Shell, Magma to develop flexible pipe for cryogenic applications
Magma Global and Shell Global Solutions International have signed a contract to develop and qualify a flexible single polymer composite (SPC) pipe for cryogenic applications.
Announced at the Gastech 2019 event in Houston, Texas, the contract will see the two companies work together on a cryogenic flexible pipe that will suit a number of applications, including Shell’s low-cost jettyless liquefied natural gas (LNG) offloading system.
The pipe will be made from a single polymer composite, in which long, unidirectional fibres are combined in a matrix of the same polymer to deliver a high-strength tape. This tape is then fused into layers using lasers within Magma’s precision manufacturing process, to create a continuous long length of spoolable pipe that can be used in cryogenic applications.
Martin Jones, CEO of Magma Global, said: “LNG is being embraced by energy operators but facilitating the growth has its challenges. This exciting development uses a very low cost polymer composite to produce a pipe with exceptional cryogenic performance which makes it highly attractive in the LNG market and in many other applications where simplification and cost reduction are the focus. We are delighted to be working with Shell to enable LNG to meet fast-growing global demand.”
Arjan Maijenburg, engineering manager for Shell’s LNG Regas division, added: “Development of jettyless concepts for low-cost LNG transfer will open up new markets for LNG import. This composite pipe development is a key step in enabling these solutions. We look forward to working with Magma, a world class thermoplastic composite pipe supplier to develop this product. An overall cost reduction of 30% can be achieved by moving away from a jetty/trestle-based solution with breakwater to a jettyless system without breakwater and using subsea cryogenic composite pipelines.”
Announced at the Gastech 2019 event in Houston, Texas, the contract will see the two companies work together on a cryogenic flexible pipe that will suit a number of applications, including Shell’s low-cost jettyless liquefied natural gas (LNG) offloading system.
The pipe will be made from a single polymer composite, in which long, unidirectional fibres are combined in a matrix of the same polymer to deliver a high-strength tape. This tape is then fused into layers using lasers within Magma’s precision manufacturing process, to create a continuous long length of spoolable pipe that can be used in cryogenic applications.
Martin Jones, CEO of Magma Global, said: “LNG is being embraced by energy operators but facilitating the growth has its challenges. This exciting development uses a very low cost polymer composite to produce a pipe with exceptional cryogenic performance which makes it highly attractive in the LNG market and in many other applications where simplification and cost reduction are the focus. We are delighted to be working with Shell to enable LNG to meet fast-growing global demand.”
Arjan Maijenburg, engineering manager for Shell’s LNG Regas division, added: “Development of jettyless concepts for low-cost LNG transfer will open up new markets for LNG import. This composite pipe development is a key step in enabling these solutions. We look forward to working with Magma, a world class thermoplastic composite pipe supplier to develop this product. An overall cost reduction of 30% can be achieved by moving away from a jetty/trestle-based solution with breakwater to a jettyless system without breakwater and using subsea cryogenic composite pipelines.”
