Common Pipeline Field Joint Coating Terms

Common Pipeline Coating Terms

     As I've mentioned recently, sometimes the folks we deal with are unfamiliar with our products and/or our industry.  Of course, as the average age of a pipeline worker grows...there are more and more new folks entering into the industry.  Some of these folks are moving from a different industry; some are fresh out of college.  In either case - I think it is important to recognize that "you can't know what you don't know."  There is no shame in not knowing something.  There is also no shame in relying on product experts (like JSI) to help you make decisions.  There might be a little shame in not knowing...not caring...and just choosing something anyway - but I'll let you decide that for yourself!

     So, here I'm putting together a listing / glossary of some of the more common terms I've seen through the pipeline world / specifications / etc.  In every case, I'm giving only the simplest, most bare definition.  If you'd like me to flesh any specific term out more; please drop me an email with your request and I will gladly do that for you:  steve@jsicoatings.com

What does HSS mean?  In specifications it generally stands for Heat Shrink Sleeve

What does FBE mean?  Fusion Bond Epoxy is a very commonly applied factory coating (where they would be coating long lengths of pipe.  It can also be applied as a field joint coating.

What does PE mean?  PE simply stands for PolyEthylene - a type of plastic.  All of our shrink sleeves are essentially polyethylenes (I think it is more accurate to call them PolyOlefins -- which simply means a modified polyethylene - but that doesn't come up too much.)

What does TLPE mean?  Three Layer Poly Ethylene.  In the world of factory applied pipeline coatings, this often means a pipeline coating that consists of an epoxy, an adhesive and a PE backing.

What does 2LPE mean?  A two layer polyethylene - generally consisting of a mastic adhesive sealant and a polyethylene outer layer.

What does TLPE Shrink Sleeve System mean?  This is when we re-create a TLPE factory installed product as the field joint.  This would be done (HTLP60/HTLP80 would be examples) using a two part hand applied epoxy; and a shrink sleeve which consists of an adhesive layer and a heat shrinkable PE layer.

What does 2 Part mean?  When people refer to 2 part they are generally talking about a two part liquid epoxy that can be used as a pipeline coating.  Examples of this would be Powercrete and Denso Protal 7200

What does slip-on mean in the world of shrink sleeves?  A slip on would be a shrink sleeve that is supplied in the form of a tube.  So, the sleeve must be slipped on the pipe prior to the weld being made.  The sleeve is moved down the pipe away from the weld - then brought back and installed after the weld is completed.

What does shrink wrap mean in the world of shrink sleeves?  It generally means a product that is a 'wrap around' shrink sleeve. This is by far the most commonly used shrink sleeve configuration.

What does it mean when someone says they need a shrink sleeve for jacket continuation?  This would be on an insulated pipeline of some kind.  The field joints of an insulated pipeline are very often required to be insulated as well.  In those cases, half shells are often used.  Once the half shells are in place; a shrink sleeve is installed covering all of the half shells and bonding to the adjacent PE outer jacket of the factory installed insulation.  This prevents water from getting to that half shell (and the insulation of the line) which very often could be destroyed by water.

What does it mean when someone says they need a "road bore sleeve"?  It means they want DIRAX - a product specifically designed for road bore and directional drilling applications.