PETRONAS awards IFL subsea pipeline rehabilitation technology highest TRL status

As per PETRONAS qualification standards, the TRL 7 level means that the technology is field proven as it has been installed and operating for more than three years with acceptable reliability, demonstrating minimal risk of early failures in the field. IFL’s 10 in. dia. and 12 in. dia. are expected to reach PETRONAS’ TRL 7 in the first quarter of 2018. The IFL diameter capability range will then be further extended up to 20 in. by the end of next year, as demand for the IFL grows, providing a product diameter range from 6 - 20 in.

The IFL liner matrix consists of a Solef PVDF inner layer, a Kevlar core and a thermoplastic PU outer layer, and is resistant to a wide range of aggressive hydrocarbon mixtures (gas, crude and multiphase) with temperatures up to 110°C. The IFL liner can be pulled into existing subsea pipelines over lengths of several kilometres in one single pulling operation, arresting corrosion and substantially increasing the service life of the pipeline.

The IFL technology is the world’s first fullbore internal subsea pipeline rehabilitation system enabling a life extension of existing pipelines of more than 30 years.

After a three year technology development period from 2011 - 2013, 10 subsea pipelines running from platform to platform have so far been rehabilitated using the IFL technology, reportedly saving PETRONAS over US$100 million.

The IFL system offers the entire subsea pipeline industry with a supremely viable, fast and economic preference when compared against the only other option of a new-lay pipeline replacement. When installed it also offers substantial annual OPEX savings as chemical dosing and internal inspection services are no longer necessary.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/09102017/petronas-awards-ifl-subsea-pipeline-rehabilitation-technology-highest-trl-status/