Completion of unscheduled repair

Published:  31 January, 2014

SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts a leading supplier of selective plating technology and solutions, has worked with a leader in oilfield products and services, National Oilwell Varco to repair critical damage caused by a lightning strike on the Ensco 8505 drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico within 24 hours of arrival on site, preventing costly unplanned downtime.

Significant damage was caused to the crown mounted compensator (CMC) cylinder when lightning struck the rig. The CMC is a device used to apply a constant tension to the drill string and compensate for any rig movement. The solution was found in SIFCO ASC’s plating process, using SIFCO’s AeroNikl 7280 for corrosion protection, and Cobalt 2043 to cap the repair for hardness to protect against surface wear.

The Process involves a portable method of electroplating localised areas without using an immersion tank.

SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts +1 800 765 4131 www.sifcoasc.com