Tyco to supply world's longest heat-tracing system for oil pipeline
15 Jul 2008
Cairn Energy of India orders skin effect heat-tracing system (STS) for underground pipeline. Once completed, the heat-tracing system will be the longest of its kind in the world. This also marks the single largest product order ever received by Tyco Therm
Washington, UK - Tyco Thermal Controls is to supply Cairn Energy of India with a skin effect heat-tracing system (STS) for a new underground crude oil pipeline. Once completed, the heat-tracing system will be the longest of its kind in the world and will also mark the single largest product order ever received by Tyco Thermal Controls, currently valued at nearly $14 million.
Under the deal, Tyco Thermal Controls is to design, supply and provide field quality assurance for the project, scheduled to be complete in October 2008. The company is providing nearly 400 miles of STS for the Barmer Salaya pipeline - a critical line used for transporting crude oil from the CEIL oil field in Rajasthan to a refinery in Salaya, Gujarat.
The STS is designed to provide thermal insulation and electrical heating along the length of the pipeline to reduce the viscosity of the oil inside the pipeline, which must be maintained at 65ºC, according to a Tyco press statement.
“Original plans for the pipeline included bulk heating systems rather than heat-tracing,” said Franco Chakkalakal, Tyco Thermal Controls STS global product manager. “We were able to show the customer that a Skin Effect Heat-Tracing system offers them a more efficient solution for their needs and at a lower cost”.
Design and engineering activities for the pipeline are being handled at Tyco Thermal Controls’ STS Knowledge Centre in India, with review and approval by the STS Knowledge Centre in Houston, Texas. Tyco Thermal Controls headquarters is working with suppliers in order to meet the scheduled material demands and the company said it is on track to have all system components shipped to India for the October deadline.
