Eupec PipeCoatings - Pipeline Coating to Pipeline Services

For more than 40 years, EUPEC has been providing reliable solutions for the "end-to-end" protection of steel pipelines on both onshore and offshore pipeline industries. EUPEC is one of the world-wide leading companies in the application of multi-layer anti-corrosion coating systems based on polyolefins.

This international reputation also applies to concrete weight coating, pipe-in-pipe fabrication, cathodic protection, remote processing and monitoring of pipelines (ATIS system), services related to global project management and pipeline field services, technical assistance, logistics and personnel training.

EXTERNAL POLYOLEFIN COATINGS

EUPEC's three-layer polyethylene and polypropylene coating systems provide high mechanical resistance, combined with corrosion protection properties that maintain coating integrity in critical soil under extreme laying conditions. Operating temperatures range from as low as -40°C (40°F) to 80°C (176°F).

The first layer of the coating, applied above the steel surface of the pipe, is made from Fusion Bonded Epoxy Primer (FBE). The second layer is a copolymer adhesive, applied by a side extrusion process or spray immediately after the FBE application. The top layer consists of either polyethylene (low, medium or high density) or polypropelene (either standard, for service temperatures up to 80°C - 176°F - or high temperature polypropylene for service temperatures up to 110°C - 230°F).

The three-layered coating system ensures less risk of damages during pipe handling, transportation and pipe laying, as well as many other advantages:

• Can be used without sand padding and with selected backfill
• Can be customized to project specific operating and soil requirements by varying coating thickness of layers and by choosing PE-grade (LD, MD, HD)
• Long service life expectancy
• Excellent cathodic protection behaviour
• Excellent adhesion in peel and shear strength preventing damage and excluding electrical shielding under cathodic protection
• High long-term electrical resistance and low water permeability, ensuring full performance under cathodic protection
• High UV and thermal resistance ensuring excellent stability in long-term storage

EXTERNAL FBE (FUSION BONDED EPOXY) COATINGS

The FBE is an electrostatically changed powder, which is pneumatically sprayed onto the hot pipe, and contains excellent passive corrosion protection properties. The field joint coating is carried out in the same coating material as mill applied coating. Further advantages include:

• Easy to repair
• Easy for coating application
• High adhesion to steel
• Good for pipeline operating temperatures

INTERNAL COATINGS

EUPEC applies internal flow coating and corrosion protection linings in accordance with international standards and clients' specifications. The lining program covers pipes with outside diameters from 250mm to 1,600mm and pipe lengths from 8.5m to 18.3m.

CONCRETE WEIGHT COATING

Concrete is applied to the coated pipeline to provide the required compaction and density. The thickness of the concrete ensures both mechanical protection and density for negative buoyancy. Concrete weight coating systems provide the following advantages:

• Sub-sea stability
• Prevention of damage by ship's anchors
• No trenching required
• Less steel required

INJECTION MOULDING METHOD: GIRTH WELD / FIELD JOINT COATING

More than 40,000 field joints for deep-sea flowlines and riser-pipes have been coated since 1995 for major oil and gas companies. Field joints on 24in O.D x 32mm with pipe have been coated consistently with 10mm of three-layer polypropylene coating within cycle times of six to seven minutes. The highly automated process can be considered unique in the world with its state-of-the-art technology.

The quality of coating achieved with the EUPEC injection moulding method is fully equivalent to three-layer PE or PP mill applied pipe coatings. The system is capable of maintaining the 'application windows' between FBE and copolymer adhesive as well as between copolymer adhesive and PE/PP, with the result that all layers are tightly fused together.