초록 ▼

A polymeric composition for insulating fluid and/or gas transport conduits, such as off-shore oil and gas pipelines operating at temperatures of 130° C. or higher in water depths above 1,000 meters. The outer surface of the conduit is provided with at least one layer of solid or foam insulation comp

A polymeric composition for insulating fluid and/or gas transport conduits, such as off-shore oil and gas pipelines operating at temperatures of 130° C. or higher in water depths above 1,000 meters. The outer surface of the conduit is provided with at least one layer of solid or foam insulation comprising a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance. The high temperature resistant thermoplastic is selected from one or more members of the group comprising: polycarbonate; polyphenylene oxide; polyphenylene oxide blended with polypropylene, polystyrene or polyamide; polycarbonate blended with polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, or polyetherimide; polyamides, including polyamide 12 and 612 and elastomers thereof; polymethylpentene and blends thereof; cyclic olefin copolymers and blends thereof; and, partially crosslinked thermoplastic elastomers, also known as thermoplastic vulcanizates or dynamically vulcanized elastomers.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An insulated high-temperature transport conduit for use in offshore, deep water environments, the conduit comprising: (a) a continuous steel pipe made up of one or more pipe sections, wherein the steel pipe has an outer surface and an inner surface; and(b) a first layer of thermal insulation prov

