The Challenge

In 2005, an operator in the Duvernay Shale sought to replace a 1.4-mile supercritical CO₂ pipeline. The company’s existing steel pipeline had been corroded by carbonic acid due to water in the pipeline. The operator was also concerned about the degradation of the pipeline due to contaminants in the carbon dioxide transported through the pipeline. 

The Solution

Following a thorough evaluation of various options, the operator selected FlexSteel 4-inch, 1,500 psi line pipe. Using FlexSteel line pipe provided the company with a corrosion-resistant pipeline designed to protect the line pipe from carbonic acid attacks. The FlexSteel pipeline would also safeguard against blistering and provide 290 pounds per minute decompression rates. Furthermore, the risk of longitudinal crack propagation was eliminated due to the pipeline's unbonded steel structure and steel reinforcement layers. 

The Result

Using FlexSteel line pipe, the company was able to enhance the structural integrity of their pipeline and lower their OPEX costs by eliminating cathodic protection and chemical inhibitors. Moreover, the company was able to eliminate its concern regarding internal and external corrosion.