Offshore Platform Refurbishment

In 2012, Chemco Speciality Coatings in Singapore were asked to provide a solution to refurbish the West Cressida platform as the existing coating system had failed.

Due to the nature of offshore platforms, accessibility to the platforms’ hull and living quarter areas would be difficult. With the client’s schedule being tight and the rig being in operation, water-jetting was the only cost-effective, time-saving alternative surface preparation method to grit blasting which could be used. Due to tropical weather conditions, high humidity would also be a factor.

A gondola system was used to access the ships hull. For the living quarter areas where the gondola system could not be accessed, rope access was used. With the rig being in operation, high pressure water jetting had to be used to remove the existing failed coating and rust. This process also removed the substantial sea growth and all salt contamination in one operation. One coat of wet & rust tolerant Epo-chem™ RL 500PF was applied, followed by one topcoat of Epo-chem™ RC 500GTC.

Utilising water-jetting as the surface preparation method significantly reduced costs and time as Epo-chem™ RL 500PF could be applied in any humidity with no dew point restrictions. The Chemco system allowed work to be safely conducted at height, with high levels of productivity. The client was extremely satisfied with the speed of the contract and the outcome of the Chemco system.

• No grit blasting
• No disruption to working platform
• No major delays
• Reduced cost of plant and equipment
• Due to Epo-chem™ RL 500PF’s wet & rust tolerant properties there was no weather constraints
• No humidity or dew point restrictions