Pipeline insulation in the Arctic -- Mitigation corrosion without coatings
- BP Exploration Alaska, Anchorage, AK (United States)
- ARCO Alaska Inc., Anchorage, AK (United States)
- Exxon Co. USA, Anchorage, AK (United States)
Since 1986, Prudhoe Bay oil companies have experienced costly problems associated with corrosion under polyurethane insulation (CUI) on their above ground pipelines. Most CUI on new pipelines was mitigated in 1988 by specifying that only foamed in place polyurethane insulation be used on the uncoated pipelines. However, CUI continued to occur at the weld pack areas on pipelines with foamed in place insulation. An intensive study was performed to determine the optimum weld pack insulation system for North Slope pipelines. Forty-seven different weld pack systems were constructed on sections of 6 in. pipe. The pipe was internally heated and tested for 12 months in a cold box that was intermittently flooded and drained. The test conditions simulated freeze thaw conditions on the North Slope. Several weld pack systems were found to be technically acceptable, two were found to be optimum considering economics and ease of application and one was recommended for new construction projects.
- OSTI ID:
- 128724
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950304-; TRN: IM9550%%109
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Corrosion `95: National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) international annual conference and corrosion show, Orlando, FL (United States), 26-31 Mar 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Corrosion/95 conference papers; PB: 5788 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Cryogenic pipeline system
800 miles to Valdez: the building of the Alaska pipeline