With the global cost of corrosion at 3 percent of GNP, its management and prevention can make or mar contractors. Anticorrosion Protective Systems LLC (APS) Managing Director, Graham Young shares his insights on his company's experiences in this line for last 27 years.
The Importance of Correct Coating Liner Selection Operating as we have for 27 years in the Gulf from our Dubai Headquarter we have seen the market go from paying extremes of price in the early 80's just to have systems installed on a "yesterday basis" to the sometimes ridiculously low prices driven by project cost control in the last 10 years which in many cases ended in total financial disaster to many companies.
Selection of linings and coatings for specific environments is what Anticorrosion Protective Systems LLC (APS) are particularly good at with our structured specialised management and personnel who have come from different specific backgrounds we bring to the market place collectively over 120 years of experience and knowledge.
With the buzzwords of "Life Cycle Maintenance" and "Asset Integrity Management" upper most in every operators mind correct selection of both Contractor and Specific Lining/Coating Systems is of paramount importance.
The global cost of corrosion is 3 per cent of GNP and this can only be brought down by the selection process and ensuring that when budgets are put in place they reflect the true cost of the materials and installation, this is something all to often where we see problems occurring at the early stages of a project.
When APS were brought in to assist in the specification on the "Burj Hotel Project we enlisted the help of Jotun Paints Dubai to ensure that the Systems put into place would provide a life to first maintenance of 15-20 years. This also come with an 'insured guarantee' for 10 years held by a specialised European Insurance Company.
When these provisions are made the project will develop with high levels of quality and performance of the Coating System utilised will be assured.
APS are currently majoring in many pipeline projects extending throughout the Gulf with a major Seawater Rehabilitation Project in Kuwait of 9.3km of various diameter pipe ranging from 36" to 72"? with the pipe liner all being manufactured by APS in the Emirates.
With the installation of HDPE Liners into existing Pipelines for water injection in Qatar for the major operator there.
With the installation of internal lining and external coating for many Jet Fuel Systems throughout the Emirates and Oman for both Commercial Airfields and Military Operations. In these situations we have developed the use of Rapid Set Polyurethane Coatings for direct burial Pipe Lines and these are now widely accepted by many Operators in the Oil and Gas business both on and offshore.
In addition to the Pipeline coating APS offer a full design/ installation service for Cathodic Protection Systems as back up to the coating scheme.
APS has completed installation of coating to the Fujairah to Swiehan Water Pipeline 380Km x 64" together with the full Cathodic Protection System.
We are involved in Oman with a major Water Pipeline Rehabilitation Project with the Oman Authorities which will run for 2 plus years.
We are currently coating the new Dubai Airport Fuel Hydrant Lines on Concourse II Project for Jet Fuel and also a new Jet Fuel Line for Eppco in Jebel Ali where the Pipeline is being relocated due to the upcoming Dubai Light Railway.
In the areas where HDPE insulated lines being used for the transportation of chilled water APS has developed the 'Power Joint' System to carry out an effective Pipe Jointing System where Pre-insulated Pipe Systems are used to get away from Shrink Sleeve Systems which have been ineffective in stopping the ingress of water at certain locations.
To date APS have completed the Palm Island Crescents, Mall of the Emirates and IBN Battuta Mall networks.
For the last five to six years, it has moved into renovation of pipelines with the help of HDPE, which is rapidly becoming the norm for utility and distribution network. The rehabilitation of leaking and structurally defective pipelines represents a major part of APS utility and pipeline services. The revenue comes 50 per cent from oil and gas and 50 per cent from water and sewage. In the last five years, growth has come from the enhancement of activity in the water sector.
APS would offer a full technical design advisory service to Clients who wish to develop the correct Coating/Lining situation for the project and we would direct any one who wishes to avail to themselves of the service to contact Graham Young (04-3372877).
The company's products and services include:
External Coating & Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation of the external surfaces of buried or surface pipework is another vital aspect of maintaining the integrity of a pipeline structure. APS undertakes a full range of field excavation, surface preparation, composite structural repairs, coating and reinstatement services on any diameter of carbon steel oil, gas or water transmission pipeline.
The rehabilitation of leaking and structurally defective pipelines represents a major part of APS utility and pipeline services. Because the company has a wide range of rehabilitation capabilities and holds regional licences for several of the world's leading rehabilitation technologies, it is ideally placed to help select the right technical and commercial reasons. At the same time, remaining independent from any one manufacturer or system enables our engineers to provide truly unbiased recommendations based solely on sound technical and commercial sense. The internal pipeline rehabilitation systems operated by APS include the following techniques:
Swagelining: The patented British Gas (BG Plc) system enables the ultra-tight fit lining of host mains with new HDPE pipes in sections of up to 1 km in length. Diameters from 2 in. to 48 in. can be accommodated.
Sliplining: The relining of defective gravity and pressure pipes with a new, slightly smaller structural pipe liner, usually HDPE, but segmented GRE or even steel can be considered.
Field joints: Modern hot spray plural component high build coatings offer exceptional properties for use as field joint coatings. With excellent overlap adhesion to factory applied polythelene or polypropylene coatings and rapid thermosetting characteristics, APS field joints can be ditched and backfilled in a matter of minutes after the coating is complete.
Pipebursting: The size for size replacement or upsizing of existing buried pipelines and services using a hydraulic or pneumatic bursting head with simultaneous insertion of a new pipeline.
Cured in place liners: Resin impregnated liners towed or inverted into position, expanded to form a tight fit with the host pipe and then cured using pressure and heat or ultra-violet light.
Flexible tubing: Ideal for mid range diameters, manhole to manhole where a reduction in diameter is permissible.
Man entry sewer, storm-water and tunnel linings: Panel Lok is without doubt the world's leading man entry UPVC spiral wound liner. It is fast, economic, and it accommodates any shape of pipe, and provides a permanent, structural repair.
Manhole repairs and refurbishment: So often forgotten when planning sewer renovations, the manhole represents an equally important facet of a sewer system. APS operates several structural repair methods suitable for vertical round, cone-shaped and rectangular manhole configurations.
Cleaning & Inspection
As a precursor to inspection, as preparation for relining or simply to improve flow by removing silt build-up or obstructions, APS can assess and select the right cleaning device for the job.
Visual condition assessment is probably the most powerful tool in planning the maintenance requirements of existing pipeline networks. APS has equipment capable of reaching up to 350 metres for the CCTV inspection of pipework in the 2-inch to 48-inch range.
The standard written reporting format includes digital meterage readouts and video stills as well as conventional colour real-time high definition videos. Coding and classification is also provided when requested.
Utility and Transmission Pipelines
Operating an extensive range of PE butt-fusion and electro-fusion equipment with installation staff fully trained and certified to European standards, the company's services range from a single call-out for an individual dwelling connection to the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of major cross-country transmission lines.
Non-metallic pipe materials such as HDPE are rapidly becoming the norm for utility and distribution networks.
APS has the people, the tools and the experience to install, maintain, and wherever necessary, extend existing services (including live tapping).
In short, whether it is for gas, water, sewer, industrial, petrochemical, or offshore applications, APS is the market leader; and the reasons are easy to find. Its dedication to technology, quality, and customer satisfaction make it the automatic top choice.
© Construction World 2006
