West Africa
Pipe Details
- Multiple through-wall defects in a 203-mm (8-in) diameter main firewater line
- 8.17 mm (0.32 in) original wall thickness
Summary
- Multiple through-wall defects in a 203-mm (8-in) diameter main firewater line
- Two CSNRI trained technicians completed the repair in 2 days
- No hot work was required during the Contour installation
Workers on an offshore platform discovered multiple through-wall defects at a bend on the main firewater line when they pressurized the line and it failed. The decision was made to repair the line immediately to mitigate the risks associated with a compromised system.
The operator wanted a leak repair solution that would restore safe operation until the line could be replaced at the next planned shutdown. The answer was CSNRI Contour (now ThermoWrap), an engineered wet-applied repair system that uses bi-axial or quad-axial stitched fiberglass cloth applied in a wet-lay system with two-part epoxy and a filler material.
CSNRI trained and certified installers moved to the installation site to execute the composite repair, removing the coating on the damaged line using power tools and using a bristle blaster to produce the required surface profile, equivalent to SA2.5.
With the line prepared, installers applied a Contour repair designed in accordance with ISO 24817, which outlines requirements and recommendations for qualifying, designing, installing, testing and inspecting the external application of composite repair systems to corroded or damaged pipework, pipelines, tanks, and vessels used in the petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas industries.
Following the established installation process, the team applied filler material to the holes, followed by epoxy and quad-axial stitched fiberglass cloth.
Two installers completed the repair in 2 days, ensuring that the firewater line would be able to operate safely until the next planned shutdown.
The installation met the operator’s expectations of minimized disrupting to operations and without the need for welding or heavy lifting on the worksite.