What Is ScarGuard? A Guide to Pipeline Mechanical Protection
Pipeline corrosion protection systems are designed to protect steel against environmental exposure. However, even an excellent corrosion protection coating can be damaged during pipeline installation.
This is especially true during horizontal directional drilling (HDD), where coated pipe may be pulled through hundreds or thousands of feet of underground borehole containing rock, gravel, sand, and other abrasive materials.
ScarGuard is an abrasion-resistant overcoat (ARO) designed to provide additional mechanical protection to pipeline coating systems during demanding installation conditions.
Why Do Pipelines Need Mechanical Protection?
Traditional pipeline coatings are primarily designed to prevent corrosion. Products such as fusion bonded epoxy (FBE), liquid epoxy coatings, and heat shrinkable sleeves provide a barrier between the steel pipeline and its environment.
However, these coatings may encounter significant mechanical stresses during construction.
During HDD installation, a pipeline can be exposed to:
Abrasion from rock, gravel, and other underground materials
Gouging from sharp objects inside the borehole
Impact and friction during pipe movement
Mechanical stresses during pipeline pullback
Damage to field joint coatings
If the underlying corrosion protection system becomes damaged, the pipeline may require repairs or additional inspection.
What Is ScarGuard?
ScarGuard is a composite mechanical protection system associated with the Canusa-CPS and CSNRI product families.
It is designed to provide a durable protective layer over an existing pipeline coating.
Unlike the underlying corrosion coating, which primarily protects against corrosion, ScarGuard is intended to absorb or resist mechanical damage encountered during installation.
This additional layer helps protect the integrity of the coating underneath.
Where Is ScarGuard Used?
ScarGuard is particularly relevant for projects involving:
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
Pipelines installed by HDD are pulled through underground boreholes, sometimes over considerable distances. Mechanical protection can help reduce damage to the corrosion coating during pullback.
Rocky or Abrasive Soil Conditions
Where underground conditions include rock, cobble, or abrasive materials, additional coating protection may be appropriate.
Trenchless Pipeline Construction
Boring, microtunneling, and other trenchless installation methods may expose pipeline coatings to mechanical stresses.
Field Joint Protection
Field joints are important locations in a pipeline coating system. ScarGuard may be specified over compatible field joint coatings to provide additional protection during installation.
ScarGuard and Corrosion Protection Are Not the Same Thing
An important distinction is that ScarGuard is a mechanical protection system, not a replacement for the underlying anticorrosion coating.
The two systems serve different purposes.
The corrosion coating protects the steel from environmental exposure.
ScarGuard helps protect that corrosion coating from physical damage.
When properly selected and installed, these systems can work together to provide a more complete approach to pipeline protection.
How Do You Know Whether ScarGuard Is Needed?
Not every pipeline installation requires an abrasion-resistant overcoat.
The decision depends on project conditions, including:
Installation method
Pipe diameter
Length of the bore
Soil and geological conditions
Type of corrosion coating
Expected mechanical stresses
Project specifications
An HDD installation through abrasive rock may require a different protection strategy than a conventional open-cut pipeline installation.
For this reason, mechanical protection should be considered during project planning rather than after coating damage has already occurred.
ScarGuard for Your Next Pipeline Project
ScarGuard offers pipeline engineers and contractors an option for protecting corrosion coatings during demanding installation conditions.
By considering mechanical protection early in the project, contractors can address coating damage risks before the pipeline is installed.
Joint Specialists Inc. (JSI) supplies pipeline coating and corrosion protection materials for industrial and pipeline construction applications.
If your next project involves HDD, trenchless installation, or difficult underground conditions, contact JSI to discuss ScarGuard and your mechanical protection requirements.
Contact Joint Specialists Inc. for ScarGuard product information, availability, and project inquiries. (steve@jsicoatings.com)
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