Thordon bearings prove their worth in Abu Dhabi offshore platform pumps

[By: Thordon Bearings]

Thordon Bearings’ water lubricated elastomeric polymer bearings have been installed on oil well pumps on undisclosed offshore oil platforms operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

Five KSB three-stage mixed flow impeller type pumps were retrofitted with Thordon pump bearings – 13 SXL intermediate bearings, four composite bearings and one SXL throttle bearing – replacing the original silicon carbide bushings.

Dubai-based engineering firm Ocean Power International (OPI), Thordon’s authorized distributor in the Middle East, received a full supply directly from Thordon’s facility in Burlington, Canada, just 4 weeks after placing an order.

“The problem with silicon carbide bearings is that they have long lead times and are brittle, which means there is a risk of the bearing splintering and breaking. They are not that strong at all and are very expensive to replace,” OPI Managing Director Rafid Qureshi Say.

“In contrast, Thordon SXL and Composite bearings solve price and lead times, are very durable, and they are more environmentally friendly because they don’t require oil or grease.”

After OPI collected all parameters and reviewed the pump drawings, Thordon bearings were delivered smoothly within the stipulated timeframe, allowing the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) KSB to perform retrofit installation work and quickly commission the pump, avoiding any rig downtime.

KSB Abu Dhabi has now refurbished all five pumps with new Thordon bearings, the last of which was completed in August 2022. However, over the past 10 years, the company has been converting its pump bearings to Thordon polymer materials.

Michal Belina, Mechanical Engineer at KSB Service, said: “The technical and engineering specifications of the bearings met and exceeded expectations. Compared to the silicon carbide typically used in these vertical pumps, Thordon’s products are not only more cost-effective, but one of the biggest advantages is that Easy to machine. They have excellent wear resistance and the bearings have the correct clearance even after a few years of operation. We are so happy with this product that our main factory in Germany is now using Thordon bearings in our new pumps .”

As the original equipment manufacturer of the pump, KSB contracted ADNOC Offshore to repair and overhaul the pump, explains Anupam Paul, OPI’s Gulf Area Applications Sales Manager, “When the pump is removed and repaired and refurbished, KSB only has 10 to 14 days Doing repairs. We have a great relationship with the company and have a good amount of Thordon in stock, so whatever size a customer asks us for, it’s on the shelf and ready to ship.”

Given the long-term reliability of these units since the partnership with Thordon Bearings began in 2011, Qureshi said ADNOC will continue to use Thordon bearings in any compatible pump deployed on its platform in the future.

The products and services described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.