Dutch thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP) manufacturer Strohm has, in a joint industry program (JIP) with Petrobras and Shell, completed a qualification and field trial program for its ultra-deepwater TCP flowline technology.
The completion of the full-scale qualification and offshore field trial represents the final step before Petrobras installs and starts operating a pilot flowline in a Brazilian pre-salt field, on schedule in early 2027.
“The project has great strategic relevance for the subsea sector in Brazil and beyond, as it decisively solves one of the major pipeline integrity challenges identified in recent years: the risk of stress‑corrosion cracking in environments with a high CO2 concentration. By using non-metallic TCP, corrosion is simply eliminated, strengthening system integrity and operational reliability in challenging subsea environments,” said Martin van Onna, Strohm’s CEO.
“Strohm’s TCP flowline is designed to be installed by today’s installation vessels without the need to change anything. The installation procedures do not require material changes and the pipeline’s behaviour both on the vessel and subsea during installation is fully predictable and in line with industry practice. Strohm’s TCP can be considered as a suitable replacement for flexible lines currently vulnerable to corrosion and we are ramping up production capacity to meet the expected demand.”
The program included system-representative testing that validated the interaction between the pipe, end-fitting and sealing interfaces under realistic operating conditions, ensuring a robust and predictable performance throughout the entire system lifecycle. It accounted for more than 50,000 testing hours, covering materials, sealing testing, and full-scale testing.
According to Strohm, the extensive full-scale testing campaign itself comprised over 40 individual tests conducted across seven laboratories and certified testing houses across Europe and Brazil. The program complements the previous material testing that was executed by supplier Evonik.
The Dutch company describes the project as the world’s most advanced initiative to bring TCP flowlines offshore under actual field conditions.
Under the JIP, DNV qualified a 6-inch carbon fiber-PA12 TCP for alternating injection of water and gas (WAG) service for enhanced oil recovery, in accordance with DNV-ST-F119.
Ramón Rojas, JIP program manager at Strohm, said: “The development is based on a fully integrated methodology that combines engineering design, material selection, structural analysis and full‑scale validation. This approach ensures that predicted and actual performance are aligned, providing a high level of confidence in the system’s behaviour under demanding operational conditions and guaranteeing reliability throughout its 30‑year service life.”
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