Internal coating | corrosion protection
Corrosion is one of the biggest threats to pipeline integrity Caroline A Fisher and James A Huggins discuss the corrosion prevention benefi ts of robotic internal joint coating
Internal corrosion prevention using robotic technology
The threat of internal corrosion to a pipeline is not merely probable, but palpable. With almost 52,800 km (120,000 miles) of international pipelines planned and under construction1
the importance of corrosion
prevention should not go unheeded. The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is as relevant for the pipeline construction industry as any other. Pipelines built right the fi rst time are more likely to meet the owner’s requirements for return on investment, longevity and environmental (corrosion) diligence. Internal fi eld joint coating technology, such as that developed by CRTS, provides one more ounce of cure to the corrosion threat. Why should pipeline companies consider internally
coating fi eld joints? Corrosion is one of the single biggest threats to a thriving pipeline industry and economic analysis can be used to develop strategies that mitigate risks and improve performance. In fact, many companies coat their pipes but allow the internal fi eld joint (IFJ) to remain bare, making it the pipeline’s weakest link. That decision is often made based on some basic misconceptions about robotic IFJ coating technology:
IFJ coating may be considered to be unavailable or simply impossible for a specifi c application, when it has in fact been successfully applied on both onshore and offshore projects for more than 30 years. It may be considered to be too slow, when round-the-clock working has pushed production rates to new highs. An IFJ coating may also be considered too expensive or not worth the additional effort or investment. In fact, application of an internal coating adds a modest 10-13% to the typical overall project cost; IFJ coating accounts for 3-4% of that overall cost, contributing to a high return on investment. That additional investment can also be offset by reduced pipeline fl ow friction, reduced internal corrosion, and enhanced environmental protection. All are examples of preventive medicine that can actively reduce repair and rehabilitation.
Benefi ts of IFJ coating Each project, whether onshore or offshore, has unique challenges but, overall, almost any pipeline can achieve maximum corrosion protection with IFJ coating. The technology offers pipeline operators a range of benefi ts: IFJ coating acts as a corrosion protection and can
May 2013 | PIPELINE COATING 35 Main image:
The grit-blasted and vacuumed surface of an internal pipe girth weld ready for robotic
application of the corrosion protection coating
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