MECHANICAL PROTECTION

Mechanical Protection Services for Offshore Pipeline Coatings

The coatings in offshore pipeline installation are subjected to severe mechanical forces during lifting and handling, as well as roller pressures to extreme subsea pressures and external forces. Mechanical protection systems are designed in such a way that they maintain the integrity of the anti-corrosion barrier during these challenging phases.

We offer specialized mechanical protection solutions at Sun Marine Technical Services (SMTS), which ensure that the coatings of the pipeline are not compromised. We avoid the corrosion that causes localized corrosion, expensive subsea repair, or disastrous operational failure that can result due to physical damage.

The Critical Risk in Pipeline Installation

Even the best anti-corrosion coating systems may be damaged after being physically damaged during the lay process. Common risks include:

• Abrasion: Due to high tension rollers and barge handling equipment.
• Impact: Mechanical impact on the lifting, stacking, and alignment of pipes.
• Gouging: Scratches on the stinger when the stinger moves or when it is transported.
• Hydrostatic Pressure: Forces External forces present in the deepwater environments that can be used to compress or deform soft coatings.

Technical Insight: When no special mechanical shield is present, small “holidays” or gouges allow the bare steel substrate to start its rapid corrosion process and considerably shorten the life of the pipeline.

How Mechanical Protection Works

Mechanical protection is a secondary line of defense for coating pipelines. It is created to take in the external kinetic energy and load distribution to reduce the direct stress on the main coating system.

Key Protection Mechanisms:

• Shock Absorption: Absorbing impact energy during usage and deployment.
• Friction Resistance: Resistance to excessive abrasion when the pipe passes through tensioners.
• Joint Reinforcement: Additional shielding of sensitive Field Joints (FJC).
• Load Distribution: Evening the pressure of burial areas at sub-sea levels.

SMTS Specialized Protection Solutions

We provide custom mechanical protection systems that place them in line with global offshore project requirements and various coating specifications.

1. Reinforced Coating Systems

We use high-strength and impact-resistant materials on top of the primary coats to increase the overall toughness of the pipeline against mechanical trauma.

2. Field Joint Protection

Most vulnerable weld joints are critical ones. These areas are reinforced with special care so that they can not be damaged during the passage of the lay barge to the seabed.

3. Comprehensive System Compatibility

Our protection layers will bond with:

• Epoxy Coatings (Powercrete) Liquid Epoxy.
• Fusion Bonded Epoxy (FBE) Systems
• Heat Shrink Sleeves (HSS).

Seamless Integration with Offshore Workflows

We know that barge time is a costly business at SMTS. We incorporate mechanical protection in the overall pipeline coating process without decelerating the production:

• Synchronized Application: Coordination of protection actions with surface preparation and heating with induction.
• Quick Implementation: Designed to work with the short cycle times of offshore ships.
• Consistency: Making sure that all joints are of the same high quality in terms of life.

Why Choose SMTS for Mechanical Protection?

• Engineering Knowledge: Strong knowledge of the physical stresses in offshore pipe-lay operations.
• Field-Proven Materials: The use of high-performance polymers and composite materials used under the sea.
• Operation Flexibility: It offers everything with on-site supervision up to full equipment packages and technicians teams.
• Safety & Compliance: Aware of structural integrity and strict offshore HSE measures.

Start Protecting Your Pipeline Today

Advanced mechanical protection of pipelines will be provided to make sure that your offshore coatings will not be damaged during the most severe stages of installation. Our specialized systems are impact-absorbing, abrasion-resistant systems that avoid the surface damage resulting in long-term corrosion and operational inefficiency. Today, by protecting your underwater property, we protect you against expensive maintenance, and we save you many years of infrastructure life.

Get in touch with Contact Sun Marine Technical Services to be assured of reliable mechanical coverage of your next offshore venture.