A composite jumper designed and manufactured by Strohm (formerly known as Airborne Oil & Gas) is to feature in deep-sea mining technology being developed by offshore contractor Allseas, the pipe technology company says.

Allseas’ deep-sea collection system technology has been designed to responsibly recover polymetallic nodules from the seabed at depths of 4,000-6,500 m.

This is the first time Strohm’s Thermoplastic Composite Pipe (TCP) solution will be used in a deep-sea mining application.

Under the agreement, Strohm will provide Allseas with a spoolable TCP Jumper to connect the seabed vehicle to the vertical transport system.

“TCP is 80% lighter in weight compared to its metallic equivalents, reducing the need for buoyancy, which is an important benefit for deepsea mining activities,” the company says.

Manufactured at Strohm’s facility in The Netherlands and delivered in long spoolable lengths, TCP is fitted with an abrasion-resistant liner which provides a distinct advantage over short, flanged rubber-based pipes typically deployed for slurry transport operations, the company says. The jumper’s inner bore is also extremely smooth, and its strong composite wall provides good collapse resistance while maintaining sufficient flexibility.

Oliver Kassam, Strohm CEO, said: “We are extremely pleased to secure this contract with Allseas. The appeal of TCP to this sector underlines its versatility and suitability compared to steel reinforced, rubber alternatives, increasing the company’s growth potential further across the energy transition.

“For this project, TCP’s lower carbon credentials are in tandem with the overarching strategy to impose minimum impact on the environment. Our technology is proven to reduce the CO2 footprint of pipeline infrastructures by more than 50%, and is completely impervious to corrosion, making it a sustainable solution with a long lifecycle.

“TCP was first implemented by the oil and gas sector in 2007, and we have enjoyed zero failures to date making it an extremely reliable technology; it is also completely recyclable.”