Deep Sea Mining

Designed and manufactured by Strohm (formerly known as Airborne Oil & Gas), the jumper can reach depths of 4 000 – 6 500m. The technology is being developed by offshore contractor Allseas. “We are extremely pleased to secure this contract with Allseas. The appeal of TCP to this sector underlines its versatility and suitability compared to steel reinforced, rubber alternatives, increasing the company’s growth potential further across the energy transition,” said Oliver Kassam, Strohm CEO.

Key metals such as cobalt and nickel required for renewable energy technologies and electric vehicle batteries are in increasingly high demand as the world gets behind the energy transition. Allseas is developing a deep-sea collection system to source nodule-rich minerals from the seafloor with minimum environmental impact.

Thermoplastic Composite Pipe

This is the first time Strohm’s Thermoplastic Composite Pipe (TCP) solution will be used in a deep-sea mining application. Under the agreement, the world’s leading manufacturer of this technology will provide Allseas with a spoolable TCP Jumper to connect the seabed vehicle to the vertical transport system.

“For this project, TCP’s lower carbon credentials are in tandem with the overarching strategy to impose minimum impact on the environment. Our technology is proven to reduce the CO2 footprint of pipeline infrastructures by more than 50% and is completely impervious to corrosion making it a sustainable solution with a long lifecycle,” explained Kassam.

TCP is 80% lighter in weight compared to its metallic equivalents reducing the need for buoyancy, which is an important benefit for deep-sea mining activities. Manufactured at its 24/7 facility in The Netherlands and delivered in long spoolable lengths, TCP is fitted with an abrasion resistant liner which provides a distinct advantage over short, flanged rubber-based pipes typically deployed for slurry transport operations. The jumper’s inner bore is also extremely smooth, and its strong composite wall provides good collapse resistance while maintaining sufficient flexibility.

“TCP was first implemented by the oil and gas sector in 2007, and we have enjoyed zero failures to date making it an extremely reliable technology; it is also completely recyclable,” he concluded.

Credited by:https://miningnews.co.za/2021/02/17/ground-breaking-innovation-for-deep-sea-mining/