Pipelines: an overview

With increased flows and operating pressures and temperatures, it is vital to keep existing pipeline networks within their operating integrity. Failure to deliver the appropriate inspection and maintenance schedules and monitor the asset will lead to excessive down time. As we see all too often, failures – sometimes with catastrophic results – come as a direct result of limited maintenance budgets and or funding to keep these transportation systems in a healthy condition. Past limitations of pipeline inspections, especially where pipeline routes traverse sometimes hostile environments, have been somewhat overcome and made a lot more user friendly with the introduction of scada/cathodic protection monitoring systems and with the advent of utilisation of the pipe itself as the communication route. When introduced either on new construction pipelines or existing lines, the systems can be maintained from the maintenance engineer’s PC at his desk, while the ability to vary and control settings on remotely located cathodic protection equipment offers huge advantages in terms of time-savings, which greatly benefit all pipeline operations. The old method of having to drive the ‘right of way’ and check test points and rectifiers is becoming an outdated way of gaining the information needed to monitor the health of a pipeline. Keeping on top of pipeline integrity is a very important part of pipeline operations, and remote CP stations can now be tied into intelligent scada systems with auto control rectifiers that adjust the power requirements needed to protect the pipeline within the recommended parameters in that location. Clearly, with pipelines running in routes close to residential areas and commercial premises, the control of operations and maintenance requires a far higher level of monitoring and policing. This requires a greater level of service and staffing by the operator, which increases costs. Pipelines in these situations are required to be coated externally with sophisticated coatings with life-to-first-maintenance of 25+ years, in addition to CP systems and monitoring. Internal corrosion monitoring, using coupons to measure actual corrosion, is also used to gain a full perspective of the pipeline operations and performance.

With increased flows and operating pressures and temperatures, it is vital to keep existing pipeline networks within their operating integrity. Failure to deliver the appropriate inspection and maintenance schedules and monitor the asset will lead to excessive down time. As we see all too often, failures – sometimes with catastrophic results – come as a direct result of limited maintenance budgets and or funding to keep these transportation systems in a healthy condition.

Past limitations of pipeline inspections, especially where pipeline routes traverse sometimes hostile environments, have been somewhat overcome and made a lot more user friendly with the introduction of scada/cathodic protection monitoring systems and with the advent of utilisation of the pipe itself as the communication route. When introduced either on new construction pipelines or existing lines, the systems can be maintained from the maintenance engineer’s PC at his desk, while the ability to vary and control settings on remotely located cathodic protection equipment offers huge advantages in terms of time-savings, which greatly benefit all pipeline operations.

The old method of having to drive the ‘right of way’ and check test points and rectifiers is becoming an outdated way of gaining the information needed to monitor the health of a pipeline. Keeping on top of pipeline integrity is a very important part of pipeline operations, and remote CP stations can now be tied into intelligent scada systems with auto control rectifiers that adjust the power requirements needed to protect the pipeline within the recommended parameters in that location.

Clearly, with pipelines running in routes close to residential areas and commercial premises, the control of operations and maintenance requires a far higher level of monitoring and policing. This requires a greater level of service and staffing by the operator, which increases costs.

Pipelines in these situations are required to be coated externally with sophisticated coatings with life-to-first-maintenance of 25+ years, in addition to CP systems and monitoring. Internal corrosion monitoring, using coupons to measure actual corrosion, is also used to gain a full perspective of the pipeline operations and performance.

Anticorrosion Protective Systems has, since 1995, been operating a full rehabilitation service throughout the Middle East, India and Pakistan, and provides full coating and lining services for new and existing pipelines and cooling water systems. Based in Dubai, the company is strategically placed to meet all the requirements of both the oil and gas sectors coupled with water, power and desalinations operators in the region, together with wastewater and sewage.

Examples of APS’ current business include the rehabilitation of a three-meter diameter sewer line in India valued at US$24 million, as well as the installation of linings and external coatings to airport fueling facilities in the new Jebel Ali World Central Complex and Doha International New Airport Complex. Here, a new generation of polyurethane coatings are being widely received and accepted for direct burial situations by many of the major engineering companies in the region.

To ensure the systems that are specified are correctly installed – be it coatings or linings and monitoring systems and CP systems – APS recommends these should be integrated into the overall package. Selection of the contractor to provide these services is of paramount importance to the longevity of the pipeline, and thereby protection of the asset.

Throughout its wide network of Middle Eastern companies, APS provides unparalleled service and support for operators in both the maintenance and rehabilitation of pipelines; and for new construction, the company provides a fast coating service of pipe of up to 40-inches in diameter both internally and externally from its new pipe-coating facility located in Jebel Ali. Indeed, with full fabrication ability on large diameter sewer and water lines, APS can produce and retrofit segmented liners into a wide range of pipeline configurations throughout the region.

APS have just completed an installation of 4.3km of 70-112-inch diameter cooling water lines in Kuwait for a major operator, with a completion time of 21 days in a shutdown situation.

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