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: [email protected]: 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
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