Technical information
Manufacturing
Balmoral Offshore Engineering has taken advantage of recent developments in materials, plant and processing techniques to install a highly efficient, computer controlled manufacturing facility at Group HQ in Aberdeen.
Comprising thermoplastic syntactic, aliphatic amine cold cure and anhydride hot cure manufacturing capabilities, supported by highly engineered macrosphere production tumblers, shakers, vacuum chambers and curing ovens, our facility represents a major advance in the way buoyancy products are manufactured.
Our team offers a turnkey service from concept development through design, manufacturing, delivery and installation logistics.
Environmental management
We recognise the commercial importance of sound environmental practice and are committed to policies of compliance with environmental legislation, prevention of pollution and continual improvement of systems, controls and performance.
We operate processes which are approved and regulated by UK environmental protection agencies. Customers can be assured that their orders have been processed with the conscious intention of creating minimal environmental impact.
Materials
In any buoyancy project the most critical factor is material selection which is based on operational parameters including uplift requirement, operating depth and environment, service life and product geometry.
BOE’s unique portfolio of materials, supported by comprehensive global experience, means that you, and your project, benefit from the most suitable and cost effective solution available.
Polyurethane foam
This is a low density closed cell rigid foam demonstrating mechanical properties most suited for use in depths of 0-150m.
PU foam applications
Navigation and marker buoys
Temporary buoyancy
Jetties and pontoons
Ship fenders
Anchor pendant buoys
Subsea mooring buoys
Subsea arch buoyancy
Pipeline bundle sled buoyancy
PU foam properties
| Property |
Foam density (Kg/m3) |
Test standard |
| 50 |
100 |
200 |
300 |
| Compressive strength (KPa) |
440 |
1180 |
3150 |
5590 |
ASTM D 1621 |
| Tensile strength (KPa) |
560 |
1220 |
2630 |
4120 |
ASTM D 1623 |
| Flexural strength (KPa) |
630 |
1630 |
4240 |
7410 |
ASTM D 790 |
| Shear strength (KPa) |
350 |
740 |
1560 |
2410 |
ASTM C 273 |
| Thermal conductivity (W/mK) |
<0.03 |
<0.033 |
<0.035 |
<0.04 |
ASTM C 518 |
Polyurethane elastomer
Most commonly used as a moulding material for riser, cable, flowline and product protection applications, PU elastomer is a tough, fatigue resistant substance which is ideally suited to impact and abrasion resistant coating.
PU elastomer applications
Surface and subsurface buoyancy coatings
Cable and flowline protection
Bend restrictors
Bend stiffeners
Line clamps
VIV strakes
Riser protection
Pin & box end protectors
Clamps, saddles, centralisers, spacers
PU foam properties
Tensile strength
Elongation at break
Split tear strength
Shore hardness
Specific gravity
Copolymer foam
A partially crosslinked cellular thermoplastic, this material provides excellent compression resistance and minimum water penetration even in extended service life. Most commonly used in depths of 100-600msw.
PU foam applications
Anchor pendant buoys
Subsea mooring buoys
Subsea arch buoyancy
Pipeline bundle sled buoyancy
Manned submersibles
ROV buoyancy
Long service buoyancy
Copolymer foam properties
| Property |
Foam density (Kg/m3) |
Test standard |
| 200 |
360 |
| Hydrostatic crush pressure (Bar) |
30-39 |
90-99 |
ASTM D 2736 |
| Compressive strength (MPa) |
4.4 |
9 |
ASTM D 1621 |
| Tensile strength (MPa) |
6.2 |
10.5 |
ASTM D 1623 |
| Shear strength (MPa) |
3.3 |
6.7 |
ASTM C 273 |
| Thermal conductivity (W/mºC) |
0.044 |
0.061 |
ASTM C 177 |
Syntactic foam
Developed in the 1960’s, syntactic foam is a composite material consisting of manufactured hollow spheres embedded in a resin matrix. A wide variety of spheres are available, including glass, carbon and polymer. Syntactic foam has a very high compressive strength-to-weight ratio.
Syntactic foam applications
Epoxy syntactic
High/ultrahigh performance syntactics used at depths to 10000msw
Low exotherm syntactic
A thermoset resin system designed for castings of up to 20m3
Thermoplastic syntactic
Cost effective castings for low mechanical stress environments
Liquid syntactic
Thixotropic syntactic suitable for pumping and retrofit situations.
External coatings
Rotationally moulded polyethylene
Highly resistant to abrasion and fouling resistant, PE is hydrolytically stable and water impermeable. Used to coat many types and sizes of surface and subsurface buoyancy.
Spray applied polyurethane elastomer
Tough, fatigue resistant elastomeric coating that provides optimised impact and abrasion resistance.
Moulded polyurethane elastomer
Provides the ultimate finish complemented by standard PU elastomer characteristics.
Spray applied GRP
Used on products where maximum structural integrity or mechanical protection is required.
Polyethylene memory foam
Used in conjunction with spray GRP/PU elastomer coatings and normally specified on surface and shallow water products where the product is exposed to regular significant impact such as ship fenders.
