When transporting millions of barrels of oil, even a minor component failure can cost dearly. That’s where our experience and expertise in the industry comes into play: this time, in the manufacture of SPM bearing covers for a repeat customer in oil and gas.
Those outside the oil and gas bubble might not have heard of SPM buoys. But they play critical role in transporting oil and gas from seabed to shore. Single Point Moorings, or SPMs, are buoys that are anchored and float offshore to facilitate the loading and unloading of liquid cargo (oil and natural gas), between rigs, tankers and processing facilities.
As it would be too dangerous for tankers to pull up close to the rig, SPMs allow tankers to moor miles away from the rig and load oil and gas via flexible, underwater hoses.
Who is the customer and what did they require?
Operating for nearly 30 years, our customer is a leading offshore energy customer specialising in the design, construction and installation of SPM buoys and their auxiliary systems. Their services focus on delivering the highest standards of safety, efficiency and quality for their customers in the loading, unloading and transportation of crude oil.
Part of what makes SPM buoys work so well is their ability to rotate, and in doing so, accommodate the movement of the sea and the tanker. This makes the integrity of internal components like bearings essential for their function and safety.
We’ve been the trusted rubber supplier for our customer for over 15 years now, so when they came to us in need of custom-made covers to protect the bearings inside the buoys from dust, grime, and saltwater, we were more than happy to help.
Walker Rubber's solution
Given our extensive experience with this customer and existing designs and tooling we had on file, we swiftly quoted, manufactured and shipped the bearing covers.
For the material, as with many oil and gas applications, we selected Nitrile for its excellent resistance to aromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum oils. Nitrile is also a great choice for its good tensile strength and compression set properties to ensure our customer received a durable, long-lasting solution they could rely on for years to come.
The benefits of working with Walker Rubber
1. Customisation
As is necessary when building and installing SPM buoys, our customer required bespoke products made to their exact specification. We provided highly specialised bearing covers tailored to the customer’s application, including the precise dimensions and appropriate material selection for the conditions. With designs on our system, our customer also has the option to efficiently make adjustments to meet the needs of future projects.
2. Speed
Having us as their rubber supplier for many years, we have a deep understanding of our customer’s projects and requirements. Coupled with having their previous designs and tooling to hand, our customer benefitted from reduced time to quote and manufacture, as well as less back and forth, meaning we could deliver the components promptly to fit around their busy schedule.
3. Reliability
By building trust through our long-standing relationship and track record of on-time delivery, our customer knew they could count on us to deliver the right parts when and where they were needed. Because our products are designed to withstand harsh marine environments, our customer has peace of mind that our bearing covers will help ensure their SPM buoys operate efficiently and safely in harsh conditions.
Need rubber for an oil and gas project? We can help
Walker Rubber has extensive experience manufacturing bespoke components for the oil and gas sector, including hatch seals, pontoon fendering, dock fendering, rig extrusions, mooring fendering and much more.
We tailor our manufacturing methods and materials to every unique project to cope with the extreme conditions and protect the performance of our customers’ highly specialised equipment.
Get in touch today for a free consultation on your next oil and gas project and learn more about how our products can support your operations. We look forward to working with you!