Magma Global Signs Joint Development Agreement with BP and Subsea 7
Monday 14 September 2015
Magma Global is pleased to announce the signing of a joint development agreement with BP and Subsea 7 in a project to qualify Magma's carbon fibre m-pipe® as the next generation of subsea pipelines. The programme is also supported by the National Composites Centre (NCC) and Innovate UK, the Government initiative established to support pioneering technologies in the energy sector.
Magma's m-pipe® is a high strength, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, fully bonded, composite thermoplastic pipe which is stronger than steel and traditional flexibles, and is typically one tenth the weight. The high specific strength and corrosion resistant nature of composite technology makes it ideal for the oil & gas industry where deep water environments and corrosive fluids challenge the integrity of steel structures. Manufactured from highest quality carbon fibre and PEEK polymer materials, m-pipe® is immune to corrosion and is suitable for a wide spectrum of fluids and gases.
The qualification programme, which runs for 30 months, targets 6in to 12in pipes for risers and jumper systems for deep water environments and includes laminate testing (Elevated T and Aged properties), single load tests (tensile, burst, collapse, bending, torsion, compression, impact) and combined load tests (axial bending, collapse bending, pressure bending, axial pressure bending).
The hope is that the results will lead to lighter and more cost efficient riser systems than currently exist to help reduce the costs of deep water field developments, and in particular those with corrosive fluids. Similarly, jumpers or spool pipes which are subject to exceptional cyclical loads will be easier and less expensive to design and install, and will be more reliable to service. In addition the qualification programme will deliver the necessary inspection techniques to verify the long-term integrity of the systems.
The oil and gas industry has widely adopted the use of composites in a variety of applications over the past 20 years, including onshore production piping, fire water pipe and repair, and protection of structures. The increasing demands on materials to meet future technical requirements for risers, intervention lines, spools and components such as stress joints has led the industry to take a closer look at composites for these more demanding subsea applications. Magma Global Ltd is currently expanding its capacity in its Portsmouth UK headquarters and manufacturing base to meet growing demand for deep water risers, jumpers and intervention lines.
Commenting on Subsea 7's involvement in the m-pipe® project Thomas Sunde, VP of Technology at Subsea 7, said that composite pipe technology has the potential to improve cost effectiveness and remove the uncertainties of schedule delivery for many subsea solutions. "Subsea 7's focus with such initiatives is primarily to benefit our customers and to support collaborative research and development with key suppliers".
The National Composites Centre and Innovate UK will play an important role in the programme. NCC's CEO Peter Chivvers said that he was pleased to bring to the project the Centre's expertise from successful introduction of composites into other mature industries including automotive and aerospace.
Charles Tavner, Commercial Director Magma Global, "Magma Global are delighted that BP and Subsea 7 have chosen to collaborate in the qualification and deployment of Magma's m-pipe® technology. This programme is a brilliant example of how government, a major oil company, a major SURF contractor and a technology supplier can work together to deliver significant reductions in risk and cost for offshore field development."