Infill materials of epoxy grout for pipeline rehabilitation and repair

Abstract

The oil and gas industry uses carbon steel pipelines as the basic element in transporting crude oil and gas. These pipelines are subjected to deterioration due to several factors, including third party damage, material and construction defects, natural forces and corrosion. Deterioration of underground pipelines due to corrosion can lead to serious pipeline failures such as leakage and explosion. Hence, methods to repair such damage have been developed in order to extend the durability of pipelines. This paper reports on the current development of infill materials of epoxy grouts used for pipeline external repair. Assessment of the defects should be completed by pipeline operators to identify list of parameters including pipeline operating characteristic, geometries and materials of pipeline, and configuration and location of pipeline to make the best option of repair techniques. Therefore, selection of an appropriate rehabilitation system is crucial in preventing the future failure of pipeline structure. A simple guideline is required to optimize the information in the selection of suitable materials for pipeline repair works. The selection of suitable materials will help in preventing the future failure of pipeline structures due to inappropriate selection of infill materials.