Summary
Current and future applications for titanium and its alloys for offshore drilling have been examined. Successful applications were shown for heat exchangers, valves, pumps, and chlorination systems. Future applications especially for deepwater drilling, marine risers, pre-stressed riser connectors, fixtures, and fittings were shown to be excellent possibilities. The cost of titanium was indicated to be reduced and in some cases more than competitive, especially in terms of maintenance reduction and improved operation. Since titanium and its alloys are excellent materials for offshore oil drilling operations, it is suggested that the titanium industry be alerted to demands in order to ensure timely availability.
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Additional information
Dennis F. Hasson, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402.
Dr. Hasson received a BES (mechanical) from the Johns Hopkins University, MS (aeronautical) from Virginia Poly1echnic Institute, and PhD (engineering materials) from the University of Maryland. He is a registered professional engineer and was active for 12 years in aerospace R&D with NASA before his return to academia. He is presently working in the areas of corrosion fatigue resistance of aluminum metal matrix composites and stress relief embrittlement in high strength alloy steel. He is a member of The Metallurgical Society of AIME.
C. Robert Crowe, Senior Research Metallurgist, Research and Technology Department, Naval Surface Weapons Center, White Oak, Maryland 2091 O.
Dr. Crowe received his BS and MS in metallurgy from the University of Tennessee and his PhD in engineering materials from the University of Maryland. He is currently involved in research into mechanical and corrosion behavior of metal matrix composites in marine environments, and has also conducted research on a wide variety of phenomena in phase transformations, mechanical behavior, and corrosion behavior in metals and alloys. He is a member of The Metallurgical Society of AIME.
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Hasson, D.F., Crowe, C.R. Titanium for Offshore Oil Drilling. JOM 34, 23–28 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03337975
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03337975