Celanese wins award for composites pressure pipe

As one of 48 West Coast finalists, Celanese was chosen by the 2013 Oil & Gas Awards judges for the innovative Fiberflex-11 composite pressure pipe that uses Celstran continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFR-TP).

The lightweight pressure pipe system is manufactured by Composite Fluid Transfer LLC of Kilgore, Texas, with multiple options for robust connections and is designed for general water transport infrastructure applications.

Michael Ruby, global composites business manager of Celanese, accepted the award during the Oil & Gas Awards — West Coast regional award gala dinner on Oct. 24 at the Marriott at the Convention Center in Bakersfield, Calif.

In naming Celanese as Manufacturer of the Year, the Oil & Gas Awards judges commented: “Of all these products, none of them can compare to a 30’ flowback line that 2 men can carry. This would eliminate the need for a crane or other equipment to move the piping on site.”

“Hydraulic Fracturing plays such an important role in the Oil & Gas market. Celanese has created new piping systems that are easier and safer to handle. The new products have helped to decrease material and installation costs providing huge savings for companies.”

The composite pressure pipe, which won a prestigious Innovation Award in the “Pipes & Water Management” category on Oct. 2 during the JEC Americas 2013 in Boston, incorporates Celstran CFR-TP continuous fiberglass reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) thermoplastic composite tape.

t is wound around a specially designed, extruded thin-wall HDPE thermoplastic liner and heat consolidated by a proprietary process developed by Composite Fluid Transfer. The pipe construction adds an outside layer of HDPE film manufactured by Valéron Strength Films to protect the system from both ultra-violet and abrasion damage.

At 4.26 pounds per foot, the Fiberflex-11 pipe is lighter than comparable diameter and pressure rated composite and plastic pipe. Two people in the field can easily lift and carry the pipe, which avoids the high cost of using large unloading equipment, increases safety and minimizes work site damage and reclamation costs.

A 30-foot section weighs only 128 pounds vs. the same length of 12-inch HDPE SDR 9 pipe that weighs 655 pounds, making it 80 percent lighter. The Fiberflex-11 pipe system also offers several robust coupling/connector options, including a two-bolt patent-pending quick coupling design.

Composite Fluid Transfer’s Fiberflex-11 pipe — 10.5-inch inner diameter, 11.1-inch outer diameter pipe rated at a 250 pounds per square inch operating pressure — is specifically designed for general water transport infrastructure, including distribution systems, oil and gas operations, hydraulic fracturing feed water and produced water, large irrigation systems, tank farm operations and dewatering systems. A key strength is the adaptability of the product to meet fluid transfer market demands outside of the oil and gas industry.