Polymer Lining Connector Hat-Trick for Swagelining

Polymer lining specialist for subsea pipelines Swagelining has installed its LinerBridge connector technology for the first time.

The Swagelining team installed the LinerBridge polymer lining connectors within Pipeline Bundles for one of Equinor’s developments in the Norwegian North Sea; followed by a second project for reeled tie-ins for Wintershall Dea’s Nova water injection pipeline in the Norwegian North Sea; and thirdly Ithaca Energy’s Cook Field in the North Sea.

LinerBridge is an alternative to conventional corrosion resistant alloy (CRA) connectors that creates a polymer barrier within the pipeline.

Liam Macintyre, managing director of Swagelining, said: “Our first installations of the LinerBridge connectors within offshore pipelines marks an exciting and significant evolution of our polymer lining technology. Not only does LinerBridge reduce the cost of today’s reel-lay flowline and towed Pipeline Bundle projects, LinerBridge is also the enabler in expanding the application of polymer lining’s cost-effective corrosion protection to other offshore pipeline systems such as deepwater flowlines, dynamic service risers and S and J-lay installation methods.”

One of the key components of a polymer integrated lining system is the connector technology. Connectors are required to join sections of polymer lined pipeline together to form the overall pipeline length and to terminate the pipeline. Manufactured from the same material as the liner, the innovative connector contains no CRA materials, removing the need for CRA welding.