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RapidPipe Enters Qualification Process to Simplify Offshore Operations, Reduce Costs, and Accelerate Oil and Gas Projects in Deep and Ultra-Deep Waters.
Cladtek was one of the companies selected by an operator in Brazil’s pre-salt region to qualify the RapidPipe, a mechanical connection technology developed for rigid pipelines. This solution aims to replace conventional welding during offshore installation and simplifies one of the most critical stages of oil and gas field development.
The project draws attention primarily due to the anticipated impact on timelines. According to studies conducted by Cladtek itself, RapidPipe has the potential to reduce the total installation time of rigid lines by up to 80% in scenarios within Brazil’s pre-salt area. The technology also aims to cut costs and accelerate projects in deep and ultra-deep waters.
RapidPipe Replaces Conventional Welding with Mechanical Connection During Rigid Pipeline Installation
Pipeline laying is currently among the most critical steps in offshore field development. Part of this complexity is related to the need to perform welding during marine operations, a process that requires multiple steps before installation can continue.
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RapidPipe was developed specifically to change this dynamic. The technology employs a mechanical connection to join rigid pipes and eliminates the need for conventional welding at this stage, simplifying the process conducted during the offshore campaign.
The reduction of steps is directly related to the time savings calculated by the company. In studies conducted by Cladtek, the solution showed potential to decrease the total time required to install rigid lines by up to 80% under specific scenarios in Brazil’s pre-salt region.
Less Dependence on Welding at Sea Could Increase Number of Vessels Capable of Laying Pipelines
Another expected effect is related to the vessels used in these operations. According to Cladtek, welding done at sea currently limits pipeline laying to a small number of highly specialized vessels, which also come with high chartering costs.
Tiago Kaspary, the company’s Director of R&D, New Technologies, and Technical Sales, states that mechanical connection can broaden these possibilities. “With RapidPipe, different vessels can be adapted, significantly increasing the number of ships capable of performing this type of operation,” he explained.
The ability to adapt various vessels adds another dimension to the project. Instead of relying solely on the few ships equipped for offshore welding, operators could utilize a larger number of vessels for pipeline laying.
RapidPipe Requires Fewer Steps and Can Reduce Team Exposure During Offshore Operations
The simplification of the process also extends to the teams involved in maritime campaigns. RapidPipe requires fewer installation steps than conventional offshore welding, which reduces professionals’ exposure to activities deemed high-risk during these operations.
Cladtek also links this reduction in steps to a decrease in CO₂ emissions associated with marine operations. Shorter campaigns mean less time spent on the pipeline installation process, one of the main expected effects of developing the mechanical connection.
These benefits are still part of the expectations associated with the technology. RapidPipe remains under development and will need to progress through the designated engineering, qualification, and certification stages before it becomes available.
Engineering, Simulations, and Initial Prototypes Open the Process Planned for the Next Four Years
The initial phase of the project focuses on engineering revisions, simulations, and performance requirements definition. The manufacturing of the first prototypes is also part of this stage, allowing development to progress before the complete qualification process.
Cladtek expects that RapidPipe will be qualified, certified, and available within the next four years. By then, the technology should undergo the necessary steps to evaluate its performance and prepare for its application in offshore operations.
The timeline also indicates that the 80% reduction does not represent a commercially achieved result yet. The percentage corresponds to the potential identified in studies conducted by Cladtek itself for scenarios involving rigid pipe installation in Brazil’s pre-salt layer.
Anticipating first oil places installation speed at the center of offshore projects
The time required to bring new fields into production has become a significant concern for the offshore industry. Daniel Werneck, Cladtek’s Vice President of Sales for the Americas, connects the development of RapidPipe directly to the effort to shorten this interval.
“The offshore industry is increasingly focused on bringing the first oil of its projects forward since every month gained in the schedule accelerates revenue generation,” Werneck stated. According to him, simplifying the installation of pipelines can directly support this strategy and help operators bring new assets into production more quickly.
Reducing the installation time for pipelines means tackling a critical phase of the offshore schedule. This is where Cladtek intends to position RapidPipe, associating the mechanical connection with the pursuit of smaller campaigns and earlier first oil.
Cladtek has been in Brazil for 14 years and employs over 800 people in the country
The company responsible for developing the technology specializes in providing corrosion-resistant alloy pipes, known as CRA, and Mechanically Lined Pipe, or MLP, for the energy sector. Cladtek operates factories in Indonesia, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, focusing on coatings, welding, and high technology.
In Brazil, the company has been present for 14 years and currently employs over 800 people. Its Brazilian industrial unit is located in Santa Cruz, in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
RapidPipe is now undergoing the initial stages of a process expected to last four years until its qualification, certification, and availability. If the performance calculated in Cladtek’s studies is confirmed, the mechanical connection could reduce installation time for rigid pipelines by up to 80% in scenarios of Brazil’s pre-salt layer.
Sources: Cladtek; Tiago Kaspary, Director of R&D, New Technologies, and Technical Sales at Cladtek; Daniel Werneck, Vice President of Sales at Cladtek for the Americas.
