The Netherlands: Dyneema Max Technology for Deepwater Mooring Ropes

Dyneema® Max is the culmination of a systematic development programme by DSM Dyneema to improve the creep performance of high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) yarn.

First trialled as a mooring rope over 10 years ago, the early results with HMPE were promising, however, creep prevented its use as a deepwater mooring rope. Last year DSM Dyneema introduced SK78 with a creep rate to less than 0.5% on 5 year moorings, still too much for permanent moorings but ideal for mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) moorings.

This year, DSM has gone further. Using Dyneema® Max Technology, it has produced a HMPE fibre that has allowed Lankhorst Ropes to manufacture Gama 98 HMPE ropes with virtually no creep for 5 year MODU moorings and less than 0.5% for permanent moorings.

From the mooring systems’ perspective, Lankhorst Ropes Offshore Division’s sales director, Chris Johnson points to both technical and practical advantages to using HMPE permanent mooring ropes. “The new HMPE rope’s low creep, and high stiffness, will provide the optimum station-keeping conditions for permanent moorings at ultra-deepwater depths. Moreover, the rope’s smaller diameter allows more rope per reel than polyester, which will have significant offshore installation benefits.”

The Lankhorst Ropes booth at OTC 2012 will feature a review of Dyneema® Max Technology and it implications for deepwater mooring.

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Subsea World News Staff , April 27, 2012;  Image: Lankhorst