Ageing pipeline infrastructure can create serious maintenance problems at oil and gas facilities, especially when sewer, stormwater, wastewater systems and any other fluid transfer systems that run beneath roads, buildings, hardstands or active work areas. Traditional pipe repair often requires extensive excavation, which can extend project timelines, disturb surrounding underground services and interrupt normal operations.
A trenchless pipe repair solution offers a less disruptive alternative for suitable existing pipelines. Methods such as cured-in-place pipe relining can repair damaged sections from within the pipe, reducing the need to dig up large areas of the site. Tunnel Vision assesses the pipe condition, material, access points and operating requirements before recommending the most suitable repair method.
Repairing damaged pipes at an oil and gas facility is rarely as simple as digging down and replacing a section. Sewer, stormwater, wastewater and fluid transfer pipes may run beneath roads, concrete hardstands, buildings or active work areas. They may also sit close to electrical cables and other underground services that must not be disturbed.
Traditional repair methods often require a large section of the surrounding area to be excavated. This can restrict access, interrupt daily operations and create additional work and cause significant cost losses in production when roads, concrete or plant and equipment need to be decommissioned and then reinstated.
Every project must also account for the facility’s safety procedures, access requirements and operating conditions. Before work begins, the affected pipe should be inspected to understand its location, material, diameter and condition. This allows the repair team to determine whether pipe relining is suitable and plan the work around the site’s requirements.
For suitable pipes, our trenchless technology solutions provide a practical alternative. Much of the repair can be completed through existing access points, reducing downtime to plant and equipment, excavation needs and limiting disruption to nearby operations. Tunnel Vision provides pipe inspection, cleaning and relining services for commercial, civil and industrial sites utilised in the oil and gas industry.
Not every pipe at an oil and gas facility will be suitable for relining. The best candidates are generally accessible sewer, stormwater, wastewater lines and fluid transfer systems that retain enough structural integrity to support the selected trenchless relining solution.
Common examples include:
The pipe’s material, diameter, condition and contents all influence whether relining is appropriate and the type of solution to be provided. Different applications require different resin types. Existing pipelines made from materials such as cast iron, steel or concrete may be suitable in some situations, but each line must be inspected before a repair method is recommended.
For suitable sewer, drainage and trade waste systems, pipe relining can create a new internal lining within the existing pipe. This reduces the need to remove and replace the entire pipeline, allowing damaged sections to be rehabilitated with less excavation and disruption to the surrounding area.
Pipes carrying oil, gas or high-temperature fluids, or operating under pressure, require a more detailed technical assessment. Relining should never be assumed to be suitable until the pipe’s operating conditions and the proposed lining materials have been reviewed.
Excavation or replacement is often the most disruptive part of a traditional pipe repair. Reaching a damaged line may require concrete, paving or road surfaces to be removed or critical infrastructure contributing to the daily operations of the site before the pipe can be exposed and replaced. Once the repair is complete, the surrounding area also needs to be rebuilt.
Trenchless pipe repair reduces this work by using existing access points wherever possible. With CIPP relining, the pipe is inspected and cleaned before a liner is installed inside the damaged section and cured in place. This creates a smooth internal lining without removing the full length of the existing pipe.
For oil and gas facilities, this approach may provide several practical benefits:
The amount of disruption still depends on the condition and location of the pipe. Some excavation may be required to create an access point or repair a section that has fully collapsed. A CCTV inspection helps confirm what work is required before the project begins.
Successful pipe relining starts with a clear understanding of the damaged pipe and the conditions around it. At an oil and gas facility, the repair plan must also account for restricted access, operating schedules, site safety procedures and nearby infrastructure.
The process usually begins with a CCTV pipe inspection. A camera is guided through the line to identify cracks, internal corrosion, leaking joints, blockages or collapsed sections. The footage also helps confirm the pipe’s diameter, layout and available access points.
The pipe must then be thoroughly cleaned and prepared. Debris, scale and built-up material are removed so the repair team can clearly assess the internal surface and prepare it for relining.
