Pipe freeze plugging is a simple, cost-effective method to perform pipeline maintenance or pipe modifications without draining. Using liquid nitrogen, IFT, can isolate the problem area in the line by freezing the product inside the pipeline to form one or more solid freeze plugs. This allows for very little drain-down or refill, and in many cases, no system downtime. Once the work is complete, the pipeline freezes are thawed and the pipeline is back in operation. Standard line freezes range in size from 1/2" to 36" OD and can be performed on most fluids including petrochemicals.
Our repeat customers include power plants, hospitals, industrial companies, mechanical contractors, hotels and manufacturing facilities. With the use of liquid nitrogen, pipe freezing is accomplished by establishing a secure and solid ice freeze plug to isolate pressures in excess of 3000 psi.
In the picture above: The pipeline apparently had a pinhole leak somewhere in a 20 mile stretch. So to find the leak, IFT was called to perform FreezePlugs to determine the location of this leak. Kind of like finding a needle in a haystack when the pipe is buried.
The line was filled with water and pressurized to 2100 psi. The FreezePlug was installed at the 10 mile mark. After the FreezePlug was established a noticeable drop in pressure was observed which told us which way to freeze next. The FreezePlug was thawed and IFT moved downstream and froze another location telling which direction the leak was.
After a number of FreezePlugs it was determined that the pinhole leak was in a 300’ stretch so the pipe was stripped of dirt exposing the leak.
INTERNATIONAL FLOW SERVICE FREEZE PLUGS ARE CONSTANTLY MONITORED AND ARE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND UP TO 3,000 PSI LINE PRESSURE. INDEPENDENT LABORATORY TESTS HAVE DOCUMENTED THAT NO PHYSICAL CHANGE IN THE STRUCTURAL MATRIX OF THE PIPE OCCURS DUE TO THE CONTROLLED FREEZING PROCESS.
Pipe freezing can be performed on a variety of pipes, including:
|
Pipe freezing can be performed in most locations, including:
|
"We were impressed with Jason, he represented your company very well on the job in Yuma. We’ve had vendors/workers in the past who show up, fumble around and are not totally familiar with their equipment. Not the case with Jason, he was professional, prepared and jumped right in and got started."
- Craig Hochheimer,
City of Yuma, AZ
"I just wanted to take a minute to thank and commend you on your team selection and the gentleman who performed the work out here at NIH for us last week. Tom and his partner were on time, and performed their work with the utmost professionalism. This is a very high profile project for my firm and for NIH and your technicians made us look very good and in fact helped us solve a big testing problem."
- Michael McReady,
JCM Associates, Inc.
"City broke off a 2" air relief valve on a 16" ductile sewage pipeline with 45psi. Before the valve could be replaced we had to rush out and complete a 16" linestop. The linestop was successful with a 100% plug. On the left is the thank you letter from the City ."
- James W. Pinkerton,
Manager, City of Kingston, Tennessee