Improved corrosion control by coating in the splash zone and subsea
The splash zone around offshore structures is without doubt one of nature's most hostile and corrosive environments. Apart from the wave impacts, plentiful supplies of oxygen, lack of cathodic protection, and the salt spray that continually wets and then dries upon objects, the region is difficult and sometimes dangerous to access. This article reviews the performance of two new offshore repair coatings recently installed on North Sea and Gulf of Mexico installations. The first coating, a reinforced heat-shrinkable sleeve, is designed to be installed over properly cleaned and dried steel surfaces. Suitable conditions for the application of this coating exist during low tide and calm weather when certain exposed sections of the splash zone are accessible. Alternatively, by using a special remote-controlled cofferdam chamber to create an artificial local environment, subsea coating application can proceed under ideal conditions. Cofferdam chamber installations are diver-free and can be made throughout the entire splash zone, even during rough weather. When a remote-controlled cofferdam is not available and repairs are needed in subsea or wet areas, diver assistance is usually required. The second coating system, a gel-based, diver-applied tape, has been developed specifically for such applications.
- Research Organization:
- Raychem Corp., Menlo Park, CA (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 6257714
- Journal Information:
- Mater. Performance; (United States), Vol. 28:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
GULF OF MEXICO
UNDERWATER OPERATIONS
NORTH SEA
PROTECTIVE COATINGS
PERFORMANCE
SEAWATER
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
DESIGN
CATHODIC PROTECTION
OFFSHORE SITES
OXYGEN
REINFORCED MATERIALS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
COATINGS
CORROSION PROTECTION
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER
423000* - Engineering- Marine Engineering- (1980-)
360105 - Metals & Alloys- Corrosion & Erosion