Lankhorst Ropes Invests in Fiber Rope Test Machine
Deepwater rope manufacturer Lankhorst Ropes Offshore Division has invested Euro 2M (US $2.8 million) in a synthetic fiber rope test machine that, for the first time, will enable naval architects to run 'what if' scenarios to simulate the effects of storms and hurricanes on deepwater mooring lines.
Located at Lankhorst Ropes' fiber rope production facility in Portugal, the rope test machine will be used to test the mechanical performance and fatigue behavior for a range of new materials and rope constructions for deepwater mooring and single point mooring (SPM) systems.
The machine can test 65 foot (20 m) ropes with loads up to 1,200 tonnes and a stroke length up to 14.7 feet (4.5 m). In addition, the machine features a precise mechanical control system designed to maintain peak load such that target loads can be maintained within 10kN during testing.
Optimized Mooring Line Installation
Given industry concerns about the rising cost of performing deepwater installations, the test machine is expected to have wider benefits in optimizing installation scenarios. Deepwater ropes are routinely loaded to approx. 40% of MBL [minimum breaking load] to pre-stretch the rope during installation. More accurate information on the degree of pre-loading required will avoid the high cost and safety issues surrounding excessive pre-loading during offshore installation.
"Until now the lack of specialized rope test equipment, and the very high cost of testing, has led to a shortage of authoritative data on rope properties for a variety of fiber types and rope constructions. The Lankhorst fiber rope test machine will fill this knowledge gap, enabling 'what if scenarios that show the effects of storms, hurricanes and loop current events with associated vortex induced vibrations on deepwater mooring lines," says Chris Johnson, sales director, Lankhorst Ropes Offshore Division.
The rope test machine is currently being used to provide test data for a Joint Industry Project (JIP) on Polyester Rope Stiffness Modeling, Testing and Analysis. Chevron, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Shell, Petrobras, SBM, Whitehill Manufacturing and Lankhorst Ropes are participants in the JIP.
The actual test results will be confidential for three years after the termination of the JIP, which will occur next month. However, the principles established will be written into the next version of the ABS Rules for Polyester Mooring scheduled for April/May of this year.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- Brand Finance Ranks Most Valuable, Strongest Oil and Gas Brands
- Canacol Makes New Gas Discovery in Colombia's Magdalena Basin
- Egypt Plans to Meet Summer Fuel Needs with LNG Imports
- FortisBC Denies Gas Greenwashing as Suit Awaits
- Credit Agricole Helps NGP Secure Funds for Fishery-Solar Projects in Taiwan
- Oil and Gas Executives Predict WTI Oil Price
- Industry Protests Proposed Methane Fee Guidelines for O&G Facilities in US
- Exxon, Cnooc Merge Guyana Arbitration Claims Against Chevron
- New China Climate Chief Says Fossil Fuels Must Keep a Role
- Oil Demand Outpaces Expectations, Testing Calculus on Peak Crude
- House Passes Protecting American Energy Production Act
- TotalEnergies Restarts Production in Denmark's Biggest Gas Field
- Republican Lawmakers Say IEA Has Abandoned Energy Security Mission
- USA Oil and Gas Job Figures Jump
- Blockchain Demands Attention in Oil and Gas
- Macquarie Sees USA Oil Production Exiting 2024 at 14MM Barrels Per Day
- Houthis Warn Saudi Arabia of Retaliation If It Backs USA Attacks
- Summer Pump Prices Set to Hit $4 a Gallon Just as Americans Hit the Road
- New China Climate Chief Says Fossil Fuels Must Keep a Role
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Another Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension