NODE Cylinder Duster

New drilling tech. has improved deep water drilling feasibility by positioning large slender heave compensating hydr. cylinders in the wave splash zone below the platform. Operation experience has during several years shown that critical corrosion and wea r of cylinder rod surface develops. Despite extensive trials with many different surface treatments, the problem persists. The main objective of this pre-project is to establish a well defined project application for the PETROMAKS programme. We propose to establish an R&D project where local, national and international scientists within metallurgy, corrosion, fatigue and alternative polymer/metallic composites will collaborate to develop and establish new industry standard solutions for deepwater drilling and prod. heave compensating systems. The pre-project will cover the following activities: 1 State of the art survey (environmental loads, dynamics, corrosion, fatigue, materials, tribology, sealing technology) of the actual application. 2 Interdiscipl inary problem definition and R&D objectives. 3 Identify and evaluate potential candidate materials technology, identify alternative system solutions and identify potential test strategies and criteria. 4 Establish project scope of work and time schedule with proper milestones. 5 Establish the main project team with collaborating institutions, project organisation, budget and financial contributions. 6 Write and submit the main project application This proposal is supported by the organisations National Oilwell Norway, Aker Kværner MH, Umoe Mandal, Elkem Research, Falconbridge Nikkelverk, HiA and Arenaprosjektet NODE. During the pre-project we plan to invite important suppliers as Bosch Rexroth Hydraudyne, Eaton Hydrowa, Busak & Shamban, end users as Tr ansocean and Smedvig, oil comp. as Statoil, Hydro. Extensive parts of the work will be carried by universities and R&D institutes as NTNU, HiA, Max Planc Inst. (GER),TU Delft (NED) and University of Ålborg.