Pipelines undergo numerous inspections and pipeline rehabilitation companies use the latest technology to reduce the chances of a leak or a rupture. But whether it is a gas pipeline in India or an oil pipeline in India, they run much longer. Once they are installed it is more likely that a pipe will need to be repaired at some point in the future.
Here are 5 tips to repair the underground pipe leak.
- Detecting the leak on time - Detecting the leak on time helps to quickly control the discharge and start the underground pipeline leak repair. Detecting a leak can help pipeline installation companies to control losses(human and financial) and environmental impacts. There are three ways to detect a leak:
- External - It is a method in which Leaks can be detected with the use of man-made methods to detect the leak in the pipelines.
- Internal - In this method, the rehabilitation team may use software that works on algorithms and sensor monitoring systems to check the interiors of the pipeline.
- Visual - In this method, the rehabilitation team may also use drones. They may also make use of the senses of a trained human or dog to detect the leak.
- Identifying the defect - An underground pipeline may fail due to the following reasons:
- Corrosion and the wear and tear of the pipeline due to longevity.
- External factors like third-party damage or a natural cause like an earthquake.
- Leaks caused during pipeline installation and erection
- Flaws in the manufacturing or an operation of the pipeline outside of the design parameters.
- Site study - Gather all the information about the pipeline before starting the pipeline rehabilitation. Possible threat analysis should be done based on the facts gathered.
- The repair options - There are various options to repair the leak. Type A and Type B sleeve repair is done by making a sleeve from two halves of a steel cylinde. Type A sleeve made out of a steel cylinder and placed around the leaking part. Type B sleeve the sleeve is welded and not just placed on the pipeline. The hot tapping method is used to fix the deterioration done by corrosion. Removing the affected area using a mechanical bolt-on clamp method. To pick the best repair option the following points must be considered:
- Knowing the degree of damage
- Deciding whether the leaking section is to be replaced or repaired
- Surface plan - Making preparations on the surface before starting the underground pipeline leak repair. For example, managing the temperature and pressure of the underground pipelines. It is also important to secure the leak from the core and the edge.
- Pipelines are vital to a modern economy. They are the lifeblood of any growing economy. Their network connects the entire countries population and ensures they have the supply of resources. Therefore, for pipeline installation companies their safety is of utmost importance. It is important to have regular inspections and maintenance throughout the life of a pipeline. And suitable repairs like underground pipeline leak repair must be done whenever required.
To keep the underground pipeline leak repair in control, the pipeline operators must hire pipeline rehabilitation services that can help them maintain the pipelines. Companies like RACI are specialists in repair services and bring their expertise in dealing with pipeline maintenance.
