Pipeline Buoyancy Systems

Kraken™ - Floating Pipelines in Shallow Water

While Seaflex are the major worldwide providers of individual Inflatable Buoyancy Units (IBUs) for pipeline installations in shallow water, there are special cases where the long tube Kraken© buoyancy system can be used to good advantage.

The patented system consists of a PVC coated fabric tube attached to a pipe at 1.2m intervals to create a continuous buoyancy member which produces very low stresses in the pipe. The Kraken tube is tough and resilient and with the close spaced fixings, each attachment is only under a very small load.

Kraken’s advantage over conventional IBUs is it’s ability to float pipes in very shallow water, which can dramatically reduce dredging costs. Its low frontal area reduces turbulance and makes for a docile tow at respectable speeds allowing

 

KRAKEN FEATURES

• Lift capacities of 60kg, 132kg and 550kg per metre
• Supplied in very compact ‘lay flat’ form on a drum or flaked in a crate.
• Can float pipes in little more water depth than pipe OD
• No stress or point loads applied to the pipe
• Low capital cost
• Minimal frontal area for long tows
• Low transport costs
• Extremely compact to ship and store
  
• Deploys from minimal deck space.

Manufactured (as always) from the highest quality performance fabrics under ISO 9001:2008 procedures certified by Lloyds QA, the Kraken is another good example of Seaflex innovation.

More Information

Kraken Pipeline Buoyancy Information Sheet

Kraken - Bahrain Hidd Pipeline Project