Thermoplastic internal pipe lining has become one of Aramco’s most effective corrosion protection initiatives. The solution provides substantial operational cost reductions by extending the life of pipeline assets. It has proven to be one of the most robust and cost-effective methods for protecting pipelines against internal corrosion.
Thermoplastic lining of new and existing steel pipeline systems for water injection, seawater, wastewater and oil flow lines is a well-established corrosion protection solution with more than four decades of proven track record worldwide. The installation technology enables a thin walled thermoplastic liner to fit tightly inside a host pipe. This technique temporarily reduces the thermoplastic liner’s diameter before insertion into the carbon steel pipe. After installation the liner expands to fit tightly inside the carbon steel pipe. The tight-fitting liner acts as a continuous barrier between the host pipe and the corrosive or abrasive material.
Several different thermoplastic polymers have been used as liners in different environments and requirements. Most of the polymers and liner pipes commonly used in these solutions are produced within the Kingdom, further supporting Aramco’s IKTVA initiative.
The Project:
The successful installation and ongoing performance of internal lining solutions in small to medium diameters boosted Aramco engineers’ confidence to push the boundaries by expanding the operational envelope in pipe diameters and operating temperatures. When Aramco started looking at options for a corrosion protection system for Sea Water Injection and treated seawater line from WIP (UWIP 1 & UWIP 4-5), the first solution sparked among Aramco’s engineers’ minds was thermoplastic internal lining. After carefully evaluating the technology, Aramco elected to pioneer the use of 42″ Tite Liner® in the region.
This line was designed for a pressure of 750 psi at 149°F operating temperature. High-density polyethylene was selected as a liner material because its properties meet the operating condition requirements when installed with the Tite Liner® system. The raw material is produced in the Kingdom by Sabic while Union Pipe Industry produces liner pipes in Jeddah. Aramco adopted a rigorous quality control procedure to ensure the high quality of the liner.
The liner engineering and installation contractor United Special Technical Services (USTS) swiftly reacted to the challenge by mobilizing specialized resources. A specially designed roller reduction box, an engineering masterpiece, was project-specific built and airfreighted from their central facility in the USA. USTS also provided two custom-made polymer butt fusion units to support the project. Contractors made substantial investments within the Kingdom to complete the project ahead of schedule.
Br. CAT, the project’s main contractor, coordinated well with Aramco’s respective teams in planning and executing the complex project that has a total 60 different liner sections, including four highly complicated road crossings.
This project has many unique features such as,
- The longest large diameter Tite liner project in the GCC
- The biggest liner pipe ever produced in the Kingdom using Sabic’s high performance PE-100
- The longest single section of this diameter ever pulled globally.
Time and again, the Tite Liner® technology proved itself by providing long-term and cost-effective corrosion protection. This project demonstrates Saudi Aramco’s commitment to adopting the latest technologies in its movement towards the most robust and cost-effective solutions to battle corrosion.