New & Repurposed Pipeline Solutions
New Technology, New Possibilities
To meet the challenges of an ever-changing energy industry, you need a pipeline system that can grow and adapt as the need arises. How do you achieve this in a way that meets the safety and environmental needs of the community? The answer is to systematically build-in comprehensive protections which eliminate vulnerabilities such as modeling blind spots, human errors, mechanical failures, or network outages (while also saving money!). Does that sound too good to be true? It isn't if you choose Envirolock.
Making Pipeline Repurposing Feasible
One of Envirolock’s key potential use cases is facilitating CO2, hydrogen, or other service conversions within existing infrastructure. What makes this pipeline repurposing possible? Our unique and innovative in-situ installation process means that for the first time, it is cost-competitive to retrofit pipelines with a system that is as tough as a repair sleeve and is applied as flexibly as an exterior coating. Envirolock can reduce operational risks and satisfy regulatory requirements for even the most demanding pipeline repurposing contexts:
- Both our reinforcement (EPRS) and containment (ECS) configurations ADD protection against third-party strikes, geohazards, and external corrosion that even brand new pipelines lack. For example, when subjected to a crush test, instead of yielding under pressure and allowing the carrier pipe to be damaged, Envirolock's resistive force on the bucket partially lifted the attacking excavator off the ground.
- EPRS can also restore a degraded pipe to its original strength while ADDING protection against ductile running fractures over its installed length. Consequently, this expands the number of pipelines suitable for conversion purposes to include those with lengthier (rather than just localized) deficiencies. It also resolves technical bottlenecks for safely transporting CO2 and hydrogen/natural gas blends due to their heightened risk for running fractures.
- ECS's localized reinforcement around the end caps/bulkheads compliments its groundbreaking capability to contain explosive ruptures and enhance leak detection. As a result, ECS's protections exceed those of an originally built pipeline. In turn, it becomes possible to satisfy regulatory standards requiring the new service to be at least as safe as the previous service without reducing operating pressures or replacing the line.
Building Pipelines Better Right From The Start
Securing permits to construct new pipelines is often difficult due in part to community concerns about ruptures and leaks. While rare, the potential for fatalities, injuries, evacuations, pollution, and fire ignition are all serious risks that need to be addressed. Operators can build trust with regulators and communities by choosing Envirolock. In contrast to other risk reduction strategies, Envirolock's protections are both comprehensive and entirely built-in. Communities can rest assured that they will be protected even before an operator identifies that there is a problem. Put differently, Envirolock realigns the reality of pipeline integrity with the goals of pipeline integrity – “safety first”. Detection – while still necessary - is no longer the means through which safety is achieved.
Equipping new pipelines with Envirolock also means that operators can take advantage of its operational paybacks throughout the pipeline's entire life cycle. The possible benefits include:
- Are you installing a line using horizontal directional drilling techniques? With Envirolock, you no longer have to worry about the fiber optic leak detection being damaged during the installation process because Envirolock will protect it against exterior impacts even as it is being put in place.
- Use Envirolock to pro-actively achieve compliance with Class Location Change requirements. Installing Envirolock on a new pipeline means that your protected segments shouldn't need any future class upgrades, even if the communities around your pipeline grow.
- Does shutting-down a line for an emergency cut-out repair hurt your bottom line? With ECS, you can extend the useful life of a leaking/ruptured segment by up to 6 months while entirely avoiding unplanned disruptions to customer deliveries.
Learn more about Envirolock as well as the the risks and use-cases it can help you with:
Design Concepts & Options • Validation • Installation & Maintenance • Competitor Comparison
Impacts & Geohazards • Defects & Degradation • Corrosion & Permeation • Running Fractures • Leak & Rupture Events
Class Location Changes • New Lines & Repurposing • Code Repairs • Crossing Protection • Remote & Sensitive Areas • Other Settings
If you have questions or would like to request a proposal, please contact us and we will be happy to help you!