Innovations in plastic gas piping being put to good use
Officials from George Fischer Central Plastics (GFCP) and Arkema Inc. announced that the Mid-Tex Division of Atmos Energy Corp. has recently completed a 10.5-mile installation of 4-inch, DR-11, Hyperplast polyamide-11 pipe. This is the longest installation to date of Hyperplast polyamide-11 pipe, replacing steel pipe and connecting the city gates in Coolidge, Texas, and Hubbard, Texas. Under the Hyperplast trade name, GFCP has brought together a complete piping system based on Arkema's Rilsan polyamide-11 resin, the only plastic material currently approved by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for high pressure natural gas distribution without permit.
Although the installation started off slowly because of severe weather conditions, the project was completed on schedule and under budget. Atmos Energy realized a savings in total installed cost for this installation project with Hyperplast polyamide-11 pipe when compared to steel pipe and, unlike steel, this system requires no corrosion protection now or in the future.
"With this major installation, Rilsan polyamide-11 resin has again proven itself to be a material of choice for critical oil and gas applications," said Pratik Shah, market manager at Arkema Inc. "After proving itself for over 35 years as an industry standard for corrosion-free piping systems in oilfield applications, Rilsan polyamide-11 resin is now confirmed as a reliable, cost-effective and sustainable product for corrosion-free natural gas distribution networks.”
Through amendment to US DOT CFR Title 49, Part 192, governing gas distribution pipe, GFCP's Hyperplast system is the only plastic pipe permitted by the DOT for use at pressures up to 200 PSI. After years of research, study, and application testing, the Rilsan polyamide-11 pipe resin, produced by Arkema, has proven to be reliable and safe in pressure pipe applications for natural gas.
With further material improvements, Arkema has successfully increased the hydrostatic design basis (HDB) rating of this piping system. Once formally recognized by the DOT, the new maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of the current piping system will increase to 250 PSI.
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