Server maintenance is scheduled for Saturday, December 21st between 6am-10am CST.
During that time, parts of our website will be affected until maintenance is completed. Thank you for your patience.
Use GIVING24 at checkout to save 20% on eCourses and books (some exclusions apply)!
Fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) is the primary coating used in North America for new pipeline construction and is strongly featured in the Middle East1. Pre-coated FBE pipe is routinely stockpiled and stored in large quantities at several locations close to pipeline right-of-ways. Once stockpiled, most of the pipesremain un-used until an inspection and remediation program is initiated2. Integrity projects purchase FBE coated pipe in advance and stockpile it until it is required. In addition, project delays and left-over pipe from completed projects can cause stockpiling for future use for undetermined periods of time. Under ultraviolet (UV) exposure in the presence of air, photooxidative degradation of FBE coatings occurs due to photometrical reactions arising from UV absorption.
Field and laboratory studies were carried out to investigate the effect of UV degradation on stockpiles of FBE Coated Pipeline. In addition, three commercially available UV protector paints were examined as potential protection of the underlying FBE system 1A pipeline coating from UV degradation. This study was done under actual field exposure for two years and using laboratory tests simulating weathering conditions using a Q-SUN Xenon Arc Test Chamber to simulate the damage caused by full-spectrum sunlight and rain. Coating flexibility by laboratory testing, and Photooxidation Index (POI), Carbonyl Index (CI) and changes in the polymer chemical structure by Attenuated Total Reflection – Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) were examined at different time intervals. The results indicated that although the tested UV protector coatings were effective in preventing the underlying FBE coating from chemical/oxidative degradation and chalking, maintaining the color of FBE gloss; the underlying FBE coating exhibited a reduction in flexibility after nine months of field exposure and 250 hours of accelerated laboratory test conditions. No further decrease in the FBE coating integrity was noted with increasing exposure/testing time.
We are unable to complete this action. Please try again at a later time.
If this error continues to occur, please contact AMPP Customer Support for assistance.
Error Message:
Please login to use Standards Credits*
* AMPP Members receive Standards Credits in order to redeem eligible Standards and Reports in the Store
You are not a Member.
AMPP Members enjoy many benefits, including Standards Credits which can be used to redeem eligible Standards and Reports in the Store.
You can visit the Membership Page to learn about the benefits of membership.
You have previously purchased this item.
Go to Downloadable Products in your AMPP Store profile to find this item.
You do not have sufficient Standards Credits to claim this item.
Click on 'ADD TO CART' to purchase this item.
Your Standards Credit(s)
1
Remaining Credits
0
Please review your transaction.
Click on 'REDEEM' to use your Standards Credits to claim this item.
You have successfully redeemed:
Go to Downloadable Products in your AMPP Store Profile to find and download this item.
Fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) coated pipelines are extensively used throughout the world for transportation of various types of fluids and gases1. New and unused FBE coated pipes often end up being stockpiled in open yards for various reasons such as delay in start of a project, excess inventory etc. Outdoor exposure for long durations results in the physical and chemical degradation of the coating. This happens due to the interaction of the oxygen and moisture in the air, and the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun which causes photo-oxidative degradation of the polymer in the coating.
A leak suddenly occurred at the 24-inch common crude piping from the separators heading to the degassing boot inlets and the wet crude tanks in an oil gathering center. The initial observations showed the leak was due to a deep isolated pit and localized corrosion. Additional inspections by manual ultrasonic thickness (UT) and long range ultrasonic thickness (LRUT) measurements for the 24” common crude line showed similar deep isolated pits (up to 70% thickness reduction) scattered across the length of the 1100 meter piping.