The high performance flexible pipes raising the oil from Dalia, a deep offshore field with outstanding characteristics operated by Total, were designed and manufactured by Technip from Rilsan® 11, a material with proven reliability in over 25 years’ service in offshore subsea conditions with its superior temperature resistance.

The vast Dalia oilfield, one of the world’s largest deep offshore developments, is located 135 km off the Angolan coast, and covers an area in excess of 200 km2 at a depth of between 1200 and 1500 m. The development of the field, which has outstanding characteristics, has called upon specific know-how and technological innovation.

The only material to have proved reliable following 25 years’ service in offshore oil production, Arkema’s Rilsan® 11 was chosen by Technip for the manufacture of these risers using the new IPB (integrated production bundle) technology. These 1,650 m long flexible pipes bring up the fluid from the bottom to the production and storage floating unit on the surface. They include for the first time multiple functions for production, activation and safety of offshore production.

The remarkable properties of Rilsan® 11, a product derived from a renewable raw material source, guarantee the safe operation of the offshore field in extreme conditions. Rilsan® 11 ensures unprecedended levels of performance for submarine pipes: temperature resistance greater by 10°C than for competitive materials, double lifetime in a given environment, and optimized mechanical properties.
 
With Rilsan® and Kynar®, Arkema is offering a unique and complementary range of high performance products to the offshore industry. Kynar® PVDF is used for offshore flexible pipes who need to withstand extreme temperature and pressure conditions.

Arkema’s Rilsan® 11 is a high performance polyamide derived from a natural vegetal oil. Widely used in the most demanding applications, Rilsan® 11 boasts an exceptional combination of strength, chemical and hydrocarbon resistance and thermal stability. It also offers much freedom in terms of design and processing.

With global brands like Rilsan®, Pebax® and Kynar®, unique products like Rilsan® Polyamide 11 and leading capacities in Rilsan® polyamide 11 and 12, Arkema’s Technical Polymers business unit stands out in the industry by providing its customers with global coverage and superior regional service from production facilities and research centers in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

A global chemical player, Arkema consists of 3 coherent and related business segments: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products. Present in over 40 countries with 17,000 employees, Arkema achieved sales of 5.7 billion euros in 2006. With its 6 research centers in France, the United States and Japan, and internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in its principal markets.