Larox Tailor-made Solutions Excel in Offshore Bulk Handling

Extreme weather conditions, salty atmosphere and uncompromising reliability demands of offshore customers have determined Larox to be the preferred valve choice in offshore bulk handling systems around the world. Bulk discharge and storage tanks are typical applications where Larox valves have made process to run smoothly.

Cement, Bentonite and Barite are common media used in drilling operations. Cement is used in making concrete for the support of casing, and Bentonite and Barite are used for making drilling mud. In addition to cool and lubricate the drill bit, the purpose of mud is to keep the bore hole pressure under control. Usually, a bulk system consists of two separate, but quite similar systems: the cement system, which supplies the cementing unit and the Bentonite/Barite system that supplies the mud unit.

A typical bulk system has four storage tanks, 100 m3 each, which are loaded with raw materials via pneumatic conveying from the rig loading station. During filling, air and dust from storage tanks are evacuated to the dust cyclone and dust collector. The bulk material in the bottom of the storage tanks  is fluidized and pneumatically conveyed to the surge tanks. Typical flow rate 0-120 t/h.

Larox Flowsys Valves in the Process

Larox valves have proven their reliability in the toughest conditions as they are especially designed for on-off and control applications involving abrasive powders. Bulk cement is extremely abrasive causing wear in conventional butterfly valves. Larox valve benefits include 100% tight shut-off, full bore, no jamming or scaling, simple construction and low maintenance cost.

Several oil rigs, that are in operation or under construction as well as other offshore installations with drilling facilities have today Larox valves installed as bulk discharge valves and storage tank ventilation valves. Typical solutions are 125 and 150 mm valves with pneumatic actuation for on/off and control facilities with local operating possibility, tailor-made to fit customer needs. Pictured below bulk systems in general. The Cement and Barite/Bentonite systems are otherwise similar but Cement goes finally to the cement unit and Barite/Bentonite to the mud unit.