Elco International Engineering

Elco, a leading engineering and fabrication company, has chosen Hempel’s Avantguard technology to ensure their customer benefits from Avantguard’s long-lasting corrosion protection and improved application properties.

BP have signed a contract with the government of Oman to develop a major new gas processing facility to serve the Khazzan & Makarem gas fields. BP have awarded the contract to Petrofac who have subcontracted to Elco.

Elco identified Hempel as the right coatings supplier for the onshore Khazzan and Makarem processing facility, to give the best corrosion protection available.

The system that Elco are using includes Hempadur Avantguard 750, a primer that is ideal for use in severely corrosive environments.

BP is using its position as one of the world’s pioneers in tight gas production to develop the Khazzan & Makkarem fields, which are estimated to contain at least 30–40 trillion cubic feet (tcf) gas. The Khazzan & Makkarem fields are one of the Middle East’s largest unconventional gas resources.

The challenge is to ensure the structural steel pipe racks within the facility are protected. Elco wanted a coating system that would offer its customers the best long-term anti-corrosive performance available.

Elco chose a coating system that combined Hempadur Avantguard 750, Hempadur MIO 47950 and Hempathane HS 55610. Hempadur primers use Avantguard, a new technology that provides better corrosion protection. Only around one-third of the zinc in a traditional zinc epoxy has an anti-corrosive effect.

Avantguard technology activates ALL of the zinc in the coating, which significantly improves the coating’s anti-corrosive performance and mechanical strength. Unlike a number of zinc-rich coating technologies, Avantguard technology improves performance without increasing zinc content. For BP’s customer, this means reduced corrosion, improved performance in extreme temperatures and superior mechanical strength.