Baker Hughes has launched its next generation onshore composite flexible pipe to address the corrosion and cost of ownership challenges with conventional steel pipe for the energy, oil and gas and industrial sectors.

According to the company, the flexible, lightweight reinforced thermoplastic pipe (RTP) offers an economic and environmentally superior alternative to resource-intensive onshore steel pipes, for optimising the core structure of flowline and oil and gas pipeline networks.

A key feature of the pipe is its proven spoolable design, making it easier, faster and more cost-effective to transport and install versus steel pipe – reducing installed costs by more than 20 per cent. Installation also requires fewer onsite support facilities and heavy vehicles, de-risking operations, taking up less width on a pipeline right-of-way and reducing environmental impact on surrounding land.

“This pipe is the result of our strategic investments for growth in innovative non-metallic materials,” said Hatem Haidar, global vice president of flexible pipe systems – onshore at Baker Hughes.

“We are committed to supporting safer, more efficient and cost-effective technical solutions to serve the energy sectors, and non-metallics play a key role. We see flexible pipe as a vital component of today and tomorrow’s energy and industrial sectors – enabling the transport of multiple energy sources, including hydrogen and natural gas,” he added.

Baker Hughes’ onshore composite flexible pipe offers an economic solution for the transport of CO2 and hydrogen, as well as the conversion of existing infrastructure to carry gases.

The composite pipe will be manufactured at Baker Hughes’ state-of-the-art facility in Houston, Texas. With a 400,000-sq-ft footprint, the facility will provide 3-4 times additional manufacturing capacity compared to Baker Hughes’ current capacity for flexible pipe solutions.