs on FPSOs and FSOs.
From 2024 onward, MODEC plans to provide these services for pitting corrosion repairs. ABS has approved the technique for repairing areas with diameters of up to 300 mm subjected to damage from pitting corrosion.
According to MODEC, the technique allows for efficient deployment of materials and equipment offshore and does not involve hot work.
In 2020 the company and Toray jointly developed a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VaRTM) process for CFRP repairs, which ABS approved for applying to steel to restore mechanical strength.
While the process suited repairs of extensive corrosion areas, it was less appropriate for pitting corrosion repairs. The new CFRP patch technique is said to be more straightforward and more effective, only requiring bonding of pre-fabricated CFRP patch flat plates over pitting corrosion.
Benefits include a reduced repairs team and better lead times compared with the VaRTM process but excluding materials procurement lead times.
This technique is said to eliminate the need for vacuum pumps and other equipment.
MODEC/Toray plan to offer VaRTM in the future for extensive repairs and the CFRP patch technique for localized repairs.
12.18.2023
