Heat tracing system is the World’s longest

26 August 2008

Tyco Thermal Controls has been contracted to provide a skin effect heat-tracing system (STS) for a new underground crude oil pipeline for Cairn Energy of India. On completion, the heat-tracing system will be the longest of its kind in the world and also represents the single largest product order ever received by Tyco Thermal Controls, currently valued at nearly $14 million.

Tyco Thermal Controls has been contracted to design, supply and provide field quality assurance for the project, scheduled to be complete in October 2008. Tyco Thermal Controls is providing nearly 644 km of STS for the Barmer Salaya pipeline – a critical line used for transporting crude oil from the CEIL oil field in Rajasthan to a refinery in Salaya, Gujarat.

“Original plans for the pipeline included bulk heating systems rather than heat-tracing,” said Franco Chakkalakal, Tyco Thermal Controls STS Global Product Manager. “We were able to show the customer that a skin effect heat-tracing system offers them a more efficient solution for their needs and at a lower cost”.

The Skin Effect Heat-Tracing system will provide thermal insulation and electrical heating along the length of the pipeline to reduce the viscosity of the oil inside. The pipeline must be maintained at 65ºC.

“Heat-tracing is a very important element of the pipeline and we are proud to be putting this system into place” said Julie Ahner, Strategic Business Marketing Manager for Tyco Thermal Controls. “Not only is this a significant project for Tyco Thermal Controls, it will also be the longest skin effect heat-tracing system in the world, a milestone that exemplifies Tyco Thermal Controls ability to work globally and efficiently in order to meet our client’s requirements.”

The design and engineering activities for the pipeline are being handled at Tyco Thermal Controls’ STS Knowledge Centre in India, with review and approval by the STS Knowledge Centre in Houston. Tyco Thermal Controls headquarters is working with suppliers in order to meet the scheduled material demands and is on track to have all system components shipped to India for the October deadline.