NATURE OF DEFECT
The 16″ hydrocarbon pipeline had suffered from extensive external corrosion, resulting in multiple areas of wall loss along the line. The lowest recorded remaining wall thickness was 1.5mm. The client required a composite repair solution to restore the integrity of the pipeline and prevent further deterioration.
REPAIR METHOD
The repair area was surface prepped and cleaned prior to installation. Areas of corrosion were rebuilt and profiled using Herculyte repair materials before applying a Dragon resin bonding coat. The pipeline was then wrapped with 6 layers of Dragon Q-STD composite over the full repair length. The repair was compression wrapped, heat cured, hardness tested and coated with a protective finish.
CONCLUSION
Metalyte Pipeworks successfully completed a 17-metre composite repair to the 16″ hydrocarbon pipeline. The repair restored the integrity of the corroded pipework without requiring pipe replacement and provided long-term protection against further external corrosion. The completed repair allowed the asset to remain in service whilst extending the operational life of the pipeline.
