Hempel Paints (Saudi Arabia) WLL continues to provide its clients with the most economical solution for oil and gas transmission pipeline rehabilitation and maintenance requirements.

With a proven track record for the HEMPADUR 85530 system, spanning over a twelve year period throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Hempel provides its clients with the confidence in specifying the system and sets the performance standard required for external pipeline protection in this very aggressive environment.

The principal characteristics of the HEMPADUR 85530 product, which is approved by several major oil companies in the Middle East are: low permeability, excellent corrosion resistance, excellent abrasion and impact resistance, easy to repair, good resistance to cathodic disbondment, suitable for immersed areas (subkha - saline water). These characteristics make it an ideal candidate for this specific duty.

However, the performance of any pipecoating is particularly influenced by the standard of application and workmanship out in the field in these arduous climatic conditions.

Although there are strict specifications for the contractors to adhere to, the climatic conditions of the desert will dictate the type of application equipment and coating material that are ideally suited for performing the high standard of workmanship required.

Therefore, it is critical for the contractor working in this climate to have a ''user friendly'' coating material that is tolerant to the desert environment, and does not require sophisticated and complicated application equipment.

The HEMPADUR 85530 Rehabilitation coating meets this criteria with its main features, self-priming high-build coating, single coat application to the required dry film thickness (DFT 500 - 625), application by standard airless spray equipment (451 Ratio Pump), a working pot-life of one hour at 40¡C, and can be applied to in-service pipelines with operating temperatures of up to 90¡C.

On completion of the application of the HEMPADUR 85530 system in the field, Quality Control inspection, (DFT's/Porosity testing) and eventual back-filling operations can commence within eight hours at 40¡C, thus enabling high productivity to be maintained.

Furthermore, Hempel Paints provides its clients with technical services in the field by qualified FROSIO & NACE certified coating advisors, and further technical support is provided by its numerous training courses for Quality Control procedures, which specifically focus on the client's buried oil and gas pipeline coating specifications for the contractors' QC personnel and client inspection personnel.

Hempel Paints continues to strive in its commitment for new technology items and product development to meet with its customers' needs. Thus, it has launched a new pipecoating speciality product - HEMPADUR HT 87540 solvent-free epoxy system.

The HEMPADUR HT 87540 high temperature resistant solvent-free coating system has been specifically developed for new construction, rehabilitation and maintenance work for the long term protection of buried steel pipelines in severe corrosive environments with operating temperatures of up to 150¡C.

The HEMPADUR HT 87540 system is applied by Hydra-Cat (Plural Component) units in a single coat application to achieve the recommended dry film thickness of 500 - 1000 um, dependent on service conditions.

The excellent spraying properties of the solvent-free system gives a uniform smooth finish, with the additional rapid curing characteristics ensuring sufficient cure and hardness can be obtained in 30 to 45 minutes, thus enabling back-fill or pipe stacking to commence very quickly.

The HEMPADUR HT 87540 system is approved by a major oil company in Saudi Arabia for the external protection of Khuff gas pipelines with operating temperatures up to 120¡C, and has been used for the external protection of stainless steel flare lines on several Khuff Gas projects.

In addition, Hempel offers a wide range of internal and external pipecoating products formulated to meet the requirements of its customers, subject to the chemical, environmental and service operating conditions.

Consult the experts - Hempel - for your pipecoating requirements, and it will provide the solution.