Impact Attenuating Media – Weldment Assembly

One of offshore drilling’s most persistent hazards that face the industry is dropped-object incidents that involve heavyweight drill collars and drill pipe. These loads can exceed 27,000 pounds, and dropped from nearly 100 feet, can produce over 2.6 million pounds of force. To address this ongoing challenge, The Impact Attenuating Media Weldment Assembly was developed as a device capable of absorbing extreme energy while keeping workers, equipment and deck structures safe.

This piece of powerful equipment was engineered by NOV and fabricated by Triple C Industries. By deploying this device in one of the harshest environments on earth – saltwater, humidity, UV exposure, and constant abrasion, the project called for a coating protection system that could stand up to these elements. During the design phase of the project, the clear decision was made to choose hot-dip galvanizing as it would be extremely durable, have a long life cycle before first maintenance, and ultimately be able to withstand the daily pressure it would experience to perform under such rigid conditions.

Hot-dip galvanizing was able to provide unmatched corrosion protection due to its metallurgically bonded zinc iron alloy layers that offered a barrier and cathodic protection. The system’s durability is essential given that the device sits partially enclosed inside another steel pipe where moisture and abrasion are unavoidable. When compared to other coating protection systems, paint or epoxies would easily chip or degrade under this intense stress. Any other coating solution would cause issues for the system and lead to catastrophic failures down the road.

Knowing the project would be sitting offshore, this type of asset would be difficult and costly to repaint and repair over time. Choosing to galvanize the steel on this project would eliminate the need to recoat the structure, ensuring it stands strong long into the future with minimal maintenance. This also supports safer rigs and reduced downtime, so that workers can continue their important roles without these essential systems failing them.

The galvanizer chosen for the project was able to provide a wealth of knowledge around the galvanizing process, ensuring the entire structure was coated in each crack and crevice. The galvanizer and fabricator worked together from start to finish, communicating any issues and adapting to changes along the way all while meeting strict deadlines with ease. They were also able to provide large kettle capacity to their customer, ensuring the pieces only needed to be dipped once to achieve a quality coating.

Standing as a unique blend of engineering, safety innovation and performance in the drilling industry, The Impact Attenuating Media Weldment Assembly will continue to service the state of Texas and beyond for nearly 50-100 years down the road due to its strength and fortitude.