Live long and prosper

Although this phrase isn’t what you might expect to hear regarding valves, it does seem to be the way the oil/gas industry is looking at the future. Efficiency and safety are now the main drivers for their profitability and as a result, increasingly complex valve control systems are being implemented for optimum process performance, control and protection against as many potential failure modes as possible. The old attitudes of “We’ll replace it when it breaks and carry plenty of spares”, or “As long as it gets us through the warranty period, we’re alright”, are being rightly superseded with “We expect a 40 year working life for this instrument/valve/plant.”

Long life metals
By stipulating such long working life expectations in harsh conditions such as offshore platforms, the materials have to be sufficiently corrosion resistant and less susceptible to cracking due to H2S exposure. This is straightforward for valves as many manufacturers routinely produce them in duplex, super duplex, titanium and other exotic alloys while instrument tubing and fittings can be sourced in 316L, Hastelloy and 6MO amongst many others. Instruments however appear to not have the same criticality applied to them and 316 stainless steel has been acceptable need pneumatic instrumentation in exotic alloys, Red Dragon can help.

Offshore instruments
Red Dragon offer the complete Sitecna® range of ATEX and GOST certified pneumatic instrumentation manufactured in Italy and comprising filter regulators; regulators; filters; back pressure regulators; 2/2 & 3/2 pressure sensing relays; volume boosters; lockup valves; quick exhaust valves; flow regulators; 3/2 & 5/2 pilot operated spool valves; 3/2 & 5/2 pilot operated manual reset spool valves; 3/2 & 5/2 manual operated spool valves; high flow silencers; variable flow eductors; flow meters and pressure gauges.

The standard material for these products is 316L stainless steel to NACE MR01-75 and some models are also available in epoxy coated copper free aluminium alloy for applications where weight saving is critical or stainless steels are unsuitable. For particularly harsh environments, Red Dragon can also materials such as Monel, Super Duplex and 6MO. When it comes to pneumatic instrumentation, Red Dragon and Sitecna® together offer the performance, quality and corrosion resistance required for the most demanding applications.

Red Dragon
Tel: 01443 772500
www.reddragonvalves.co.uk

Published: 17th October 2013