Reinforced thermoplastic pipe
Encyclopedia
RTP is a generic term referring to a reelable high strength synthetic fibre (such as Glass, Aramid or Carbon) reinforced thermoplastic pipe, initially developed in the early 1990s by Wavin Repox, Akzo Nobel
and by Tubes d'Aquitaine from France, who developed the first pipes reinforced with synthetic fibre to replace medium pressure steel pipes in response to growing demand for non-corrisive conduits for application in the onshore oil and gas industry, particularly in the Middle East.
Typically, the materials used in the construction of the pipe might be Polyethylene
(PE), Polyamide
-11 or PVDF and may be reinforced with Aramid
or Polyester
fibre although other combinations are used.
More recently the technology of producing such pipe, including the marketing, rests with a few key companies, one of which is Pipelife with Soluforce
where it is available in coils up to 400 m (1,312 ft) length. These pipes are available in pressure ratings from 30 bar (3 MPa; 435.1 psi). Over the last few years this type of pipe has been acknowledged as a standard alternative solution to steel for oilfield flowline applications by certain oil companies and operators. The great advantage of this pipe is also its very fast installation time compared to steel pipe when considering the welding time as average speeds up to 1000 m (3,281 ft)/day have been reached installing RTP in ground surface.
Primarily, the pipe provides benefit to applications where steel may rupture due to corrosion and installation time is an issue.
Mr Chevrier (Tubes d'Aquitaine) also developed machinery that could produce such pipes, but was not successful in commercialising RTP.
Akzo Nobel
Akzo Nobel N.V., trading as AkzoNobel, is a Dutch multinational, active in the fields of decorative paints, performance coatings and specialty chemicals. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the company has activities in more than 80 countries, and employs approximately 55,000 people. Sales in 2010 were EUR...
and by Tubes d'Aquitaine from France, who developed the first pipes reinforced with synthetic fibre to replace medium pressure steel pipes in response to growing demand for non-corrisive conduits for application in the onshore oil and gas industry, particularly in the Middle East.
Typically, the materials used in the construction of the pipe might be Polyethylene
Polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
(PE), Polyamide
Polyamide
A polyamide is a polymer containing monomers of amides joined by peptide bonds. They can occur both naturally and artificially, examples being proteins, such as wool and silk, and can be made artificially through step-growth polymerization or solid-phase synthesis, examples being nylons, aramids,...
-11 or PVDF and may be reinforced with Aramid
Aramid
Aramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in bicycle tires, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide"...
or Polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
fibre although other combinations are used.
More recently the technology of producing such pipe, including the marketing, rests with a few key companies, one of which is Pipelife with Soluforce
Soluforce
Soluforce is a brandname of Pipelife for a Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe .-Introduction:Soluforce is an RTP, which is a flexible pipe, supplied in long length coils up to 400m length and pressure ratings from 30 to 90Bar...
where it is available in coils up to 400 m (1,312 ft) length. These pipes are available in pressure ratings from 30 bar (3 MPa; 435.1 psi). Over the last few years this type of pipe has been acknowledged as a standard alternative solution to steel for oilfield flowline applications by certain oil companies and operators. The great advantage of this pipe is also its very fast installation time compared to steel pipe when considering the welding time as average speeds up to 1000 m (3,281 ft)/day have been reached installing RTP in ground surface.
Primarily, the pipe provides benefit to applications where steel may rupture due to corrosion and installation time is an issue.
Technology and history
The idea of synthetic fibre reinforced pipe has origins in the flexible hose and offshore industry where it has been frequently used for applications such as control lines in umbilicals and production flowlines for over 30 years. However, the commercialisation and realisation of a competitive product for the onshore oil industry came from a partnership between Akzo Nobel (supplier of Aramid fibre) and Wavin Repox (manufacturer of reinforced thermoset pipes), where Bert Dalmolen initiated a project to develop such a pipe. He was later employed by Pipelife where a state of the art production line was developed to produce RTP. Pipelife also developed a pipe reinforced with steel wire to achieve even higher pressure ratings of over 150 bar (15 MPa; 2,176 psi) using steel reinforcement.Mr Chevrier (Tubes d'Aquitaine) also developed machinery that could produce such pipes, but was not successful in commercialising RTP.
See also
- Pipe (fluid conveyance)
- Pipeline transportPipeline transportPipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
- Plastic pipeworkPlastic pipeworkPlastic pipework is used for the conveyance of drinking water, waste water, chemicals, heating and cooling fluids, foodstuffs, ultra-pure liquids, slurries, gases, compressed air and vacuum system applications.- Materials used :...
- Plastic Pressure Pipe Systems
- SoluforceSoluforceSoluforce is a brandname of Pipelife for a Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe .-Introduction:Soluforce is an RTP, which is a flexible pipe, supplied in long length coils up to 400m length and pressure ratings from 30 to 90Bar...