52 OFFSHORE Technology Review / 2014 Stopaq (Seal For Life Industries) The Netherlands, booth 353 adhere to the wet surface by displacing the water and It is no surprise that many existing subsea structures and the moisture left behind is encapsulated in the special pipes suffer from corrosion. In some cases, however, and additive in the Stopaq compound and insulated by the with much inconvenience, relatively new objects can PIB. The natural behaviour of the PIB makes it to fully show signs of rust. In many of these cases, the approach ‘wetten’ the steel and protects it towards corrosion prevention against further corrosion. during the engineering The mechanical properties phase or the method of found in PVC films, amalgamating application/handling of rubbers and or moisture cured the objects has lead to polyurethanes are applied on top such damage. The available of the Stopaq subsea materials. solutions for repair are not The Stopaq corrosion preventative always satisfactory for the compound does not cure and client. comes packed as tapes or sheets Over the past few years for the ease of application, or Stopaq, a Seal for Life as putty, to be moulded around company, has gained great difficult shapes such as flanges and experience in offering durable valves. subsea and splash-zone Backed up by a strong and repairs. The repairs range Figure 1. Subsea pipeline damaged by anchor load. dynamic engineering division, from the replacement of Seal for Life industries also damaged/failing FBE/HSS and optimises application methods, PE/PP coatings to the repair designs equipment to ease of CWC and even insulating applications and realises optimal electrical powerlines on the safety and time-saving solutions. In seabed. Stadskanaal, the Netherlands, the Stopaq started in the SFL Engineering group features an late 1980s as a contracting in-house diving facility to simulate company heavily involved in various applications. This allows SFL the sealing and protection to rely on a great and successful of clay walls, tunnels and track record built up over the years infrastructural objects against in a wide range of applications, the ingress of water. The Figure 2. Repair of a subsea field joint. Application ranging from subsea pipeline coating company name STOPAQ over damaged tapewra system. repair to the protection of risers, reflects its business: stop sheetpiling, X-knots, jetty piles, aqua (Stopaq water). The jacket legs etc. company has developed from To optimally cater to the needs these early days refining the of its customers, SFL Industries is technology to the extent that associated with partner companies it is now involved in many providing inspection and application markets. services, training and project The Stopaq product range management. SFL industries subsea is based on polyisobuthene offers a one-stop shop for the entire resin technology. The visco corrosion prevention package and elastic resin, which has in mechanical protection of offshore control cold-flow properties, and inshore infrastructure. This can appear as a solid if offers clients all over the world an suddenly attacked by a force, end-to-end service in the protection or can show liquid properties and lifetime extension of their if slowly agitated. Stopaq Figure 3. Replacement of a damaged field joint coating. valuable infrastructural assets. subsea systems and materials