Floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units are on the upward trend in the oil and gas industry because of their flexibility to meet changing demands in an unpredictable market. Yet, without good preservation strategies during construction and delivery, FPSO fabricators and owners can be in for a negative surprise when they encounter corrosion problems during FPSO commissioning or thereafter. VP Technologies offer practical and effective solutions to avoid these unwanted corrosion-related downtime episodes to promote smoother commissioning and better durability.
A Corrosive Environment
FPSO topside equipment is often built near ocean ports and spends the rest of its service life in a marine environment. High temperatures, humidity, and salt spray create a perfect atmosphere for corrosion propagation. To make matters worse, certain types of equipment must be flushed or hydrotested during construction and commissioning, introducing corrosives that threaten to compromise the internal integrity of the equipment. While corrosion consequences can be drastic, a few simple preservation strategies in key areas will go a long way toward preserving equipment until the time of commissioning.
Preserving Electricals and Electronics
Electricals and electronics are the brains and nerve centres of a FPSO. Fortunately, electronics and electricals can be protected using VpCI® emitters which are available in multiple sizes—from the VpCI®-101 Device that protects 1 ft³ (28 L) of space to the VpCI®– 308 pouch that protects 35.3 ft³ (1 m³)—and release Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors that fill the enclosure, adsorbing on metal surfaces as a protective molecular layer.
Protection During Hydrotesting
Products such as those in the VpCI®-649 Series can be added to the hydrotest water for protection during hydrostatic testing and can be dosed at higher concentrations for extended periods of preservation. These hydrotest additives are both film-forming and vapor-phase corrosion inhibiting for protection of hard-to-reach areas inside valves or systems that are capped subsequent to hydrotesting.
Preserving Tanks, Vessels, and Flow Paths
Another means of internal protection is to apply VpCI®-337 or CorroLogic® Fogging Fluid VpCI®-339 . Inhibitors into flow paths of gas turbines and other rotating equipment. They also work inside tanks, vessels, and other enclosed voids that could otherwise be difficult to protect.
External Protection
Turbines and other equipment fogged with VpCI® Technology are often wrapped in VpCI® Films such as VpCI®-126 HP UV Shrink Film and MilCorr® VpCI® Shrink Film—both to protect equipment externals and to trap Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors inside the equipment.
Source: cortecvci.com
