HDPE Pipe for Oil &

Gas Applications
Benefits vs. Steel

CORROSION RESISTANT
LEAK FREE
REDUCED MAINTENANCE
LONG SERVICE LIFE, 100+ YEARS
FLEXIBLE, TOUGH

HDPE Pipe Sizes &

Pressures
Solid Wall Conventional Extrusion
OD Controlled Process
CTS: 1/2 - 2
IPS: 1/2 - 64
DIPS: 4 - 36
Standard Dimension Ratios (SDRs)
DR5 (500 psi) to DR41 (50 psi)
Pressure Rated up to 140oF
Non-pressure to 180oF

DIMENSION RATIO
OD
DR
t MIN

tmin

O.D.

Standard Dimension Ratio (SDR) 41, 32.5, 26, 21, 17, 13.5, 11, 9, 7.3
DR 11 is rated for 200 psi working pressure
DR 17 is rated for 125 psi working pressure

pressure rated
up to 500+
psi

6 IPS OD Coils up to
500ft

flexibl
e

squeeze
it flat

Flexibility
Property

HDPE

Steel

Pipe Field Bending Radius

<30 x OD

>500 x OD

Follow the lay of

the land
Install above
ground

HDPE resists

Chemically Resistant

ABRASION RESISTANT !
HDPE PIPE IS MORE ABRASION RESISTANT
THAN OTHER CONVENTIONAL PIPES, WHEN
SUBJECTED TO HEAVY DUTY SERVICE
BECAUSE OF ITS HIGHER DENSITY
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE.

AT LESS THAN 15 FT./SEC. VELOCITY, HDPE

PIPE CAN OUT-PERFORM
OTHER MATERIALS BY AS MUCH AS 4 TO 1:
X-52 GRADE STEEL -- NYLON
H1 CARBON STEEL -- FIBERGLASS
RUBBER LINED STEEL

HDPE PIPE IS LABORATORY TESTED &

FIELD PROVEN FOR SLURRIES OR HIGH
PARTICULATE LIQUID FLOWS CONVEYING:
HARD-ROCK, COAL, FLY-ASH, TAILINGS,
DREDGINGS, BOTTOM-ASH, SAND, GRAVEL,
URANIUM YELLOW-CAKE, ETC.

Surface Energy
Water on pipe material
with surface energy
higher than water
surface energy

Water on pipe material

with surface energy
lower than water surface
energy

Surface Energy
Pipe Material

HDPE

Steel

Pipe material
surface energy
compared to
water

Effect

Higher

Lower flow resistance;

reduced adhesion;
reduced need for flushing

Lower

Higher flow resistance;

increased adhesion;
flushing may be required

Aging
Metal pipe corrosion and tuberculation
Flow restriction plus velocity increase
Increased pressure surge events
Steel pipe 9 years

Courtesy Duke Energy Corp.

Steel pipe 6 months

Aging
HDPE Pipe

HDPE Pipe 41 years

HDPE Pipe 4 years

Courtesy Lyondell Basell

Courtesy Duke Energy Corp.

Flow Velocity Effects

Low flow rates (<2 ft/sec; <0.61 m/sec)
Settlement and deposition in pipe invert
High surface energy pipe materials resist
deposition adherence

Flushing (>2 fps) helps remove

sediment deposits
Flushing is less effective in lower
surface energy and corroded pipes

Pressure Surge
Values
Pipe
Material
Steel

Modulus

Celerity

28,000,000
lb/in2

Highest
(3.5 x
HDPE)

150,000
lb/in2
material modulus

HDPE

Lowest

Pipe
(instantaneous), celerity
(surge pressure wave speed)

C-Factor
Type of Pipe

3 in

24 in

Uncoated steel new*

132

140

Coated steel new*

129

140

30 years old slight attack*

100

117

30 years old moderate attack*

83

102

30 years old significant attack*

59

83

30 years old severe attack*

41

66

HDPE Pipe new and old

152

154

Pressure Surge
Surge pressure depends on velocity
change and celerity
Lower celerity allows higher velocity
change for same surge pressure
Steel

