Exova, the global testing, calibration and advisory services provider, has been awarded a £2.5 million contract by CRC–Evans Offshore to provide pipeline material, welding and AUT qualification testing for the Kaombo project offshore Luanda in Angola.
Pipelaying is expected to begin early 2016 on the ultra-deepwater offshore project which will involve 59 subsea wells connected by 300km of pipelines at water depths of 1400m down to 1950m. As well as AUT validation, the pre-production qualification requirements include mechanical testing, fracture mechanics, fatigue and sulphide stress cracking corrosion tests.
Four of Exova’s specialised laboratories will be involved in delivering the technically demanding services. Crack Tip Opening Displacement (CTOD) and Routine Mechanical testing will be carried out in Edinburgh, with Exova’s Corrosion Centre in Dudley performing the Sulphide Stress Corrosion tests, and Single Edge Notched Tension (SENT) and full scale riser fatigue testing conducted at Daventry. The large number of specimens requiring sub-sized straining and ageing will be shared between Exova’s Daventry and Spijkenisse, Netherlands facility.
Mike Pooley , managing director, Europe for Exova, said: “Kaombo is a major ultra-deepwater offshore project for Angola and is taking place in highly challenging sweet and sour service. The comprehensive range of testing we are carrying out, some of which is unique to Exova, will provide the project team with the information they need to ensure the design, welding procedures and materials used are fit for purpose and can cope with these harsh operating conditions in the long term. This new contract further underlines how the Exova European laboratory network can support customer projects in locations across the globe.”