Nowadays, the supply chain of pipeline projects is global. Pipe can be manufactured in Japan, coated in the Middle East, and installed onshore or offshore in Australia, South East Asia or Europe.
During this global process, quality loss to the pipe and coating can easily occur, as the pipe lengths are lifted, stored, and transported multiple times before they are welded together to form the pipeline.
Since 1992, Dhatec has developed products that prevent pipe and coating from quality loss during logistics.
Dhatec’s pipe storage systems and certified pipe transport systems are used worldwide for significant projects.
Pipe-end protection
In this submarket of the supply chain, no standard of quality is set.
There is broad competition in the field of pipe protection, and a variety of quality products are available.
Cost-attractive solutions are often made of very poor quality materials, and do not protect the pipe effectively.
The lack of a quality control guide makes it impossible to establish the quality or poverty of a cap, which leads to difficulties for project management to adapt the right pipe-end protection and closure into their project scopes.
Dhatec has started developing and manufacturing different pipe closures and bevel protectors, along with steps in the direction of a quality control guide.
Testing
Dhatec aims to position itself as the number one supplier of quality and highly specialised pipe-end protection products.
To achieve this, Dhatec has set up a certification program with well-known, independent underwriter company TÃœV-Nord.
Dhatec and TÃœV have determined a test program in which three different tests will be conducted.
During the first test, all pipe closures are subjected to external forces, to measure their resistance against removal, when fitted to a pipe.
Secondly, an impact test is conducted on the pipe-end and bevel, by dropping weight on the beveled pipe from an impact test tower.
Finally, the degree of protection against rain, dust, and dirt is tested.
The pipe closures and bevel protectors are tested to their limits to demonstrate their capabilities, and quality standard.
This certification program will lead to an informative standard guide, to assist in the selection of the right protective solution per project.
The testing results, focusing on climate factors, storage duration, pipe type, and coating will be readily available to showcase the pipe-end’s functionality and quality.
Project management will have access to the program’s findings, and consequential standard guide, assisting them in choosing the right pipe-end protection, as well as including these important features in their first project scope.
These results can also be matched with pre-determined requirements for pipe and coating.
The pursuit of higher standards of pipe protection and quality control will greatly benefit the oil and gas industry in the future.
Pinard Enterprises supplies the Dhatec Line pipe Logistic Solutions product range in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Region.
For more information on the Dhatec products available call (02) 9440 9444, email sales@pinard.com.au or visit www.pinard.com.au.