Vulcan: Synthetic ETOP Danielle Stenvers ITOSF – Houston – February 22, 2011

• Current Systems • Technology Development

> Fiber > Coating > Testing

• Strength and Weight Specifications

Synthetic Emergency Tow Off Pendants

• Current Systems • Technology Development

> Fiber > Coating > Testing

• Strength and Weight Specifications

Synthetic ETOP Development

• Numerous injuries to workers deploying pendants: > Strain injuries > Pinching and impact injuries > Repetitive stress injuries due to repeated handling

• OCIMF and ISGOTT requirements for synthetics: > “Adequate fire resistance” > “Similar functionality to wire” > Requirements are not defined with respect to HEAT or

FLAME performance (for synthetics or wires)

Why Synthetic ETOP?

• Reduce weight by half or more • Heat Performance:

> Equal strength as wire after 30 min at 20% load at 300ºC • Flame Performance:

> Equal strength as wire after 10-sec exposure to 600°C flame

Synthetic ETOP: Targets

• Current Systems • Technology Development

> Fiber > Coating > Testing

• Strength and Weight Specifications

Synthetic ETOP Development

Fiber Selection: Aramids

• Properties of Technora Fibers: > High strength at elevated temperatures > Good heat cycling properties > Good abrasion properties > Good chemical resistance > Not effected by hydrolysis > Low Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI ) = good flame retardant

• Other Desired Properties: > Good performance when exposed to open flame

• No specific requirement by OCIMF • Multiple fibers were tested for exposure to open flame

FR Enhancement: Coating

• FR Coating > Water based latex > High solids > High flexibility, exceeds 20% elongation at –24°C > No solvent, low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) > Flame retardant > Heat resistance and thermal barrier

• Provides protection allowing the rope to withstand direct flames considerably longer > Delayed rope failure from 12 min to 65 min (small diameter ropes in open flame exposure)

Fiber Selection: Further Enhanced

Exposure to 750°C flame: How long before the rope fails?

FR Coated Technora (65 min) FR Coated Dyneema (30 sec)

Effect of Heat on Different Fiber Types

Exposure to 750°C flame: How long before the rope fails?

Fiber Type Uncoated FR Coated

Technora 12 min 65 min

Polyester <1 min 1.75 min

Nylon <1 min 1.5 min

Dyneema <1 min <1 min

Testing performed on ½” dia ropes

• Current Systems • Technology Development

> Fiber > Coating > Testing

• Strength and Weight Specifications

Synthetic ETOP Development

Testing Standards

Samson-Developed Test Method: • Heat Test:

> 300°C oven temperature > 30-min exposure while loaded to 20% of break strength > Break while still at 300°C

• Flame Test: > 600°C Flame > 10-sec exposure > Break at room temperature

Specialized Equipment: Heat Testing

300°C oven temperature 30-minute exposure while loaded to 20% of break strength Break while still at 300°C

Heat Testing: Wire vs. Vulcan

1" dia ropes

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

WIRE Vulcan

% o

f New

Rop

e St

reng

th

Retained Strength: 30 min, 20%Load, 300°C

Heat Testing: Effect of Diameter

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1 1 1/2 2 2 1/2

% o

f New

Rop

e St

reng

th

Dia (in)

Retained Strength: 30 min, 20%Load, 300°C

Specialized Equipment: Flame Testing

600°C flame temperature 10-second exposure Break (at room temperature)

Flame Testing: No Strength Loss

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

90%

95%

100%

Wire Vulcan

% o

f New

Rop

e St

reng

th

Retained Strength after 30 sec Flame (600°C)

1" dia ropes

• Current Systems • Technology Development

> Fiber > Coating > Testing

• Strength and Weight Specifications

Synthetic ETOP Development

Vulcan: Specifications

*Actual Wire Rope strength loss at temperature: 5-10%

Vessel Size (DWT)

MBS Requirement

Wire Dia Vulcan Dia Weight Savings over

Wire <20,000 30 MT 7/8” 1-1/4” 57%

20-100,000 55 MT 1-1/4” 1-11/16” 63% 100-300,000 100 MT 1-5/8” 2-1/8” 65%

300,000+ 120 MT 1-3/4” 2-1/2” 65%

Heated Rope Strength

Vessel Size (DWT)

MBS Requirement

Wire Dia Vulcan Dia Weight Savings over

Wire <20,000 30 MT 7/8” 1” 80%

20-100,000 55 MT 1-1/4” 1-5/16” 70% 100-300,000 100 MT 1-5/8” 1-7/8” 70%

300,000+ 120 MT 1-3/4” 2-1/8” 70%

New Rope Strength

Conclusions

• Synthetic ETOP: > Requires larger size to achieve same strength as wire > Larger diameter is only 1/3 the wire weight > Heat damage is delayed through protective FR coatings and

insulating covers

• Heat Performance: 300°C – 30 min – 20% Load > Wire: 5–10% strength loss > Synthetic: 20–45% strength loss

• Flame Performance: 600°C – 10 sec > Wire: 0 strength loss > Synthetic: 0 strength loss

Product Currently In-Use

• Conoco Philips • OSG Polar Tankers • Algoma Tankers

Patented Technology

High-Temperature Resistant Rope Systems and Methods

• US 7,168,231 January 2007 • US 7,437,869 October 2008 • US 7,743,596 June 2010

Questions?