(WO) – Baker Hughes and Strohm are collaborating to develop and qualify a hybrid flexible pipe (HFP) designed for ultra-deepwater flowline and riser applications.
The system combines thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP) with conventional flexible pipe design, replacing the carcass, liner and pressure armor with TCP while retaining tension armor and end fittings. The resulting configuration is intended to deliver the strength of traditional flexible pipe with the reduced weight and corrosion resistance of TCP.
The HFP is expected to be approximately 50% lighter than conventional flexible pipe, reducing suspended weight by about 40% in water depths exceeding 3,000 m. The lower weight profile is aimed at easing installation constraints, allowing operators to use a broader range of existing vessels without requiring upgrades to handle higher tension loads.
“Baker Hughes’ flexible pipe systems are helping customers produce subsea resources safely and efficiently, even in the most demanding environments,” said Daniel Wright, global business leader for flexible pipe systems.
The technology is currently under development, with qualification testing underway. The companies expect the solution to be commercially available by 2028 as demand grows for cost-efficient development of ultradeepwater resources.
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