1. An insulated high-temperature transport conduit for use in offshore, deep water environments, the conduit comprising: (a) a continuous steel pipe made up of one or more pipe sections, wherein the steel pipe has an outer surface and an inner surface; and(b) a first layer of thermal insulation provided over the outer surface of the steel pipe, wherein the first layer of thermal insulation is comprised of a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance;wherein the high temperature resistant thermoplastic has a Vicat softening point in the range from 130-200° C. and a thermal conductivity of from 0.15-0.20 W/mK. 2. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal insulation layer is solid. 3. An insulated high-temperature transport conduit for use in offshore, deep water environments, the conduit comprising: (a) a continuous steel pipe made up of one or more pipe sections, wherein the steel pipe has an outer surface and an inner surface; and(b) a first layer of thermal insulation provided over the outer surface of the steel pipe, wherein the first layer of thermal insulation is comprised of a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance;wherein the first thermal insulation layer is a blown foam or a syntactic foam having a degree of foaming of up to about 50%. 4. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 3, wherein the degree of foaming of the first thermal insulation layer is from 5-30%. 5. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 4, wherein the degree of foaming of the first thermal insulation layer is from 10-25%. 6. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal insulation layer has one or more of the following properties: high compressive creep resistance at higher temperatures (1000 MPa);high compressive strength (>25 MPa, uniaxial);low thermal conductivity (130° C.). 7. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 6, wherein the first thermal insulation layer has all of said properties. 8. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 1, wherein the high temperature resistant thermoplastic is selected from one or more members of the group comprising: polycarbonate; polyphenylene oxide; polyphenylene oxide blended with polypropylene, polystyrene or polyamide; polycarbonate blended with polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, or polyetherimide; polyamides, including polyamide 12 and 612 and elastomers thereof; polymethylpentene and blends thereof; cyclic olefin copolymers and blends thereof; and, partially crosslinked thermoplastic elastomers, also known as thermoplastic vulcanizates or dynamically vulcanized elastomers. 9. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 8, wherein the high temperature resistant thermoplastic is selected from the group comprising polyphenylene oxide and polyphenylene oxide blended with polypropylene, polystyrene or polyamide. 10. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 9, wherein the high temperature resistant thermoplastic is selected from the group comprising blends of polyphenylene oxide with polystyrene, and polyphenylene oxide-polypropylene. 11. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 8, wherein the high temperature resistant thermoplastic is selected from the group comprising polycarbonate and polycarbonate blended with polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, or polyetherimide. 12. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 1, further comprising a corrosion protection coating directly applied to the outer surface of the steel pipe and bonded thereto, and underlying the first thermal insulation layer. 13. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 12, wherein the corrosion protection coating comprises a layer of cured epoxy or modified epoxy. 14. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 12, wherein the corrosion protection coating comprises an epoxy phenolic, a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer such as a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer blended with acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyphenylene sulphide, polyphenylene oxide or polyimide, including modified versions and blends thereof. 15. An insulated high-temperature transport conduit for use in offshore, deep water environments, the conduit comprising: (a) a continuous steel pipe made up of one or more pipe sections, wherein the steel pipe has an outer surface and an inner surface; and(b) a first layer of thermal insulation provided over the outer surface of the steel pipe, wherein the first layer of thermal insulation is comprised of a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance;further comprising a corrosion protection coating directly applied to the outer surface of the steel pipe and bonded thereto, and underlying the first thermal insulation layer;wherein the first thermal insulation layer is in direct contact with the corrosion protection coating and directly adhered thereto, the corrosion protection coating having been treated by plasma or corona discharge prior to application of the first thermal insulation layer. 16. An insulated high-temperature transport conduit for use in offshore, deep water environments, the conduit comprising: (a) a continuous steel pipe made up of one or more pipe sections, wherein the steel pipe has an outer surface and an inner surface; and(b) a first layer of thermal insulation provided over the outer surface of the steel pipe, wherein the first layer of thermal insulation is comprised of a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance;further comprising a corrosion protection coating directly applied to the outer surface of the steel pipe and bonded thereto, and underlying the first thermal insulation layer;wherein the corrosion protection coating comprises a multi-layer corrosion protection system applied to the outer surface of the steel pipe and underlying the first thermal insulation layer, wherein the multi-layer corrosion protection system comprises: (a) a layer of said cured epoxy or modified epoxy directly applied to the outer surface of the steel pipe and bonded thereto; and(b) a first adhesive layer applied directly to the corrosion protection layer and underlying the first thermal insulation layer. 17. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 16, wherein the adhesive layer is comprised of a polymer provided with functional groups and having a mutual affinity for the corrosion protection layer and the first thermal insulation layer. 18. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 16, wherein the first thermal insulation layer is in direct contact with the first adhesive layer and is bonded thereto. 19. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 16, wherein the multi-layer corrosion protection system further comprises: (c) a first protective topcoat comprised of an unfoamed polymeric material in direct contact with the first adhesive layer and bonded thereto, wherein the first thermal insulation layer is in direct contact with the first protective topcoat and bonded thereto. 20. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion protection coating comprises a single-layer composite corrosion protection coating directly applied to the outer surface of the steel pipe and bonded thereto and in direct contact with the first thermal insulation layer, wherein the single-layer composite corrosion protection coating comprises a cured epoxy resin, an adhesive and an unfoamed polymeric material. 21. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 1, further comprising an outer protective topcoat applied over the first thermal insulation layer and forming an outer surface of the insulated transport conduit, wherein the outer protective topcoat is comprised of an unfoamed polymeric material. 22. An insulated high-temperature transport conduit for use in offshore, deep water environments, the conduit comprising: (a) a continuous steel pipe made up of one or more pipe sections, wherein the steel pipe has an outer surface and an inner surface; and(b) a first layer of thermal insulation provided over the outer surface of the steel pipe, wherein the first layer of thermal insulation is comprised of a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance;further comprising an outer protective topcoat applied over the first thermal insulation layer and forming an outer surface of the insulated transport conduit, wherein the outer protective topcoat is comprised of an unfoamed polymeric material;wherein the first thermal insulation layer is in direct contact with the outer protective topcoat and directly adhered thereto, the first thermal insulation layer having been treated by plasma or corona discharge prior to application of the outer protective topcoat. 23. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 1, further comprising a second thermal insulation layer comprised of a thermoplastic in the form of a solid, a blown foam or a syntactic foam. 24. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 23, wherein the second thermal insulation layer is comprised of a polymeric material which is dissimilar to the high temperature resistant thermoplastic comprising the first thermal insulation layer. 25. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 24, wherein the dissimilar polymeric material is selected from one or more members of the group comprising: solid or foamed polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer, polybutylene, polyethylene; polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, modified polystyrene, and crosslinked or partially crosslinked polypropylene and polyethylenes, including copolymers, blends and elastomers thereof; and wherein the first thermal insulation layer underlies the second thermal insulation layer. 26. An insulated high-temperature transport conduit for use in offshore, deep water environments, the conduit comprising: (a) a continuous steel pipe made up of one or more pipe sections, wherein the steel pipe has an outer surface and an inner surface; and(b) a first layer of thermal insulation provided over the outer surface of the steel pipe, wherein the first layer of thermal insulation is comprised of a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance;further comprising a second thermal insulation layer comprised of a thermoplastic in the form of a solid, a blown foam or a syntactic foam;wherein the first and second thermal insulation layers are foamed to different degrees. 27. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 26, wherein the first thermal insulation layer underlies the second thermal insulation layer, and wherein the second thermal insulation layer is foamed to a greater degree than the first thermal insulation layer. 28. An insulated high-temperature transport conduit for use in offshore, deep water environments, the conduit comprising: (a) a continuous steel pipe made up of one or more pipe sections, wherein the steel pipe has an outer surface and an inner surface; and(b) a first layer of thermal insulation provided over the outer surface of the steel pipe, wherein the first layer of thermal insulation is comprised of a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance;further comprising a second thermal insulation layer comprised of a thermoplastic in the form of a solid, a blown foam or a syntactic foam;wherein the first thermal insulation layer underlies the second thermal insulation layer, and is in direct contact with the second thermal insulation layer and directly adhered thereto, the first thermal insulation layer having been treated by plasma or corona discharge prior to application of the second thermal insulation layer. 29. An insulated high-temperature transport conduit for use in offshore, deep water environments, the conduit comprising: (a) a continuous steel pipe made up of one or more pipe sections, wherein the steel pipe has an outer surface and an inner surface; and(b) a first layer of thermal insulation provided over the outer surface of the steel pipe, wherein the first layer of thermal insulation is comprised of a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance;further comprising a second thermal insulation layer comprised of a thermoplastic in the form of a solid, a blown foam or a syntactic foam;wherein the first and second thermal insulation layers are separated by a layer of unfoamed polymeric material. 30. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 29, wherein interlayer adhesion is provided between the layer of unfoamed polymeric material and the first and second thermal insulation layers by treating the first thermal insulation layer with plasma or corona discharge prior to application of the layer of unfoamed polymeric material, and by plasma or corona discharge of the layer of unfoamed polymeric material prior to application of the second thermal insulation layer. 31. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 29, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between the layer of unfoamed polymeric material and one or both of the first and second thermal insulation layers. 32. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 29, wherein the unfoamed polymeric material is an adhesive. 33. An insulated high-temperature transport conduit for use in offshore, deep water environments, the conduit comprising: (a) a continuous steel pipe made up of one or more pipe sections, wherein the steel pipe has an outer surface and an inner surface; and(b) a first layer of thermal insulation provided over the outer surface of the steel pipe, wherein the first layer of thermal insulation is comprised of a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance;further comprising a moulded pipe joint insulation system directly bonded to both the corrosion protection coating system and first thermal insulation layer at a joint connecting two pipe sections. 34. The insulated high-temperature transport conduit according to claim 33, wherein the moulded pipe joint insulation system is comprised of said high temperature resistant thermoplastic.