A world record in high pressure, large diameter glass-fibre reinforced piping
After successful qualification tests, whereby the piping system was pressurized at 24 bar for 1000 hours, Grootint GRP Systems was awarded the contract by Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte.) Ltd., Singapore for the design, production, supply and installation of the main cooling water system of the Shell ECC plant on Pulau Ular in Singapore.
The contract comprises delivery of a closed cooling water system of 3.1 kilometer glass-fibre reinforced vinylester piping system of which the majority will be positioned approx. 5 meter in the ground. The piping system will have an enormous diameter, which varies from 2.60 to 2.70 meter. Due to the nature of the plant, Shell demanded a very high design pressure of 10 Bar. In combination with the huge diameter of the piping, Grootint GRP has achieved a major milestone in the capabilities of Glass-fibre Reinforced Piping (GRP) systems.
Currently more than 60% of the installation is completed and it is expected that it will be completed at the beginning of 2009.
“We recently successfully completed two of a total of four hydrostatic tests. In these tests, the system was pressurised to 15 bar for six hours. This pressure is 50% higher than the design pressure of 10 bar. A major achievement of which I am very proud”, says Managing Director Alcuin de Weert of Grootint GRP Systems. “Recently we also received an award from Shell for the best performing contractor (out of 51) of the month, without a single LTI. Even more reason to be proud on our site team in Singapore”, continues De Weert.
