DeepFlex has signed an agreement with Offshore Inland Marine & Services, Inc. (OIMO) to set up a new unbonded flexible pipe manufacturing and qualification testing facility in the Port of Pensacola, Florida.
The industrial complex will have direct access to the existing deep water quayside, which has potential to serve the flexible pipe markets in the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, Europe, and Asia regions. The manufacturing and qualification testing facilities will create job opportunities in excess of 100 direct jobs and make a significant contribution to the City of Pensacola’s industrial and business growth.
The DeepFlex Pensacola Plant will initially have a manufacturing capacity of 100 normalized km/yr of unbonded flexible pipe to serve the rapid growth of offshore developments worldwide and will deliver the patented, high technology; composite fiber-reinforced flexible pipes to the most harsh subsea environments.
This new plant is one part of a major capital expenditure program to strengthen DeepFlex’s abilities in flexible pipe research, development, manufacturing, qualification testing, and delivery of customized solutions. The investment will reinforce DeepFlex’s leadership position in the composite fiber reinforced unbonded flexible pipe market.
Expected to be fully operational by 2H 2015, the plant’s primary focus will be the emerging ultra-deep water markets. The facility will have the capability of producing the complete product range of DeepFlex flexible pipes, including the all composite reinforced pipe structures (FFRP) and the hybrid (composite and steel) reinforced pipe (FHRP). The manufacturing site has been designed to allow for future expansion for the rapidly growing deepwater markets as well as for ever increasing product complexity.
Felipe Lamego, DeepFlex President & CEO stated: “Our new plant in Pensacola, benefiting from its strategic location and our leadership in composite fiber reinforced flexible pipes, will strengthen our global leadership in the research, development, industrialization and commercialization of advanced technology for the delivery of deep water enabling flexible pipe solutions. We look forward to the bright future ahead for this facility’s growth with the City of Pensacola and Offshore Inland.”