The company
Element and Subsea7 have a long term relationship, currently formalized within a two year framework agreement. The two companies have worked together on a number of key global projects where Element has provided technically demanding materials and pipeline testing, including advanced corrosion protection and coatings testing.
The challenge
Subsea7 had a specific testing requirement in support of project work for its customer offshore the Republic of Congo and Angola. The solution was required to conduct round the clock testing of field joint coatings in real time and deliver same day results to ensure production continuity.
The solution
Element developed a world-first, high-specification ‘laboratory in a box’ concept, which was shipped ready for on-site testing at the Angola. The truly mobile plug and play concept consisted of a fully-fitted laboratory and machine shop created in two 40-foot purpose-built units. The expertise behind the concept brings together a team of experts in pipeline coatings from Element's UK, Singapore and Abu Dhabi operations.
The result
The facility delivered pipeline coating qualification tests including cathodic disbondment to ensure compatibility with impressed potential corrosion protection systems, adhesion and peel testing of coatings to ensure a high integrity barrier to sea water ingress, and differential scanning calorimetry to verify correct coating cure of the critical Fusion Bonded Epoxy (FBE) corrosion coat.