North Sea energy to save millions with latest anti-corrosion technology

UK energy and infrastructure firms operating in the North Sea will be able to deploy a unique anti-corrosion technology, following the opening of Oxifree UK Ltd’s new Aberdeen office.

Oxifree is an organic, patented polymeric resin coating that enables users to protect complex assemblies such as flanges, valves and pipework, from corrosion and contamination. The spray resin takes just minutes to apply, and reduces maintenance costs by at least 40% when compared to traditional paints – potentially saving users millions in reduced maintenance costs and longer asset lifetime.

Oxifree UK is part of the GEV Group of companies, and the new Aberdeen office will also serve as a hub for GEV Offshore, GEV Windpower and Subsea Masters, bringing a whole range of benefits to the North Sea energy market at a time of significant change. As the focus of oil and gas turns towards Maximising Economic Recovery (MER), reducing maintenance costs and asset lifetime becomes of paramount importance as firms seek to maintain profitability. The new office therefore brings GEV’s expertise to the entire UK Continental Shelf.

Brian Smith, General Manager at Oxifree UK Ltd, said: “Corrosion is one of the biggest spends to impact the global oil and gas sector, costing more than US$60 billion each year. Some of our clients have issues affecting live components, for which traditional protection methods would require hugely expensive shutdowns. With Oxifree we can rapidly coat any live asset with the minimum of preparation, therefore saving thousands in lost revenue.

“Our new Aberdeen office brings us closer to those who really need our help and enables us to reach a much wider client base and offer savings potentially in the millions of pounds. Ultimately, we hope to win some significant contracts and start to employ some of the highly skilled local workforce, offering a glimmer of hope to an otherwise beleaguered industry.”

Oxifree’s coatings protect metals from every cause of corrosion, from high humidity to chemical spills, exposure to salt water to galvanic corrosion from dissimilar metals. As well as being more reliable than paint-based and other anti-corrosion measures, Oxifree is faster to apply and extends asset lifetime – all of which translates into reduced operational and capital costs.

GEV Group MD, David Fletcher, said: “The opening of our new Aberdeen office is great news for the industry. It not only means that oil, gas and even renewable companies can cut costs and boost efficiency, but also ensures they have the very best protection against environmental risks associated with corrosion and traditional methods of protection. The office will also provide a hub for training the next generation of operatives who will be protecting North Sea infrastructure for years to come.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/31032016/north-sea-energy-to-save-millions-with-latest-anti-corrosion-technology/