Castrol transaqua sp fluid for subsea control system.

Subsea control system protection for a new world

Castrol has launched the next generation subsea control fluid . Castrol Transaqua SP (System Protection) is a pioneering formulation designed to simplify subsea operations and offer enhanced system protection compared to products currently on the market. Improvements in system protection should lead to increased component reliability.

Control fluids are one of the most complex moving parts in a subsea system, so reliability is essential. The control fluid has to work with equipment such as christmas trees, subsea pumps, multiple valves, umbilicals, wellheads and intelligent completions transfering power, lubricating, dealing with contamination and protecting the equipment from degradation in a wide range of temperatures and pressures on the ocean floor.

Excellent materials compatibility

Castrol Transaqua SP shows excellent compatibility with a wide range of materials  such as elastomers, plastics, metals and completion fluids, and demonstrably superior vapour phase corrosion performance that limits corrosion of equipment in storage. Our new subsea control fluid provides system protection through build, storage and in operation, leading to improved equipment life and reliability.

Best-in-class stability 

Castrol Transaqua SP shows excellent compatibility with commonly used completion fluids. This is important during critical  well installation activities when fluid mixing may occur, potentially leading to line blockages and costly remediation. Castrol has designed Transaqua SP to have class-leading stability with seawater; up to 50% at seabed conditions of 5°C with critical additives remaining in the solution and providing continuous protection of system materials from degradation. Castrol Transaqua SP is thermally stable, tested in conditions up to 160°C, allowing for safe operation at temperatures between -50°C and 150°C. 

Environmentally acceptable

Transaqua SP has been designed to meet the most stringent environmental legislation.  It is fully OSPAR compliant and categorised in the UK as posing the least potential environmental hazard to the marine environment with an OCNS group E classification and no substitution warning, along with a “Yellow” rating in Norway. Environmental testing has  been completed in many geographies worldwide.

The fluid has been rigorously tested by Castrol’s industry-leading research and development team, and has undergone over 130,000 hours of screening. Transaqua SP has API 17F (3rd Edition)/ISO13628-6 Annex C, API 17E/ISO13628-5 industry standards and has also qualified with major industry equipment manufacturers (TRL 5).

Transaqua SP is now being made available across Castrol’s global supply network.