Soluforce - From Brand to Business

SoluForce is the brand name for Pipelife’s Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe. Energy Digital examines how this flexible pipe has become the standardised solution for numerous oil and gas applications since it was first installed in 2000.

(written by Jennifer Denby & Produced by Adam Dade; story published in Energy Digital, November 2009)

SoluForce is the brand name for the innovative Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe (RTP); a flexible pipe, supplied in long length coils up to 400m in length that can handle pressures up to 150 Bar, depending on the reinforcing material installed during manufacture.

RTP is a three layer pipe construction, consisting of a HDPE (high-density polyethylene) liner pipe; a reinforcement layer, typically made from Aramid fibres, a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibres; and a HDPE protective outer layer for UV, damage and abrasion protection.

SoluForce can be used in onshore and offshore projects (shallow water), and in general is used for applications such as oilfield flowlines, where this type of pipe has, in recent years, been acknowledged as the standardised solution; wastewater disposal lines and injection lines; high pressure water transportation lines; high pressure gas transport lines; relining existing pipes; and, more recently, in offshore water injection risers and offshore oil flowlines.

It can also be used in other pressure applications, such as potable or effluent water lines and irrigation.

BRAND AND BUSINESS

“Although Soluforce is a brand name, it also operates as a strategic business unit, which belongs to the Pipelife Group,” says John Newbert, the firm’s General Manager, who spoke with Energy Digital recently. He went onto explain that Pipelife International, which was established in 1989, is one of the world’s leading suppliers of plastic pipe systems. It is a multi-national company, currently present in 28 countries worldwide, with its head office located in Vienna, Austria. “It has a group turnover of around $1 billion, and is a joint venture between Austrian Wienerberger and Belgium Solvay,” Newbert adds. “Soluforce itself, however, is part of a Dutch company called Pipelife Nederland BV. Soluforce reports directly to the head office, which is quite unique within the Pipelife group.”

Since 1947, Pipelife Nederland has been involved in the development, manufacture and supply of sustainable solutions for all streams of water and energy. “The Pipelife group operates predominantly in Europe and is one of the main European producers of plastics pipes and fittings. However, Soluforce is the only one of its businesses that manufactures a composite pipe,” stresses Newbert.

AN INTERESTING STORY

The story of Soluforce started with the use of Aramid fibre as a reinforcing material for plastic pipes. Then, in partnership with Netherlands-based Shell Global Solutions (SGS) and Det Norske Veritas (DNV) more than 10 years ago, Pipelife Nederland developed SoluForce. The complete process, from design to manufacture, was tested and qualified to the most stringent customer demands. “Shell was our first user and approver of the completely non-metallic reinforced polyethylene plastic pipe back in 2000,” Newbert says.

SoluForce is now recognised, approved and systematically used by a variety of oil companies. “Since the year 2000, we have developed and expanded globally; we have sold pipes all over the Middle East, and are approved by key players there such as Saudi Aramco and Kuwait Oil. We’re also approved in Iran, Libya, Syria, and sell to southeast Asia, West Africa and, just this year, have begun to sell to Latin America.

“SoluForce is certified by DVGW (gas), TÜV (gas) and DNV (hydrocarbons and water service), which also incorporates a 20 year design life when installed above ground, which is very unusual for a plastic pipe,” adds Newbert.

With a databank of project references and third party certificates, SoluForce looks set to expand further as it continues to strengthen its reputation in the oil and gas industry.

BENEFITS

RTP has numerous advantages, but perhaps one of the most beneficial is the pipe’s extremely fast installation time when compared to steel pipe. Speeds up to 1000m/hr have been reached installing RTP in ground surface. “Where a traditional pipeline may take many months to install, a SoluForce pipeline only takes days, so the additional production revenue frequently pays for the initial investment,” Newbert explains.

Secondly, SoluForce does not corrode. “All the problems associated with corrosion - cathodic protection, special coatings, inspections and emergency repair - are eliminated. This in itself is a major cost saving,” Newbert says, “so as it teamhas absolutely zero corrosion risks, the pipe is ideal for shallow water project installation, as it is completely non metallic,” he adds, continuing to explain that SoluForce also burns much more slowly than steel pipe. Therefore, not only does the pipe not corrode, it is also much more resistant to fire than steel pipe, which makes it ideal for a fire-water application.

“One of the other great things about SoluForce is the fact that we have designed an electro-fusion fitting system, which is patented and completely unique. We have pipe systems which are rated up to 150 Bars and we can electro-fuse them, so the join is completely non-metallic,” says Newbert, outlining yet another key benefit.

EXPANSION

In partnership with its customers, SoluForce has since developed a lower pressure-rated product range for water disposal, fire/water lines and dry gas distribution called Soluforce Light. It also developed Soluforce Heavy for high-pressure water injection lines of up to 150 Bars.

Commenting on future endeavours, Newbert says: “We’ve just designed and certified a nylon pipe system, for marginal gas field usage. There is a lot of gas, for example, in the North Sea, but the pipe systems required - very expensive alloyed steels - are too expensive. So we designed a nylon lined composite pipe with significantly lowers costs.” This development will allow the exploitation of the gas Newbert refers to, which will politically and economically benefit Europe.

With numerous opportunities in the pipeline, the future looks bright for the company. “I have customers so keen that they are prepared to invest in the research and development of SoluForce,” Newbert adds, demonstrating the popularity and huge growth potential of the business.

The key to the company’s success, he concludes, is simple. “I think it’s our unique concept. We’re a technology-driven, small, yet dynamic team that is constantly developing and improving our products.”

www.soluforce.com

article featured online in Energy Digital magazine