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The article reports that heat transfer compound (HTC) is a viscous mastic designed to fill small air gaps between the tracing element and the object to be heated and is effective at transferring heat than static air, but it has relatively poor thermal conductivity compared to the other components in a steam tracing system. It mentions information on high-performance steam tracing technologies were tested which includes fluid tracing system (FTS) and carbon steel tracing (CST).

The article focuses on the nondestructive performance of heat sensors developed by Mathis Instruments Ltd. The company has developed a new noninvasive thermal effusivity sensor. It is claimed to provide speed, accuracy and flexibility in determining heat-transferring characteristics for various materials. Sensors rapidly and nondestructively measure thermal effusivity and conductivity-unique properties related to a material's ability to transfer heat. Measurements are made in seconds rather than hours. Sensors are highly portable and adaptable and can be used for quality control of materials in the laboratory, during production and for finished product testing.

The article reports that DeepSea Engineering & Management Ltd. has developed approaches to improve performance of gas pipelines using pipe-in-pipe (PiP) systems. As more multiphase hydrocarbons are produced from deepwater fields and transported long distances, flow assurance becomes more critical. Flow assurance requires management of a range of factors from hydrates, waxes, paraffin and asphaltenes to scale, corrosion, sand/erosion, etc. The systems are thermally efficient, with extremely low U-values, reliable, and a proven technology for both shallow and deepwater systems that require a low overall heat transfer coefficient, but their increased cost and weight is a significant penalty in deep water. In waters 3,000 ft or deeper, and particularly with flowline lengths of 6 miles or more, substantial cost benefits can be achieved. It is compatible with all forms of pipe-in-pipe systems, and provides a simpler and less expensive field joint system. It also addresses three aspects of PIP systems, thermal performance, installation and structural reliability