Member Article

World first for North Shields company in response to oil and gas industry cost-cutting

AIS, a manufacturer and energy services provider based in North Shields, is launching a new product which could shave hundreds of thousands of pounds off safety costs for the oil and gas industry.

Responding directly to industry feedback, AIS has re-engineered its Jet Fire Pro fire protection jacketing system to create the thinnest and lightest version on the market today, ultimately reducing overall project costs for operators.

At 35mm thick, the Jet Fire Pro’s unique engineered system insulates pipe work, valves, actuators and associated equipment against possible hydrocarbon and jet fires by withstanding temperature extremes of up to 1,250°C for 90 minutes.

These life-saving minutes delay the type of devastating pipe ruptures that occurred in the Piper Alpha disaster, giving people plenty of time to escape should the worst happen offshore.

This is the latest product innovation by AIS, which also offers a number of other systems that provide between 15-120 minutes of protection against the deadly spread of a hydrocarbon or jet fire.

Passive fire protection is compulsory offshore due to regulations introduced following Piper Alpha. AIS’s Jet Fire Pro is six times thinner than alternative fire protection systems making it considerably easier to fit, transport and maintain and therefore substantially reducing overall costs for oil and gas operators.

Months of research and development have gone into the system, which is manufactured at AIS’s state-of-the-art, fully automated fabrication facility in North Shields. It uses highly technological materials such as those developed by NASA, to vastly reduce overall weight and size whilst maintaining technical performance.

As well as boasting an operating capacity of between -60°C and 1,250°C, the Jet Fire Pro has a special weather layer which has super hydrophobic values to repel water. By preventing moisture from infiltrating pipe work, the system eliminates corrosion under insulation (CUI) and extends the life of the structure.

Head of AIS Technical, Chris Evans, said: “The oil and gas industry is undergoing vast changes and the feedback from our clients suggests that innovation, efficiency and cost savings are key.

“We’re known for our forward-thinking and rapid response to industry challenges and this latest product innovation has been developed with these key factors in mind. Many operators were finding that existing PFP systems were over-engineered for their needs and they simply didn’t need 120 minutes of protection to maintain safety levels.

“In response, we’ve stripped back our existing Jet Fire Pro product to make it the thinnest and lightest on the market, at the same time as retaining its technical excellence.

“As well as making it easier and up to 75% quicker to manufacture and install, the product’s reduced weight and thickness means we save on reduced material, shipping and storage costs. We are then able to pass these cost savings directly onto our clients.

“We’re continuing to respond to customer feedback and will soon be launching a new innovation hub in Aberdeen where we’ll work closely with customers to continue to find more innovative solutions to meet tomorrow’s challenges.”

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