As we move into deeper, hotter and higher-pressure subsea areas to discover oil; the need for better performance and cost-effective materials to protect subsea equipment in these harsh environments is more prevalent than before. The traditionally used materials have presented challenges in balancing performance, ease of application and cost effectiveness.
This paper describes the materials that have been identified as candidates for the service for subsea thermal insulation and outlines the design and testing philosophy that is being evolved to test and qualify these materials with confidence for very long periods of service. Preliminary test data is presented, along with predictions of what this new class of products will feature. Lessons learned during the project will be of interest to all users of subsea thermal insulation materials and will be valuable to those involved in subsea engineering.
