ContraTherm® C25 is a specially formulated two part silicone system tailored to meet the stringent subsea requirements.
Syntactic silicone foams have been used in the offshore industry for more than 10 years and syntactic foams in general for over 30 years. The low thermal conductivity and flexible nature of ContraTherm® C25 make it an ideal product for subsea thermal insulation on dynamic structures.
C25 syntactic silicone foam cross section example
C25 construction
Silicone resins offer a highly flexible, high temperature insulation system that is fast becoming the recognised solution for dynamic application service. Advanced Insulation recommends the C25 Series for service on dynamic applications such as production jumpers, tie in spools and steel risers.
The system comprises of a layer of C25 primer that adheres to the substrate with C25 insulation foam.
Micrograph of C25 foam
Glass microspheres
The excellent thermal performance and high hydrostatic pressure capability of C25 is provided by the presence of specially developed glass microspheres supported in the silicone resin.
The microspheres are microscopic closed cells of borosilicate glass which exhibit very stable insulation properties over long term environmental exposure. The silicone binder does not absorb water and any voids between the microspheres and the resin represent an almost insignificant volume into which water can ingress. Advanced Insulation has tested for and established the maximum water absorption of the C25 insulation foam which occurs when the C25 is exposed to highly pressurised water.
ContraTherm® C25 applications
The ContraTherm® C25 Subsea System’s ambient curing properties make it an ideal material for direct application at any stage in the build programme of subsea equipment, including finished assembled packages such as jumpers and manifolds.
Christmas Trees and metering modules provide the most complex shape structures that require insulation.
Jumpers and tie-in spools are the relatively short pipe lengths that connect oil field equipment such as trees, manifolds and PLETs together.
Manifolds, PLETs, FLETs, ILTs and other similar structures are relatively complex structure comprising both straight pipe and bend sections linked to flowline anchor flanges and/or bulkheads and culminating in a connection system.
Engineered Insulation Covers represent a multitude of applications from pipe line flange covers to doghouses used on some connection systems that do not incorporate an integral housing.
Connection systems are the components that connect jumpers and other spools to larger structures such as manifolds and trees.
Download the latest subsea brochure
Download the latest Subsea brochure to find out more.