Petroleum pipelines may become weakened by external damage and forces such as corrosion or dents. When this occurs, it may be necessary for the pressure in the line to be reduced, meaning loss of product movement. Current methods of repairing this type of damage are usually accomplished by replacing a section of the pipe, welding a reinforcement or containment sleeve around the damaged area, or by installing a pipe clamp. Some of these repair methods require the shut down of system. Having to shut down the line can be very costly as well as cause a serious interruption in production. Recent advances in composite technology have produced an alternative way to repair these types of damage, without the need for a shutdown.

Using this knowledge of advanced composite systems, we have developed and perfected the use of composites for the repair and rehabilitation of infrastructure components.  Strong and lightweight, composites offer an excellent alternative to conventional methods.   They are resistant to corrosion and chemical attack, have strength characteristics similar to steel, and can be customized to meet your requirements.   

The DOT has amended documentation (49 CFR Parts 192 and 195) that allows damaged piping to be "repaired by a method that reliable engineering tests and analyses show can permanently restore the serviceability of the pipe"¹. In addition, ASME has amended their B31.4 piping code to include composites as a method to repair pipelines. This can be found in Section 451.6.2 of the 1998 edition of the B31.4 code. ASME has also formed a committee to set qualification standards for composites used to repair piping built under B31.1, B31.3, B31.4, and B31.8. It is currently available in print from ASME.

Both of the these highly recognizable agencies have reviewed enough data on composites to allow them to be used. Through extensive research and design, Aquawrap® has been proven to be a reliable method for repairing external pipeline damage such as corrosion and dents. Various tests have been completed to qualify the material, some of which were:

• Tensile Strength

• Tensile Modulus

• Compressive Strength

• Long Term Creep Testing

• Interlaminar Shear

Having in house testing equipment allows us to continually check the quality of our product so that it meets our standards. These tests are further qualified by destructive testing. Field tests have shown that using Aquawrap^® can restore piping with as much as 80% wall loss back to a condition to which its MAOP can be safely maintained. Pressures beyond MAOP and up to the SMYS of the piping can also be achieved when necessary. 

Any diameter piping can be repaired with Aquawrap^®, and the number of required layers can be easily determined based on the given parameters of the defect and the line. Using all our extensive test data, we are able to calculate the number of layers that are required. We take into account defect depth, length, type of damage, pipe size, wall thickness, tensile strengths, etc. to make our calculations. Field tests have proven that these designs are reliable and conservative.

Proper installation methods are crucial to a acceptable repair. Installation technicians are trained by qualified personnel and are evaluated with using hands-on and written criteria. Methods of installation require step-by-step procedures which should be followed closely. Click here for an overview of a typical installation.

Pipeline safety in America is important to everyone. Aquawrap^® has been proven itself to be a dependable method of repairing piping and we make every effort to ensure our products meet our specifications on every production run. A reliable product leads to a safe repair, which can make a difference to all who come in contact with the system.

Aquawrap^® ... Strengthening Your Future...  Layer by Layer