Frequently Asked Questions

By nature of the TCP being stronger and truly fully bonded, the application scope of TCP is significantly larger than that of RTP. In short:

• Where RTP can typically handle pressures up to 70 bar, TCP is currently qualified to 689 bar, or 10,000 psi, higher by a factor of 10.
• RTP is mainly used onshore, sometimes offshore in very shallow water of about 30 meters maximum. TCP is qualified to 3,000 meters water depth and is proven with track record in 2,140 meters water depth.
• RTP cannot handle gas service under higher pressure without significant additional measures to be implemented such as gas venting etc. TCP does not require this and can handle all services, including sweet, sour, crude, full wellstream and gas.
• RTP true inner bore diameters typically are limited to 5.6 inch inner diameter. Our TCP goes up to 7.75 inch true bore inner diameter.
• RTP typically can be supplied in lengths of 300 meters per spool; TCP is manufactured in continuous lengths of at least 3,000 meters. The maximum supplied length per spool depends on allowable drum size, but even on standard road transportable drums TCP can be supplied in lengths of at least 600 meters.

Strohm has completed an extensive erosion test program that showed that erosion performance is better than in steel. This test program included the creation and validation of a computational fluid dynamics model which allows us to perform accurate assessment of our clients erosion profile.

Strohm has conducted severe impact testing to understand the effect of impact loading on TCP due to dropped objects or very rough pipe handling. The test results have proven that the ductile and flexible materials that we use in TCP provide excellent impact resistance and shock absorption.

Yes, our TCP can be terminated in the field. Because of our strong and fully bonded wall, which includes the bonded outer coating, we can simply cut the pipe at any location along the pipe and terminate in the field. We can do this offshore as well, in horizontal or vertical position, for instance above the J-tube. This concept allows clients to have a length of pipe on stock and cut to the required length, an ideal solution in for instance subsea jumper applications.

We apply a fully bonded outer coating for protection of the pipe during handling and installation. The outer coating is an integral part of the TCP as we use the same polymer as the matrix in the composite layer; as result the outer coating is very strong, durable and continues into the end-fitting as part of the termination. Our TCP does not suffer from rapid gas decompression, blistering or coating blow-off, which is a known failure mode on composite pipe systems with unbonded coating in gas service.

We always select the most cost-effective material for each application. As with steel, operators do not use duplex stainless steel throughout their infrastructure; instead, they use the most cost-effective material where possible. In closely scrutinising all materials and their performance, today we have selected glass-PE, carbon-PA12 and carbon-PVDF as the best materials, for the following reasons:

• These materials are most cost effective within their range of applicability of pressure and temperature.
• They are the most flexible polymers leading to easy manipulation and installation. In addition, their ductility avoids any microcracking in the pipe structure during bending, as more brittle polymers are.
• They allow for the smallest minimum bend radius, including risers, allowing for known and proven installation methods to be used.
• All these polymers have already a long track record in Oil and Gas.

We are always happy to explain how we work in designing and selecting the right material and are happy to share cost comparisons with you. Please contact us for more information: info@strohm.eu.

The Thermoplastic Composite Pipe, or TCP, has one simple, fully bonded or monolithic pipe wall. It consists of an inner polymer liner, a composite reinforcement layer consisting of several individual plies of fibre reinforced tape, and a robust outer coating. The polymers used in the liner, fibre matrix and coating are always of the same type. We use PolyEthylene (PE), PolyAmide (PA12), and polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) as polymers, and glass or carbon fibres as reinforcement. All individual layers are melt-fused together, ensuring a bond between the layers that is as strong and durable as the base materials. The simplicity of the concept results in a safe and reliable product due to the very limited number of potential failure modes; the fact that we always use the most optimal material depending on the application ensures that we always offer the most cost effective solution.