Month: April 2020

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FAQ Series: How Does Pipe Spring™ Save Your Company Money? How Much Does It Cost?

Close-up Of Businesswoman Holding Hourglass Near Stack Of Coins

Question: How Doe Pipe Spring™ Save Your Company Money?

Answer: At least three major areas of cost are typically involved with pipeline repair or field integrity work. These are:

  • The direct procurement cost of the repair product
  • The direct labor cost or man-hours of the installation
  • Potential for operational changes, cost elimination, or organizational changes to reduce cost

The direct procurement cost of Pipe Spring™ is often significantly lower than alternative competitive systems. On one recent RFQ, Pipe Spring was only 50% of the cost of a popular composite alternative. Based on our understanding of the pipe integrity marketplace, we strongly believe our products will cost less.

The direct labor cost or man-hours of the actual installation can also be lower as installation time is faster. This can mean more repairs per day, more per week, and more repairs for lower project costs. This is an opportunity to do more with less spending while utilizing a product with better integrity.

The potential for operational changes to integrity efforts are also very real. From the elimination of extra supervision, elimination of additional inspections, and the removal of the need to weld at multiple dig sites, our product creates an opportunity for efficiencies. The ease of installation enables opportunities for additional tasks to be completed.

Some of these costs savings are easy to quantify and easy to capture such as spending less to buy a repair product. Some involve more effort at a project management level and the cost containment of projects.

Below is a specific example:

A pipeline company emails Pipe Spring LLC and explains they have a 16-inch diameter pipe. It is Grade B and has a wall thickness of .325-inch. A Pipe Spring™ kit that will repair up to 79.9% wall loss costs about 30% less than the material for a popular composite offering*. Project delays can be avoided and the excavation is opened and closed the same day.

Contact us at [email protected] for your quotation today.

*Based on recent client communications

 

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FAQ Series: Is Pipe Spring™ PHMSA Approved?

Question: Is Pipe Spring™ approved by PHMSA?

Answer: The Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Administration (PHMSA) does have safety jurisdiction over many pipeline assets located in the USA. However, it is important to understand PHMSA does not approve any product or specific technology.

49 CFR 192 specially allows repairs “by a method that reliable engineering tests and analyses show can permanently restore the serviceability of the pipe.” 49 CFR 195 has slightly different language. It is widely agreed that pipeline operators have flexibility to adopt new technology and are required to document the “reliable engineering tests and analyses” which serve to address the decision.

Operators are also required to include their repair technologies within their operating and maintenance (O&M) language.

Pipe Spring LLC has compiled a significant body of engineering tests and analyses to help satisfy the operator’s requirements to document these items. They are available to operators upon request as one package that will satisfy this regulatory requirement.

Prior to use on regulated pipelines, operators may want to amend their existing O&M language or approved repair lists referenced in their O&M language to include Pipe Spring™.