Steel Pipes

STEEL PIPES
- Application of 100% Solids Polyurethane Coatings

In 1988 a 100% solids polyurethane coating was used to protect a 4.5 mile line of 6" steel pipe carrying gas through the Maljamar, New Mexico gas field for major pipeline company. The engineers at the facility monitor the cathodic protection system on a continual basis. They report that there is nothing to report. The cathodic protection levels have remained constant since the day the pipeline was installed.

The pipes were coated to a thickness of 18 mils (450 microns) at an average rate of 35 feet per minute (10 meters per minute) at a pipe coating facility in Odessa, TX. The coated pipe was then transported by truck to Maljamar where it was buried to a depth of approximately 40 inches (1 meter).

The polyurethane’s high degree of impact and abrasion resistance minimized the amount of wear, tear and damage sustained during the transport and installation. Unlike conventional coal tars and tape coatings, exposure to the hot New Mexico sun for several weeks during the installation did not affect the polyurethane’s properties. Sometimes, no news is good news. In this case, the engineers estimate that 7 years of solid initial coating performance will result in a further 30-40 years of coating life at least.

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