The following are some frequently asked questions regarding the PETROSLEEVE® Pipeline Repair System. Contact PETROSLEEVE® should you require any additional information.

How does the PETROSLEEVE® work?

Where has the PETROSLEEVE® been used?

To date, how many installations of the PETROSLEEVE® are there worldwide?

What type of pipeline service can the PETROSLEEVE® be installed on?

Does the reinforcing action of the PETROSLEEVE® extend past the edge of the sleeve?

What testing was performed on the PETROSLEEVE®?

What long term testing was undertaken?

What is the maximum internal pipe pressure that can be repaired by a PETROSLEEVE®?

Is the PETROSLEEVE® patented?

Will the Installation of a PETROSLEEVE® affect internal line inspection?

When installing a PETROSLEEVE®, what engineering analysis is available?

After a PETROSLEEVE® is installed, how can the final stress condition surrounding the defect be determined?

What type of defects can be repaired?

What type of defects can not be repaired by the PETROSLEEVE®?

Has any testing been performed to confirm that cracks do not grow?

Will the PETROSLEEVE® be resistant to corrosion attack after it is installed on the pipe?

How is a long defect repaired?

Can a PETROSLEEVE® be installed on out-of-round pipe?

What is the working time for the epoxy?

How long does it take to install a PETROSLEEVE®?

What is the life span of a PETROSLEEVE® installation?

What type of coating is used on the PETROSLEEVE®?

What is the regulatory acceptance of the PETROSLEEVE®?

When can I coat and backfill a PETROSLEEVE® after it is installed?

Do I need any hoisting equipment during installation of a PETROSLEEVE®?

The PETROSLEEVE® performs by supporting and reducing the stress in the steel adjoining the defect such that the defect is arrested from growing or deteriorating.

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The PETROSLEEVE® is installed in USA, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Australia.

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Over 6500 PETROSLEEVE® installations are successfully installed to date.

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The PETROSLEEVE® can repair defects on any type of pipeline. Sleeves are installed on pipelines transporting natural gas, sour gas, crude oil, high vapor liquids, condensate, propane, butane, and ethane liquids.

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Testing and finite element analysis illustrates that the reinforcing action on the PETROSLEEVE® extends approximately 2 inches past the edge of the sleeve. Consequently, when the sleeves are installed within 1 1/2 inches of each other, the reinforcing forces developed by the two sleeves act to restrain the bare pipe between the two edges.

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Extensive testing - includes severe cyclic pressure testing for cracks and severe corrosion defects, strain gauging, collapse testing, and long term testing. Complete strain gauge analysis has confirms FEA model development.

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PETROSLEEVE® installations over stress corrosion cracking and corrosion defects were removed after being exposed to extended severe field conditions. When the sleeves were removed, the pipe surface where the epoxy had been sheared by the removal process appeared bright and clean, similar to a newly sandblasted surface.

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In most circumstances, there are no pressure limits for PETROSLEEVE® installation and operation. However, based on the severity of the defect being repaired, pressure may be reduced during installation to ensure optimal safety conditions. 

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Yes, the PETROSLEEVE® Repair System and installation design is a patented process.

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After a PETROSLEEVE® is installed, any magnetic flux leakage inspection tool will identify the sleeve. Ultrasonic inspection tools will not identity the sleeve, but will identify the repaired defect.

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Prior to installing a PETROSLEEVE®, the EIP (Engineering Installation Parameters) Software is utilized to determine the sleeve design and installation parameters. The sleeve/pipe/defect assembly is designed to arrest the growth or deterioration of the defect.

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Part of the installation procedure is to perform and follow quality control procedures. The information obtained in this process is input into the complimentary EIP (Engineering Installation Parameters) computer software program. The EIP software then calculates the stress level in the steel under the PETROSLEEVE®, and as determines the stress intensity at the crack tip (in the case of a stress concentrating defect).

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The PETROSLEEVE® repairs defects such as Seam or Pipe Body Cracking, Corrosion, Dents, Mechanical Defects, SCC (Stress Corrosion Cracking), and Arc Burns. Although the failure mechanism varies for each defect type, the following is a good outline description of various defects and how the installation of a PETROSLEEVE® permanently removes the failure mechanism of the defect.

1. Corrosion:
Corrosion defects are caused by a chemical reduction action on the surface of the pipe material, resulting in localized thinning of the pipe wall. Failure occurs first by bulging (yielding) at the corrosion site, followed by rupture of the steel membrane.

The installation of a PETROSLEEVE® provides mechanical support to the localized thinned section. It is this support that prevents bulging for all pressures, including during high pressure testing.

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2. Gouge, Groove or Arc Burns:
These defects are caused by either third-party damage or non-acceptable workmanship, and may include stress concentrators such as cracking. Failure occurs by the pipe material containing the defect flexing because of internal pressure variances, which in turn causes cracking. When the crack extensions become critical, rupture occurs.

