Presenting:

Protecting FBE Through HDD: What Can We Really Confirm After the Bore Pull?

Fusion Bonded Epoxy (FBE) is widely used as the primary external corrosion protection system for steel pipelines. During Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) installations, abrasion resistant overcoats (ARO) and abrasion resistant outer wrap technologies are frequently utilized to help protect the coating system from mechanical damage during the bore pull.

This presentation will examine the role of abrasion resistant overcoats and abrasion resistant outer wraps in HDD applications and discuss the mechanisms by which each technology helps protect the coating system during installation. The presentation will also review commonly utilized post-installation assessment methods, including ACVG, DCVG, and other indirect evaluation techniques, with a focus on what these methods can and cannot tell us about coating condition following an HDD crossing.

Attendees will gain a better understanding of the distinction between identifying potential coating defects and confirming the integrity of the underlying FBE system, particularly in HDD crossings where direct access to the installed pipeline may be limited or impractical. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of layered coating protection strategies and how the capabilities and limitations of post-installation assessment methods may influence HDD coating protection decisions.