Repairing and rehabilitating existing steel structures to meet ‘as built’ strength with a long-term, class-approved structural offshore repair solution using a cold work installation method. Including:

Main deck, accommodation and pipe rack decks all benefit from SPS being used to address their corrosion, strength, and impact requirements. The use of SPS means that underdeck pipes, service runs, and insulation remain intact leading to galley areas, cabins and general accommodation space being unaffected and disruption of day-to-day activity is minimised. For main deck areas, in the way of cargo tanks, tank cleaning is eliminated.

SPS can be used to reinstate corroded sideshell and bottom plating. For areas under the water line, the requirements for cofferdams and divers are eliminated. SPS Coldwork allows the asset to remain on station and in production, with fire-related risk eliminated.

The installation of SPS onto vertical surfaces enables bulkheads to be reinstated and strengthened. Structural integrity is maintained throughout the process, facilitating in-voyage repairs and reducing maintenance dockings.

Bulkhead upgrades represent a state-of-the-art solution in new build applications for enhancing asset safety, particularly in protecting the control room against blast impacts. This innovative approach leverages the strength of SPS applied vertically on bulkhead surfaces to fortify the vessel’s critical areas. Over the past few years, this technique has been successfully implemented in approximately 9 to 10 SBM vessels.

SPS upgraded bulkheads are engineered to withstand pressures up to 2 bar. The structure is specifically reinforced to prevent rupture and avoid plate tearing, thus ensuring the integrity of the vessel’s control room in extreme conditions.

Strengthening of existing steel structures using a permanent, class-approved method including:

SPS greatly enhances the stiffness and section modulus of steel plating and reduces stresses. An SPS repair will last the life of the vessel. The root cause of fatigue cracks can be prevented using SPS installed using cold work.

Please read our Crack Repair case study.

Increased structural protection from highly concentrated loads is achieved by SPS.  Operational risk is reduced, and the asset’s service capability is increased.

SPS has been used on the decks of semi-submersible pontoons, tension leg platform main decks and laydown areas to provide protection from dropped objects such as drill pipes. A key material characteristic of  SPS is its ability to absorb and spread the load from a dropped object and prevent puncturing of the steel deck.

SPS is a lightweight alternative to conventional double hull that provides exceptional energy absorption characteristics, resisting impacts and minimising damage in key areas where extra protection is required to maintain safe and reliable operations.

Side and bottom impact protection provided by SPS outperforms conventional steel solutions for typical damage cases including: fendering, wave and collision impacts, reducing future repairs and steel renewals.

Using SPS on FPSOs eliminates the need for void spaces found on traditional double hulls. This removes the need for access, inspection, venting, gas freeing and other maintenance activities; in turn, reducing risk and minimising through-life costs.

Please read our Side Shell Protection case study.

SPS can be used to create thermal boundaries enabling operators to, for instance, maintain different but very stable temperatures in individual tanks and optimise tank storage.

Alternative solutions such as conventional steel cofferdams involve constructing void spaces in adjacent tanks. These are not structurally efficient and may create additional maintenance costs as well as operational risks from the possible build-up of explosive gases.

SPS has exceptional resistance to fire. It is an extremely effective barrier to heat, flames, smoke and toxic gases. It will help to contain a fire and prevent it spreading to adjacent compartments, greatly limiting the growth of a fire through a structure. A 25mm SPS core provides an A60 barrier. SPS has H120, H60 and J60 certification as well.

Please read more in our Glen Lyon Escape Tunnel case study.

Tests have demonstrated that SPS’s elastomer core is impermeable to hydrocarbons, cannot absorb any chemical without volume change, and will not degrade, react with, nor contaminate the chemical.

The SPS solution allows the use of stainless steel, even if the original structure of the tank is standard carbon steel. In addition, the thermal conductivity of SPS, is sufficiently low that the required level of insulation is adequately provided by the elastomer core.

Please read this case study about protecting tanks with SPS.

Tested by major defence institutes, SPS is proven to absorb more blast energy through membrane action than equivalent all-steel structures, resisting rupture and maintaining structural integrity. SPS is also highly resistant to projectiles delivered at shorter strike ranges and higher angles of attack.

SPS is an ideal product for citadel hardening. The composite structure of SPS provides impact protection that is far superior to standard steel water-tight doors and can be retrofitted into existing doorways more readily than other alternatives.

Please read more in this case study about Citadel Protection.

Strengthening helidecks on assets can be achieved through the installation of SPS with limited under-deck structural strengthening. With minimum added weight, the resulting deck has greater stiffness and improved load carrying capacity.