Champion Technologies and 3M have jointly developed filtration equipment to reduce the risk of blockage in an umbilical system newly installed in the North Sea.
Offshore staff
BRACKNELL, UK -- Champion Technologies and 3M have jointly developed filtration equipment to reduce the risk of blockage in an umbilical system newly installed in the North Sea.
The 28-km (17-mi) umbilical – much longer than conventional umbilicals – imposed a requirement for production chemicals to be filtered to a precise level of cleanliness to minimize the threat of a blockage.
“The longer the tieback, the more difficult and costly it is to pinpoint and remove any source of obstruction,” said Champion Technologies (UK) Area Manager John Reid. Most blockages require intervention by divers working from a diving support vessel. The associated costs can vary from a few hundred thousand dollars into the millions.
The filtration process adopted for the new installation was developed by 3M, Champion, and the project operator. Laboratory tests identified 3M BetaKlean filters as the most appropriate media.
Also, 3M worked with Champion to tailor a solution compatible with the various types of chemicals the equipment would come into contact with on this project.