Once the pipe has been inspected and cleaned, the most suitable repair method is selected. This may involve relining a longer section of pipe or completing a targeted repair where the damage is isolated. The right approach depends on the pipe’s condition, material, length, contents and operating requirements.
Installation is then planned around the facility’s procedures. This may include access approvals, work permits, isolations, exclusion zones and coordination with onsite teams. After the liner has cured, a final CCTV inspection checks the completed repair and provides a clear record of the finished work.
Pipe relining is suitable for many damaged sewer, stormwater, wastewater or other fluid transfer systems, but the pipe must first be inspected to confirm the right repair approach.
Factors that may affect suitability include:
In some cases, limited excavation may still be required to reach a collapsed section, create an access point or replace pipework that cannot support a liner.
A CCTV inspection and technical assessment provide a clear picture of the damage and help determine whether full-length relining, a sectional repair or pipe replacement is the most appropriate option.
The right repair method depends on the type of damage, the length of pipe affected and the conditions inside the line. A solution that works for a sewer pipe may not be suitable for a wastewater system exposed to higher temperatures or pressures, or corrosive materials. Tunnel Vision’s guide to the different types of pipe relining provides a broader comparison of the available approaches.
Common trenchless repair options include:
Cured-in-place pipe relining, often shortened to CIPP relining, uses a resin-impregnated liner installed inside the existing pipe. Once cured, it forms a smooth, seamless new pipe within the existing pipe, sealing cracks, leaking joints and other damaged areas.
This method is often well suited to longer sections of sewer, stormwater and wastewater pipework where the host pipe remains stable enough to support the liner.
Depending on the selected system, the liner may be cured using ambient conditions, heat or UV light. Tunnel Vision’s UV pipe relining project shows how UV-cured CIPP was used to rehabilitate a reinforced concrete stormwater main without excavation.
Complex industrial pipework sometimes requires a custom approach. Tunnel Vision’s offshore vertical liner installation involved rehabilitating a corroded DN600 steel overboard water discharge pipe on an operational offshore oil platform using a bespoke CIPP solution.
A sectional repair targets a smaller damaged area rather than lining the full length of the pipe. It may be suitable where CCTV footage identifies an isolated crack, leaking joint or damaged section.
This approach reduces the amount of material and installation work required while still addressing the specific defect. For suitable damaged sections, a targeted repair may be a more cost-effective alternative to replacing the full pipeline.
Some pipes may be better suited to an internal coating rather than a structural liner. These coatings are applied to the internal surface to help protect the existing pipe from corrosion, abrasion or chemical exposure.
The pipe material, internal condition, temperature, pressure and contents must all be reviewed before a coating system is selected.
Where the pipe is suitable, relining can extend its service life while reducing the excavation and disruption associated with full replacement.
The final recommendation should be based on inspection findings and the facility’s operating requirements. In some cases, pipe replacement or another trenchless rehabilitation method may be more appropriate than relining.
Damaged sewer, stormwater, wastewater or fluid transfer system pipes do not always need to be excavated and replaced. Where the existing pipe is suitable, trenchless pipe relining may provide a practical way to repair damaged sections with less disruption to the surrounding site.
Tunnel Vision can assess the pipe condition, access points and operating requirements before recommending a suitable repair method.
Recurring blockages, slow drainage, leaks, unusual odours, wet patches or unexpected ground movement may indicate damaged pipework. A CCTV inspection can identify cracks, corrosion, leaking joints, obstructions and collapsed sections.
In some cases, a sectional repair can address an isolated crack, joint or damaged area without relining the entire pipeline. The location and extent of the defect must first be confirmed through a CCTV inspection.
The timeframe depends on the pipe’s length, diameter and condition, as well as site access and the amount of cleaning required. A more accurate schedule can be provided after the pipe has been inspected.
Previous
Whether you require emergency response, scheduled maintenance, pipeline inspections or trenchless rehabilitation services, the Tunnel Vision team is ready to assist. Contact us today to discuss your project, request a quote or speak with our experienced team about the right solution for your site or property.
Get in Touch
