The domestic oil industry is vital to the American economy because of its dependence on hydrocarbons as a primary fuel source for industry and defense. As the oil industry has extended its exploration into deeper water, weight-sensitive floating platforms have replaced stationary, bottom-founded structures. The cost penalty for weight on Tension Leg Platforms, (TLP's). is in the USS5-10/LB, (US$2.25-4.50/kg.). Hence, considerable economic incentives exist to reduce the dead weight of topside facilities. Composite piping has been identified as a technology that could provide significant impact. On the Shell MARS TLP, it is estimated that the use of composite pipe for merely the firewater ring main and drain systems reduced the topside weight by 160,000 lb.(72.576/kg.). With a design life of over 20 years and with an installed cost of approximately one-third that of 90/10 copper-nickel pipe, it is easy to comprehend the economic advantages composite piping can offer facility engineers.
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