Pipeline Induction Heat Limited (PIH)

The Pipeline CentreFarrington RoadRossendale Road Industrial EstateBurnleyLancashireBB11 5SWUnited Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1282 415 323Fax: +44 (0) 1282 415 326

E-mail: sales@pih.co.ukWeb: www.pih.co.uk

Certificate No.25389

Fusion BondedEpoxy (FBE)Field Joint Coating

P ipeline Induction Heat Ltd (PIH), a CRC Evans Company is a contracting company

specialising in the onsite application of anti-corrosion coatings, heat treatment and other

support services during construction of onshore and offshore oil, gas and product pipelines.

The pipeline industry is characterised by rapid advances in automatic welding and

factory-applied linepipe coating technologies. Anticipating these trends requires PIH

to undertake innovative research and development to provide practical solutions, which

satisfy these stringent new standards. This has resulted in an expansion from PIH's traditional

induction heating business, into diverse activities involving the site application of sophisticated

pipeline joint anti-corrosion, thermal insulation and infill coating systems.

As the most experienced independent field joint coating contractor, PIH fully understands the

necessity for working alongside both main contractors and owners to provide a total project

service for field joint coating of their pipelines. On time, on budget and to specification are key

parameters in the PIH business philosophy. However, this is never allowed to overshadow the

primarily important factor of health and safety on construction worksites. Operating a fully BSI

accredited health and safety management system, PIH places primary focus on achieving zero

accidents both in the field and throughout the business operation.

As concern within the pipeline

industry becomes ever more

focussed on environmental

issues, PIH has worked hard to

develop new technologies and

application systems, which are

more efficient, reduce waste

and pose less of a threat to the

environment. Collaborating with

the main contractors, PIH has

developed automatic coating

machines that reduce over spray

and coating material losses during

application hence reducing if not eliminating any environmental impact. Similarly, PIH automatic tape

wrap systems reduce the use of powder technology so greatly reducing wastage and enhancing

operator safety.

For more than two decades PIH has worked with more main contractors than any other independent

field joint coating contractor. PIH has successfully completed millions of pipeline field joints on every

continent working in every environment. Using skills and experience now gained by the UK workforce

and its partners, PIH intends to face the future confident in their ability to drive the industry forward with

new and innovative technology in a technology driven sector. Safer and more efficient field joint coating

systems being constantly developed and implemented on projects worldwide with the aim of providing

clients with fully compliant solutions while maintaining PIH as the world's pre-eminent field joint coating

specialist.

Services to the Pipeline Industry

"PIH aims to provide the best specialist pipeline 'field joint' serviceworldwide, offering a complete end-to-end package of total in-housedesign, build and supervisory control to today's onshore and offshorepipelay contractor. We strive to provide the most reliable, cost effective

solutions within the rigorous time scales demanded of the industry,whilst maintaining the highest quality results.”

In single layer systems the powder is applied to the pipe by

the on-pipe rotating machines in a fixed number of passes to

a thickness of up to 800 microns (30 mils) and to a bandwidth of

around 450mm on wide joints. With dual layer systems the second

layer is applied with the same on-pipe rotating machine but via a different

feed during the gel time of the first layer of FBE. A permanent chemical bond is

established between the two layers of FBE, offering the best possible field joint characteristics.

Typical thickness of the dual layer system is up to 1,000 microns (40 mils) and the same

bandwidths as for single layer system.

For high speed overland pipeline work PIH

has developed a Catcoat machine, which

incorporates all the coating elements of the

system. The induction heating systems as well

as the powder feed system are all located on

an all terrain vehicle that can be used in a wide

variety of environmental conditions. An open

blasting spread will work out in front of the

coating rig to prepare the joints for coating.

For offshore and spoolbase applications,

PIH utilise closed cycle abrasive blasting as

well as a vacuum recovery system on the FBE

application machines to ensure a clean and

healthy environment in the vicinity of the

coating stations.

The Fusion Bonded Epoxy System

F usion bonded epoxy (FBE) is a

one part, heat curing (thermosetting)

powder. Its use as a line pipe coating

has been established for many years

and the application of a comparable

FBE material at the field joint is the

only way of ensuring compatible

anti-corrosion protection for the entire

pipeline length. Accordingly PIH has

pioneered the automatic application

of FBE to the field weld area.

These automatic machines ensure

repeatability of results for each field

joint by accurately applying the

appropriate amount of FBE material

to meet the requirements of the

specification. Hence material costs

are reduced and little if any powder

escapes to atmosphere protecting

both the environment and the field

operators.

• Superior adhesion to the pipe substrate

• Stability and resilience to higher pipeline

operating temperatures

• Stability and resilience to chemical

contaminants in sub-soil or sub-sea

environments

• Easy detection and repair of any holidays

in the field applied coating

• No shielding of the cathodic protection

system

• Good resistance to cathodic disbondment

• Total compatibility with the mill applied

FBE coating

• Can be applied as a single layer system or

a dual layer system, which offers greater

mechanical abrasion resistance

The FBE coated field joints offer:

“PIH has pioneered the automaticapplication of Fusion Bonded Epoxyto the field weld area.”

Fusion Bonded Epoxy Properties

Test Results

PIH Directory of ServicesSurface Preparation = Pipeline Field Joints

• Closed Cycle Abrasive Blasting system (CCAB)

• Manual / Expendable Abrasive Blasting

Fusion Bonded Epoxy “FBE” External Anti-Corrosion

Coating for Pipeline Field Joints

• FBE onshore / offshore

Multi Layer Polyethlene / Polypropylene External

Anti-Corrosion Coating for Pipeline Field Joints

• Heat shrink sleeve: using induction pre / post heat)

• Multi-Component Liquid "MCL" automatic spray

(i.e. Tar Urethane / Liquid Epoxy etc.)

• Polypropylene “PP” systems: Dual powder “FBE / CMPP”

/ PP tape / Co-extruded PP sheet etc.

Thermal Insulation Coating for Pipeline Field Joints

• Solid Injection Moulded IMPU elastomer systems

• Syntactic polyurethane “SPU” systems

Heat Treatment Services: for Pipeline Welding

• Pre-weld heating

• Interpass heating / Re-heat

• Post-weld heat treatment

• Lay barge induction heating installations

High Density Polyurethane Foam “HDPF” Field Joint Infill:

for Concrete Weight-Coated Pipelines, as an alternative to

hot-poured marine mastic

• Polyurethane foam systems “PUF”

• Aggregate polyurethane composite systems

Other General

• Supply of Lay-barge induction heating systems

• Development of equipment and processes for new generation of

anti-corrosion & thermal insulation external “field joint coating” systems

• Pipeline buoyancy control systems – saddlebag weights

Property Method Required RESULT

Holiday Holiday Pass 125V/mil (=5V/micron):PASS

Detection Detector = 2.25kV

Adhesion V-Cut No lifting or peeling PASS

CathodicASTM G8 & G42

48 hrs @ 60°C and -1.5V0.5 to 1.5mm

Disbondment Maximum 5mm

InterfaceCSA Z245.20-02 30% Maximum 10%

Contamination

Porosity CSA Z245.20-02 Rating 1 to 4 1 to 2

Hot Water Soak 24 hours at 90°C Rating 1 or 2 1

ImpactCSA Z245.20-02 No Holidays at 1.5 Joules Impact PASS

Resistance

Dual powder FBE field joint coating

Reproduced courtesy of 3M