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Offshore

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway -- Brinker has launched a new sealing solution for leaks and cracks called Plasma, the company announced at Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

The product is being marketed for very fine leaks and cracks such as those that result from fitting failures or faulty valves, the company says.

The solution consists of fine particulate platelets suspended in a gel carrier medium. It acts as a high performance valve sealant and can be used as a quick fix to enable intervention work on a pipeline or re-charged for a more long-term solution, according to Brinker. It can be pumped into a leaking cavity using a hand operated plasma gun to form an external seal.

"Plasma is ideally suited to low flow applications and was originally developed to address the problem of tubing hanger leaks," says Glynn Williams, executive director of Brinker. "It performs exceptionally well as a valve sealant or in situation where a secondary barrier is required such as dynamic clamping where the sealing components have to withstand movement of the sealing elements."

The sealing properties of the product rely on the fact that when a pressure differential is applied across the Plasma, the platelets in suspension with the solution, migrate to the leak site preventing further fluid egress and restoring integrity, Brinker explains. Plasma does not solidify or set so that the long-term function of the system, into which it is deployed, is not affected.

08/26/2008