September 10, 2014
INVISTA, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, introduced Raptor™ nylon pipe, the industry’s first nylon 6,6 homogenous single wall line pipe that withstands temperatures up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and pressures up to 500 PSI, while also being fast to install. During the development of the new line pipe, the company’s technical team kept corrosive liquids, impacts, abrasions, high temperatures, and daily wear and tear from the oil patch top-of-mind.
Raptor™ nylon pipe comes coiled in up to 2,000-foot sections that are ready for the ditch and suitable for applications ranging from multiphase flow lines to low pressure natural gas gathering and water transportation. Its product portfolio includes 2-inch, 3-inch, 4-inch and 6-inch IPS and SDRs 7, 9 and 11. Six-inch pipe is expected to be available in fourth quarter 2014.
Key features of Raptor™ nylon pipe include:
- Performs in temperatures up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit
- Maximum operating pressure up to 500 PSI
- Fast installation with coils
- Requires no de-rating for liquid hydrocarbons
- Has better abrasion resistance compared with steel and high-density polyethylene*
- Has better impact resistance than fiberglass, HDPE and their composite pipes.
INVISTA is the world’s largest producer of nylon 6,6 polymer and chemical intermediates, and has a track record of 75 years of nylon innovations. INVISTA applied its polymer science and innovation capabilities to help bring the inherent benefits of nylon 6,6—superior strength, heat tolerance and wear resistance—to the oil and gas market. The company also leveraged market expertise from other Koch companies.
“We discovered a strong market signal for a line pipe that was tough enough to handle the oil patch and perform daily under rugged conditions, but could be installed quickly, which provides E&P and midstream companies flexibility in their schedules,” said Vikram Gopal, INVISTA vice president of technology, and who led the development of Raptor™ nylon pipe. “In response, INVISTA scientists and engineers collaborated to create a groundbreaking nylon 6,6 pipe system for the oilfield.”
Typical installation of Raptor™ nylon pipe requires only a fraction of the time needed to install other line pipe such as steel. Ease of installation is enhanced by reliable connections with standard butt-fusion technology and a range of available transition fittings.
Raptor™ nylon pipe has been installed, tested and subjected to accelerated wear in varied environments to confirm its strength and durability. The combination of the product’s resistance to corrosion, impacts and abrasions are unmatched by other line pipes, including steel. Raptor™ nylon pipe performs 2 to 5 times better than steel* in abrasion resistance. It offers better resistance to static build-up and more than 25 times more abrasion resistance than HDPE* pipe. Additionally, it resists impacts where fiberglass, HDPE and their composites options falter.
“With shale gas production increasing across North America, we expect our new line pipe offering will bring a new solution to the wellhead for the transportation of oil, gas and water for customers,” said Gopal.
To learn more about INVISTA’s new line pipe offering including performance parameters, visitwww.RaptorNylonPipe.com.