Press Releases
June 2006
Syntho-Glass® Helps in Underwater Indian River Repair to Keep Gas Customers Online
Bubbling water in the middle of Florida's Indian River gave the first sign of a natural gas pipeline leak. Challenged with finding an innovative way to make an underwater repair, AGL Resources faced the possibility of a costly repair or replacement and customers experiencing an interruption in service.
The underwater bubbles were coming from a Florida City Gas pipeline supplying the Cocoa Beach area. Installed in 1965, the leaking line runs beneath the Indian River for roughly a mile. The pipeline was lying beneath 15 feet of water and three feet of sediment in a sensitive river environment. The line itself consisted of concrete-coated steel.
The company considered three options for completing the repair: cutting out and replacing a section of the pipe; repairing the clamp; or completely replacing the pipeline. All three options presented their own set of challenges including leaks and excessive costs.
With so much to lose and a leaking gas line that had to be repaired, AGL Resources thought it would be an ideal time to try a new kind of pipeline repair material: Syntho-Glass® from NRI.
A soft fabric that hardens to improve strength and protect structure when cured, Syntho-Glass® seemed like the perfect solution to this problem. Syntho-Glass® is used in conjunction with an underwater epoxy that contains Kevlar® and can be used to strengthen steel, iron, cement and even wood.
According to Buck Green of Benton-Georgia, AGL Resources' pipeline contractor, "The pipe was in good condition, and the clamp to repair the leak had been installed correctly, but the leak was equivalent to a ¾-inch open line. Gas was leaking from both sides of the clamp and from 2-inch blow-down."
To ensure the water would not enter the line, the pressure in the 60-pound line was lowered and equalized at 15 pounds. To install the Syntho-Glass, two-part Kevlar-reinforced epoxy was mixed and applied to the pipe in preparation for winding the woven Syntho-Glass® around the pipe.
Over two days, 28 rolls of 4-, 6- and 8-inch-wide Syntho-Glass® were used to build a "composite sleeve" around the leaking pipe. By day five, the pipeline was re-pressurized to 60 pounds and the wrap held. To this day, the pipeline wrap is still secure.
The project was successfully completed at a cost of just $60,000 and not one of AGL Resources' 16,000 customers experienced an interruption in service.
