UNITED KINGDOM
Pipe Details
- 152-mm (6-inch) Butane Jetty Line
- 200-mm (8-inch) Propane Jetty Line
Summary
- External corrosion on 152-mm (6-inch) and 200-mm (8-inch) import jetty lines
- Pit depths in the lines were up to 5.5 mm (0.22 inch) amounting to 70% wall loss
- Trained local contractors carried out repairs, installing Snap Wrap to restore straight line sections.
- Snap Wrap repairs were completed in only 30 minutes
- Pipes with complex geometries were treated with Contour
Jetty line safety inspections are routine, and assets regularly undergo evaluation to determine their integrity. During a routine inspection of the 152-mm (6-inch) butane and 200-mm (8-inch) propane lines servicing a jetty in the North Sea, the company discovered external corrosion. The pipelines, which are installed beneath the jetty roadway, had sustained damage from the continuous dripping of rainwater from the access roadway above. Pit depths on the lines measured as much as 5.5 mm (0.22 inch) in depth, equating to 70% wall loss in some sections of the pipe.
Recognizing the safety threat posed by this level of corrosion, the company immediately mobilized to repair and restore the lines, evaluating options and determining that CSNRI composite repairs offered the best solution in terms of efficacy and efficiency.
A team of CSNRI repair experts visited the site, assessed the corrosion damage, and recommended a program for repair. Based on damage to both straight pipe and pipes with tight radius bends, the team specified both the Snap Wrap and Contour repair systems.
The Contour repair restored the lines to full strength so safe operations could resume.
While the problem was complex, the solution was straightforward. A local contractor, already fully trained in CSNRI application techniques, carried out the installations to restore the lines to working order.
The first step was to grit-blast the defective areas, cleaning them to an SA 2.5 condition, which required metal blast cleaning to remove all rust, coating, and mill scale to produce a near-white surface prior to the application of the Snap Wrap. When the pipes were properly cleaned, the repair team applied Snap Wrap to the straight sections.
The 30-minute-long installation process effectively restored the lines to safe operating condition.
With the first repairs completed, the team turned its attention to the line sections with bends and unusual geometry. Most of the sections introduced some sort of installation variable, such as limited clearance, tight access for the installers, and complex geometries. These were repaired with the Contour repair system, using a ‘wet layup’ application and a ‘peel ply’ covering that protected the repair while it cured. Contour uses toughened epoxy resins and stitched fabric engineered and design to restore the structural integrity to its original condition. The number of layers or thickness is calculated based on design standards found in both ISO and ASME.
