PropSpeed Anti-Fouling Coating TestOffshore Gulf of Mexico

PropSpeed Coating Test

ProblemFouling of submersible pumps with marine growth causes frequent pump failure due to overheating and lossof suction

Current StatusCopper Ion Systemsare being used in some East GOM locations and have proved successful in preventing marine growth on SubmersiblePumps

ObjectiveTotest a coating that could be applied to new and repaired pumps to addan additional layer of protection to further improvereliability

Note:These tests were conducted on a Production Platform Offshore of Louisiana on a Major Oil Company's Platform with assistance from theirpersonnel

After researching many available anti-fouling coatings it wasdecided to testPropSpeed

PropSpeed is an environmentally safe coating that does not contain copper or tin. It is basicallya Silicone Polymer

It prevents the attachment of marine growth by low criticalsurface tension

Two tests wereconducted• Coated Test Plate suspended off a platform at a 20’ depth• Test plate to be monitored for MarineGrowth• Coated Pump installed for a 1 year test of the coating

PropSpeed Coating Test

Vendor was contacted and agreed to supply us with the coating and pumpto test

Coating was applied to a new pump atDXP’s Repair Facility in HarahanLa

Photoshows pump being prepared for coating process

PropSpeed Coating Test

PropSpeed Coating Applied to Pump

PropSpeed Coating Test

PropSpeed Coating Applied to Pump

PropSpeed Coating Test

Conditionof Pump thatwas replaced with PropSpeed CoatedPump

Condition of PropSpeed CoatedPump after 355 Days of Service

PropSpeed Coating Test

Very Little Fouling on Coated Pump after 355 Days

Significant Marine Growthon Pump thatwas notcoatedNote:This pump was swapped outwith thecoated one for testing.

PropSpeed Coating Test

Typical Fouling on Pump thatwas removed for the test

Very Little Fouling on CoatedPumpafter 355 Days

PropSpeed Coating Test

Cluster of Barnacleson Pump beforeWashing

Barnacles removed from Pump witha Tap from aWrenchNotice that there isn’tany BarnaclePlates left on the pumpeither

PropSpeed Coating Test

Pump after washing off with a water hose

PropSpeed Coating Test

A Stainless Steel Platewas suspended off the platform for testing and was subject to sea conditions (Wavesand Current)

One Sidewascoated with PropSpeed the othersidewas left bare to test theeffectivenessof thecoating

2/19/2013

2/19/2013TestPlate

PropSpeed Coating Test

TestPlate

PropSpeed Coating Test

Test Plateafter being suspended off the platform for 134 daysof exposure to sea conditions

Coated Side of TestPlate Uncoated Side of TestPlate

PropSpeed Coating Test

Un-CoatedSide

Test Plateafterwashing off with a water hose

CoatedSide

PropSpeed Coating Test

Test Plateafter removing Barnacleswith a Scraper

The uncoated side requiredmore effort to remove the barnacles and barnacle plates were leftbehind

Barnacles on the coated side just fell off with hardly any effort except in the area the coating wasmissing

PropSpeed Coating Test

Test Results Conclusion

• Coating did reducethe amountof marine growth on the pump

• Pump had just a coating of slime and a few Barnacles

• Barnacles were easily removed on both the pump and test plate

PropSpeed Coating Test

SUPPLYING THE INDUSTRY