REVIEW OF GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE

REPAIR METHODS

REMI BATISSE
Gaz de France – Research and Development Division
361, Avenue du Président Wilson-BP 33, 93211 Saint-Denis la
Plaine Cedex – FRANCE

Abstract: Repair methods are key operations for the integrity management of
pipelines. The parameters guiding the repair decision are briefly reminded. A
nonexhaustive external and internal repair techniques are described, notably
grinding and weld deposition techniques, metallic and various composite sleeves
which are developed for 25 years. The main advantages of different repair techni-
ques are summarized in conclusion and perspectives are given.

Keywords: pipeline, repair, weld deposition, grinding, metallic sleeve, composite sleeve,
internal repair, defect, flaw

1. Context

During the last 50 years, gas transmission pipelines have become significant
networks to transmit high energy quantities on long distances from gas deposit
to consumption areas. Considering European Transmission Pipelines only, the
onshore network mileage has been multiplied by more than three times between
1970 and 2004. But, despite the growing of the gas transmission pipelines
mileage, the failure frequencies by leak or rupture have been reduced by five in
Europe in the same time (EGIG report [1]).
This improvement of pipelines integrity management along the years is par-
tially the consequence of high-technical developments like systems for the aggres-
sions prevention and detection, inspection tools, repair techniques. When a defect
is identified, operators must ask:
• Is the defect acceptable without repair? If yes, the external coating is restored.
If the defect is temporarily acceptable, the defect can be immediately repair

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G. Pluvinage and M.H. Elwady (eds.), Safety, Reliability and Risks Associated with Water,
Oil and Gas Pipelines, 335–349.
© 2008 Springer.
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or repair after a time requiring a next inspection. The choice is often lead by
a cost competition between the immediate repair and the delayed repair with
an additional inspection.
• If not acceptable, is the defect repairable? And what is the more adapted
repair technique? If not repairable, the extreme decision to replace the damaged
pipe or segment is taken requiring an interruption of gas transit and so a loss
of earnings.
This paper focuses on repair technologies for gas transmission pipelines. After
a remind of the main parameters to guide a repair decision, a nonexhaustive
external and internal repair techniques are described.

2. Main Parameters to Guide the Repair Decision

Before to repair, the operators have to check a list of parameters to make the best
choice of repair techniques. If any of these parameters are unknown, the operators
have to opt for the conservative assumption. These parameters are following:
• Pipeline geometries and materials
• Pipeline operating characteristics
• Pipeline configuration and location
• Nature and extend of the defect to be repaired

2.1. PIPELINE GEOMETRIES AND MATERIALS

• Pipe Geometries
The pipe diameter must be considered to select the appropriated external repair
by sleeves whereas the pipe thickness is a limiting parameter for repair techniques
requiring welding on pipe as welded sleeves or weld deposition.
• Pipe Materials
The steel strength and toughness determine the residual resistance of the damaged
pipe section necessary to quantify the amount of reinforcement which must be
sustained by the repair. Otherwise, the steel grade is a metallurgical indicator
for the repair techniques involving welding which can be limited for high-grade
steels more tricky to weld. The presence of girth weld or seamweld in or near
the damaged area can be also a limiting parameter and the welding process has
to be known.