HDPE

58 psi per ft/sec

12 psi per ft/sec

Ps

Ps = surge pressure, lb/in2

a = celerity, ft/sec
W = water weight density, 62.4 lb/ft 3
V = velocity change, ft/sec
g = gravitational acceleration constant (32.2 ft/sec 2)

a W V
144 g

HDPE surge allowance

Recurring Surge Events
PE Allowance = 50% x Pressure Rating

Occasional Surge Events

PE Allowance = 100% x Pressure Rating

PE Pipe Systems
Joining and Connections

Heat Fusion Joining Options

Butt
Fusion
Electrofusi
on

Saddle
Fusion

Butt Fusion Procedure

Clean pipe ends /

Install / clamp

Heat

21

Face
400-450F (204-232C)
Heat time = Melt bead
size
Fuse roll bead to pipe
OD 60-90 psi (414-621
kPa)
Cool 30-90 sec / inch of
pipe diameter

Align

Fuse & Cool

Saddle Fusion
Clean

Align

Heat
22

ASTM F 2620
procedure
Heat
temperature
490-510F
(254-266C)

Fuse & Cool

Electrofusion
Heating elements
embedded in fitting
Couplings; Saddle fittings;
Electrofusion Restraints
ASTM F1290 procedure

23

EF Joining Procedure
Trained EF technician
Control box with barcode
reader
Clean & scrape pipe ends
Mark stab depth & install
coupling
Connect control box to
coupling & scan barcode
Activate fusion cycle
Cool per manufacturer
instructions 24

Connecting to Existing
Systems
In a perfect world
everything would be
fused
Connections to other
piping systems are
often needed
PE Flange (gasket
optional)
Various mechanical
couplings

Back-Up Ring
Flange Adapter

Serrated Face

Victaulic Style 908 Coupling

for HDPE
Size Range 8 48
For DR from 7 17
Coupling is stronger than the pipe
Fast assembly no need to wait for machinery
or joint heat up/cool down
Double groove design for optimum
performance

Molded Fittings

Fabricated Fittings

Mechanical Fittings &

Connections

Installation
Unique features of PE equates to variety
in types of installations
Trench and trenchless; variable terrain; suspended;
elevated supports; bridge crossings; submerged;
floating

HDPE suited for multiple installation

techniques

Traditional direct burial

Plow-in
Directional drilling
Above ground installation
Marine float and sink, buoyed or tethered

Direct Bury

ASTM D2321; D2774; F1668 Same ASTMs for all thermoplastic

pipe
No thrust blocks - No bedding excavations at bells (butt fusion;
no bells)
Narrower trench; join on surface; lower into trench; fewer
persons in trench
AWWA M55 Design Window predesigned embedment

Narrower trench widths faster installation

Plow / Trencher Installation

Chain Trenching with 2000 mm (10 inch) PE Pipe

Horizontal Directional
Drilling
Controlled borepath horizontal drilling
Used for crossing rivers, lakes, roads, etc., and where open
cut is not feasible or cost effective
ASTM F 1962; PPI Handbook, 2nd Ed., Ch. 12
PPI BoreAid Software www.plasticpipe.com

F ix e d P os itio n R e e l
P ip e C o il

D ire c tio n a l B o rin g M a c h in e

P ip e S traig h te n e r/R e rou n d e r

directional drill

Surface & Supported Piping

Supports provide for thermal
movement & protect against
shear & bending loads
No UV degredation

above ground

Leave it above ground

8000 feet of 8
HDPE pipe fused
per 8 hr day

Marine Installations
Can be installed
through water bodies
Floating pipelines
Submerged pipelines
Weighting design;
concrete collar
weights

Thank you.
Questions?