The installation of a PETROSLEEVE® eliminates flexing in the pipe material and the stress state in the material surrounding the defect is put into compression, eliminating fatigue, crack extension, and rupture.

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3. Dent:
Dent defects are caused by either third party damage or non-acceptable workmanship. As in the gouge, groove or arc burn cases, failure occurs by the pipe material containing the defect flexing because of internal pressure variances, which in turn causes cracking. When the crack extensions become critical, rupture occurs.

The installation of a PETROSLEEVE® eliminates flexing in the pipe material and places the pipe material into compression, eliminating fatigue, crack extension, and rupture.

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4. Pipe Body Crack:
Pipe Body Cracking is caused by various means, including chemical action (Stress Corrosion Cracking). Failure occurs when crack becomes unstable.

The installation of a PETROSLEEVE® permanently reduces the stress state in the material surrounding the defect, removing the possibility for crack extension.

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5. Weld Defect:
Weld defects are caused by poor workmanship. Failure occurs when the strength of the weld is not sufficient to counteract the applied forces.

The installation of a PETROSLEEVE® permanently reduces the stress state in the material surrounding the defect, as well as providing support to the weld.

The PETROSLEEVE® provides permanent mechanical support to the weld area and reduces the strain induced in the weld by the external forces.

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6. Grind Defect:
A grind defect is caused by mechanically removing metal from the surface of the pipe material, resulting in localized thinning of the pipe wall. In addition, stress concentrators could be present on the metal surface. Failure occurs first by bulging (yielding) at the grinding area, followed by rupture of the steel membrane. Additionally, the presence of stress concentrators could act as initiation points for rupture at lower strain levels.

The installation of a PETROSLEEVE® prevents bulging by permanently providing mechanical support to the localized thinned section. The sleeve also eliminates metal movement (fatigue), and reduces the strain induced in the material by the external forces.

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7. Leak
A leak occurs when a hole in the pipe wall allows the liquid or pipeline product (i.e. oil or gas) to escape, while the pipe wall continues to contain the internal pressure preventing a rupture from occurring. Both leaking defects and active internal corrosion will proceed through the the wall of the pipeline if left unrepaired.

At present, development is underway to research and test a unique technique using the PETROSLEEVE® Repair System to repair both leaking defects and active internal corrosion.

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At this time, the PETROSLEEVE® it is not recommended for leaking defects.

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Significant cyclic pressure testing was performed in an attempt to cause fatigue cracking to extend. After 35,600 severe pressure cycles, no evidence of crack extension was identified.

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Because of the compression forces between the PETROSLEEVE® and the pipe, electrical contact exists between the pipe and sleeve. The cathodic protection impressed upon the pipeline will protects sleeve steel.

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When a defect is longer than a sleeve, multiple sleeves are installed. The sleeve edges are butted to each other, not welded.

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The PETROSLEEVE® was installed on many "out of round" pipes. In all cases, the installation method resulted in a compression fit with no installation difficulties with out of roundness.

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The epoxy has a pot life of approximately 30 minutes.

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It takes approximately 1 hour to install a PETROSLEEVE®.

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When the PETROSLEEVE® Repair System is used for a pipe defect, the installation provides additional integrity to the pipe, equivalent to a heavy wall section of pipe. When the installation is complete, the compression forces between the sleeve and pipe are established, the excess epoxy is extruded from between the pipe and sleeve, and the remaining epoxy continues to cure.

Because the sleeve is composed of steel, the impressed cathodic protection used to protect the pipeline also protects the PETROSLEEVE®. Also, with the epoxy being shielded from ultraviolet rays, the epoxy life will match that of the PETROSLEEVE® steel itself.

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Any coating suitable for coating pipe can be used on a PETROSLEEVE®.

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Clause 195.416(f), Federal Register, Vol. 64, No. 239, states that a repair method shall repair the pipe "by a method that reliable engineering tests and analysis show can permanently restore the serviceability of the pipe". All the completed engineering testing and analysis shows that by reducing the stress level in the defect region below a threshold level effectively arrests defect growth or defect deterioration.

The current Canadian Code accepts the PETROSLEEVE® for corrosion and stress concentrating type defects. In the June of 2003 edition of Z662, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) recognized the “Steel Compression Reinforcement Sleeve” repair method. With the PETROSLEEVE® meeting and exceeding the Z662 standard criteria, the Oil & Gas Industry can permanently repair their pipelines. Prior to the recent June 2003 Z662 code issue, the only acceptable method to repair stress concentration type defects (i.e. cracking) was by grinding, welding on a pressure-containing sleeve, or cutting out the defect. The PETROSLEEVE® Repair System offers pipeline owners an incredibly cost effective, safe, reliable and proven alternative! for more, Link to our PRESS page, or, download PETRO-NEWS.

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Coating and backfill can be completed immediately after installation.

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Installation of 24" sleeves or smaller can be installed without any hoisting equipment. All installation tools and products are easily managed by hand. Larger diameters (> 30") require some form of hoisting equipment.

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