Jotun progress offshore
Jotun progress offshore
Jotun Paints' experience in both marine and heavy-duty coatings, and its manufacturing involvement in cathodic protection systems, has enabled the company to play a leading role in the protection of offshore installations. For over a quarter century, Jotun systems have offered protection against marine corrosion and fouling, chemical attack and severe abrasion in these aggressive environments. Currently, Jotun is one of only two manufacturers offering protective systems that have been fully approved by NORSOK.
At "Offshore Europe 97",Jotun Paints presented its latest products for the industry, together with examples of their use in current offshore projects. To coincide with the Aberdeen event, the company has published a new 24-page brochure on Offshore Corrosion Protection, which includes details of the Jotun "Total Protection"concept for FPSO, platform and sub-sea structure new buildings and maintenance. "Total Protection" is based on Jotun's ability to manufacture and supply both coatings and cathodic protection and, as a result of a recent agreement with Textron Systems, USA, to supply "Chartek" passive fire protection.
ProductsUtilising the latest advances in glassflake technology, Jotun's Baltoflake Ecolife is a reinforced polyester coating which offers protection in the harshest of environments while reducing long-term costs.
Jotun reports that a comprehensive 25-year life cycle cost (LCC) analysis on Baltoflake Ecolife,using corrosion rates and cost levels for the North Sea, showed the coating to provide the lowest life-cycle cost of all recognised corrosion protection systems.
It is claimed that Baltoflake Ecolife also represents a striking step forward in environmental impact control. Its high solids content and long-lasting protective properties,according to reports, reduce VOC emission by a minimum of 60 per cent over a 25-year lifetime, compared with advanced epoxy systems. With no isocyanates,lead, tar or styrene, Baltoflake Ecolife claims fewer harmful ingredients than many other coatings.
Dry film thickness of up to 1,500 microns is said to be possible with Baltoflake Ecolife, yielding major savings in application time. It will save at least 25 per cent on any maintenance schedule, and considerably more when used at the construction stage.
Also in response to the needs of the industry for long-term protection with reduced environmental impact, Jotun and Statoil together developed the WaterFine waterborne coating system. Comprising a primer, intermediate coat and topcoat, it is ideal for a wide variety of new building and maintenance applications.
Jotun states that with its extremely low VOC content, the WaterFine system combines greatly reduced airborne emission with low toxicity, low flammability and increased safety for users.
A 25-year LCC analysis reportedly showed the coating to provide competitive life-cycle cost when compared to typical corrosion resistant systems. In comparing its long term impact with those of other coatings, a 25-year Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)showed WaterFine to give a major reduction in VOC emissions.
The development of epoxymastic coatings has contributed greatly toward satisfying the offshore industry's needs both for extended maintenance periods and for ease of refurbishment. Jotun's Jotamastic 87, for example, is used for protection throughout offshore installations worldwide. It can be applied in single coat thicknesses up to 400 microns and, in addition to offering long maintenance periods, is free from tar and isocyanates. Jotamastic 87 is also available in a Wintergrade version for use at temperatures down to -50°C.
Polymastic 100 is a recent epoxymastic product from Jotun which meets the growing demand for a high level of protection combined with complete freedom from solvents. The product is stated to have a reduced environmental impact, and is user friendly in enclosed spaces. It can be used both above and below the waterline.
Finally, Tankguard Special epoxy-phenolic coating system was specially formulated for the protection of tank interiors. It claims excellent resistance to a wide range of chemicals and solvents, including petroleum spirit with up to 20 per cent methanol.
ProjectsJotun technology has been successfully deployed on behalf of most of the world's major oil companies. Still in the vanguard of product development and innovative system design, and with an enviable reputation for its advisory and support services to customers,Jotun Paints' offshore involvement continues to diversify and expand.
Typically, recognising the needs of floating production vessels Jotun has formed a special FPSO team,combining the technical know-how of the group's marine, protective coating and cathodic protection divisions. The new team is a typical outcome of the cross-functional cooperation that involves Jotun research, marketing, purchasing and production sectors.
Jotun has already provided systems for numerous floating-production related projects, including the Statoil/Bergeson-owned "Borge Hugin", and Golar-Nors "Petrojarl Foinhaven",where a combination of coatings and cathodic protection was used on the moonpool/turret and ballast tanks.
In addition, Jotun Paints'coatings and cathodic protection systems have been chosen to protect the world's largest new-built FPSO. Designed for operation in the Schiehallion field the vessel will process 142,000 barrels of oil daily, and will have a storage capacity of 950,000 barrels. Protective systems to prevent corrosion and fouling were chosen following an LCC assessment by BP and its associates in the project.
Jotun Paints'coatings and cathodic protection systems have also been chosen to protect Statoil's Norne FPSO. The external hull is protected by Marathon, a high-solids epoxy coating reinforced with mineral flakes, which is highly compatible with cathodic protection. Jotun provided a well-integrated protective system to cope with unexpected coating damage.
The underwater hull is protected against fouling by Seamate HB 99, a Jotun selfpolishing antifouling specifically formulated for vessels which are stationary for long periods, or operate at very low speeds.
Other internal areas protected by Jotun include the vessel's ballast tanks where, again, the company was able to design and supply a coating and cathodic protection system. Balloxy HB Light, Jotun's market-leading ballast tank coating, is not only light in colour for easier application and inspection in dark restricted areas, but also gives visual indications when the two-pack coating is properly mixed, and when a minimum effective thickness has been applied.
Details from Jotun-Henry Clark Ltd, Matheson House, 142 Minories, London, EC3N 1LS. Tel: 0171 481 2741;Fax: 0171 265 1836.
