ODYSEA CEO Tanmay Desai describes Goldilocks insulation as "an innovative and game-changing technology solution for line pipe, field joints, and subsea structures that enables a much faster, safer, and high-quality thermal insulation system."

The insulation was applied to the flowline and riser pipes by ODYSEA for a global supermajor energy client in the Gulf of Mexico and installed in deep water by Subsea7's Seven Oceans reel lay vessel.

GDLX™ is a castable thermal insulation coating for subsea pipelines, field joints, and structures. Utilizing a unique molding process, ODYSEA can deliver a solution that significantly reduces the complexity of a time-intensive, multi-layer process. The solution is highly portable, which can enable in situ insulation in any location around the world. The technology is proven to generate less waste and allows clients to achieve their first oil sooner due to the ability to insulate pipes faster than traditional insulations.

The technology behind GDLX™ is made possible by ExxonMobil's Proxxima™ resin system, a polyolefin thermoset with super-low viscosity and a controllable fast cure. These resin systems have an exceptional balance of strength and toughness, are highly resistant to temperature and pressure, have no depth limitations, and are extremely hydrophobic, resisting water uptake that can otherwise damage insulation properties. 

This Gulf of Mexico project required specific and extensive validation, which ODYSEA met through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) process, multiple customer tests, and now through successful project execution. This thermal insulation coating has proven its resilience and reliability from laboratory tests to meet the client's expectations on high-pressure, high-temperature projects.

"The successful adoption of this new insulation technology was made possible by our collective commitment to innovation, as well as rigorous testing that ensured project certainty and timely delivery," said José Manuel Torres, SCM Technology Manager at Subsea7.