ARE YOU SEEKING SURETY IN CABLE AND PIPELINE PROTECTION DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND DELIVERY?

Balmoral DURAGUARD was developed to protect subsea umbilicals, cables, flexible jumpers, flexible flowlines and riser touchdown zones although many other applications have been identified spanning several industries.

It provides cost-effective localised impact and abrasion protection and is supplied as pairs of interlocking half shells secured around the core product using circumferential straps.

Balmoral DURAGUARD is manufactured in a range of polyurethane elastomer grades, depending on specific operational conditions, and can be supplied in a wide range of diameters, thicknesses and lengths. Typical lengths are determined by the individual half shell weight and can vary from 500-2000mm.

Balmoral provides four differing systems:

• Balmoral DURAGUARD^® standard
• Balmoral DURAGUARD PLUS™ – As Duraguard standard but supplied as one-piece hinged modules with integrated banding system
• Balmoral DURABALLAST™ – High density ballast system
• Balmoral DURAMAT^®

Balmoral DURABALLAST^®

For projects which demand cable protection with added ballast, Balmoral DURABALLAST provides much more than straightforward abrasion and impact resistance.

Heavy filler materials are added to the Duraguard mix to increase density and overall weight. The ballast provided gives extra on-bottom stability while the added mass improves dynamic response and reduces the risk of clashing. Densities ranging from 2300-8000kg/m³ can be achieved.

When creating the profile of the soft polyurethane, Balmoral optimises the stiffness parameters to conform to flexible minimum bend radius and mitigate the additional stiffness that the product adds to the flexible.

Buoyancy

Standard PU is practically neutrally buoyant in seawater. However, hollow microspheres can be added to reduce density and provide uplift ranging typically from 650-800kg/m³.

Impact absorption

PU is a relatively resilient material which can absorb moderately heavy impact. Reinforced options are available for extreme environments.

Protection

Protects risers from abrasion/gouging at touchdown points, over rough seabeds, coral or rock.

Stiffening

Duraguard provides added stiffness to support cable over the seabed and/or assist in laying operations.

Thermal insulation

Lab tests have shown a significant increase in thermal insulation performance when Duraguard is fitted.

Balmoral DURAGUARD can be fitted during unreeling/laying or prior to reeling and is installed by placing the two modules around the flexible and banding them into place. Alloy 625 or titanium bands are normally set 300mm apart. Adjacent segments with integrated overlapping ends are added to provide a continuous protected length.

The bands can be installed using manual or pneumatic tools for rapid installation while alternative strapping systems can be provided depending on application and performance requirements.

Moulded in marine grade polyurethane elastomer, Balmoral DURAMAT provides dropped object impact and abrasion protection to seabed umbilicals, flowlines and pipelines.

During manufacture, the PU is filled with barites that provide ballast and prevent tidal movement while the grooved element design allows flexing and separation of the protected lines.

Balmoral DURAMAT is ROV and diver installable and is generally supplied with through holes for rope handling. Typically provided in 3000x3000x40mm sections, the mats can be custom sized to meet project specifications.

Balmoral has developed a standard Duraguard range that can be supplied at short notice that covers a range of flexible diameters from 100-548mm across a catalogue of moulds.

Standardising on length, thickness and maximum diameters this standard solution provides the performance characteristics of a bespoke solution which, in applicable situations, can save time and money.

Renowned as a solutions provider, Balmoral was approached to provide buoyancy on a small umbilical that was being reeled and paid out over a sheave. Conventional Durabuoyancy solutions would not work because of the thickness and stiffness that would be added to a highly flexible small diameter umbilical.

Balmoral quickly developed a solution that was easy to install, provided buoyancy, minimised the additional stiffness and conformed to the bend radius of the sheave under the tensile and compressive loads applied by the umbilical and sheave.

Utilising the ductile properties of the soft elastomer grades available to Balmoral, the company cast a syntactic block inside the polyurethane and profiled the polyurethane to ensure the stiffness was optimised to meet project requirements.