Pipe coating is removed by waterjet technology

Journal Article · Mon Nov 14 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6542273

Chapman, G ^[1]

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1. CUPS Inc., S. Houston, TX (US)

El Paso Natural Gas Co. (EPNG) has recently employed high-pressure waterjet technology to remove pipeline corrosion and coatings as part of its ongoing maintenance program. New technology. The use of high pressure waterjets is an improvement on the older use of brushes and scrapers to clean pipe.. In some cases, the coating was removed by hand with hammers and machetes. Further cleaning was followed by sandblasting. In the waterjet process, spinning waterjets encompass the pipe. Water velocity varies from 18,000 to 35,000 psi with the velocity of water out of the nozzle having been measured at Mach II. Water and coating debris flow off in a slurry when removed from the pipe. El Paso has designed a collection pan to fit under the machine. When the outer wrap and coating are removed, the debris is caught in the pan and flows through a trough into the ditch, resulting in a clean right of way. The majority of coating consisted of about 80% coal tar, while the remainder was asphalt coating. Where maintenance had been performed previously, the replacement pipe was coated with a polyethylene tape.

• OSTI ID: 6542273
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 86:46; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
ASPHALTS
BITUMENS
CLEANING
COAL TAR
COATINGS
CORROSION PROTECTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HIGH PRESSURE
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
JETS
MAINTENANCE
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PIPELINES
PROTECTIVE COATINGS
REMOVAL
TAR
WATER