Libya Leaking Underground 200mm Fuel Oil Line 44 Bar Pressure Pipe Repair
A 200mm underground fuel oil line in Brega, Libya operating at temperatures up to 70°C and under 44 bar pressure undergoes repair after heavy corrosion caused a small crack to appear in the pipe, through which oil was leaking.
Case Study Overview
Site Underground oil line
Location Brega, Libya
Pipe Type 200mm fuel line
Pressure 44 bar
Repair Type Leak repair
Products Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape, SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
Pipe Defect
Brega serves as a major export hub for Libyan oil. It is the home of one of the largest oil terminals operating in Eastern Libya and the starting point of the 670km Brega-Khoms Intisar pipeline.
Heavy corrosion had caused a small crack to appear in a 200mm underground oil line at a facility in the town. Excavation of the line revealed it to be in terrible condition, badly pitted and cover in escaped oil.
The line operated under 44 bar pressure and at a maximum service temperature of 70°C. Any repair method needed to be capable of withstanding these extremities.
SylWrap Solution
Prior to the repair, the pipe was cleaned as best it could be. Oil and dirt were removed and the surface of the pipe smoothed off to enable a good connection between the line and Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape, which would be used to seal the crack.
Wrap & Seal is a self-amalgamating silicone repair tape which stretches by 300 percent, fusing to form a solid rubber band over holes in pipework. When multiple tapes are applied over each other, these also fuse together, building repairs with high pressure resistance.
Several Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tapes were used to repair the crack on the fuel oil line. Once the maintenance team carrying out the application were satisfied that the leak had been suitably sealed, the damage area was reinforced using SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage.
SylWrap HD is a composite repair wrap with a water activated resin. It sets rock hard in minutes, providing an impact resistant shell to pipes and structures, increasing their life span and hoop strength.
Four SylWrap HD Bandages were used to cover the Wrap & Seal and an extended area of the pipe, reinforcing the fuel line before it was reburied and put back into operation.
Outcome
Wrap & Seal and SylWrap HD are effective up to 250°C and using multiple products created a repair capable of withstanding the significant pressure the oil line operated under.
It took under two hours to complete the application, notwithstanding the time needed to excavate, inspect and prepare the pipe.
The repair was a cost-effective and less time-consuming alternative to replacing the damaged section, which could have left the line out of operation for a prolonged period.
Follow Up
The maintenance team who carried out the job in Brega have since gone onto use Sylmasta products to seal and reinforce other oil lines in the region, taking advantage of the ease and speed of repair made possible by the SylWrap range.
Products Used
Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape
Multiple self-fusing silicone tapes built up a repair with high pressure resistance
SylWrap HD Bandage
Water-activated wrap sets rock hard to reinforce repairs and protect pipelines
Pipe Repair Contractor Case
Easy-to-store case with enough products to make up to six leak repairs
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