東レは今後も“現場VaRTM工法”をさまざまな産業用途へ展開するとともに、FPSOとFSOの補修補強技術の開発を推進し、市場のニーズに迅速に対応してまいります。Toray Inds Inc (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Akihiro Oya, hereinafter "Toray") has obtained type approval from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the standard ship repair method using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) with the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding technology called "on-site VaRTM method" for corrosion-thinning areas of facilities, for the first time in the world, for floating production, storage, and offloading systems (FPSO) and floating storage and offloading systems (FSO) targeting marine petroleum and gas production and storage facilities.
ABS is one of the world's leading classification societies, and about half of the world's FPSOs and FSOs are ABS-certified vessels. With this type approval, Toray's patented "on-site VaRTM method" is now applicable to ABS-classed vessels, reducing the time required for engineering reviews and verifications necessary for ship repairs.
Maintenance of FPSO and FSO facilities typically involves repairs using steel materials offshore, which require welding involving fire work, leading to the need to halt petroleum or gas production. The "on-site VaRTM method" with ABS type approval obtained this time was jointly developed by Toray and Mitsui Ocean Development Co., Ltd. in 2020. It involves placing a carbon fiber textile called "Toreka Cloth," which excels in Toray's balance of strength and modulus of elasticity, on the surface of existing steel structures to be repaired. The technique integrates CFRP formed by injecting and curing epoxy resin under vacuum after covering with film with the steel structure (patent pending).
Compared to conventional repair methods using steel, the "on-site VaRTM method" allows for easy access of equipment and materials, enables work with few personnel in a short period, and does not involve fire work, minimizing the impact of repair work on petroleum and gas production.
Toray will continue to expand the use of the "on-site VaRTM method" for various industrial applications and promote the development of repair and reinforcement technologies for FPSO and FSO, swiftly responding to market needs.
(Photo provided by Mitsui Ocean Development Co., Ltd.)
December 18, 2023 News Release
Co-development of repair and reinforcement technology 'CFRP patch method' for FPSO and FSO.
December 24, 2020 News Release
Regarding the co-development of repair and reinforcement technology for FPSO/FSO with Mitsui Ocean Development Co., Ltd.
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