Composite materials in the UK offshore oil & gas industry

Since 1988, the use of composite materials has been steadily increasing in the UK offshore oil and gas industry. The first applications were, surprisingly, for fire, blast and impact resistant structures which were used to protect steel structures from these effects. Subsequent developments have seen composites used for secondary and tertiary structures on existing and new offshore installations, such as sea water piping systems, gratings, handrails, ladders, vessels and tanks. More recently, carbon fiber composites have been used to strengthen existing primary steel structures on existing offshore installations. Development work is now underway to produce the short and long term mechanical property data for those composites and adhesives most likely to be used for offshore structural applications, validated design tools and a design guide that will provide a framework for approval and certification of structural composites in the offshore industry. This report reviews these developments and highlights some of the issues that must be dealt with if the vast potential of this new and exciting market is to be realized. 4 figs.