Using Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe (RTP) in Natural Gas Distribution Applications

Session 6B
2:00 pm

Blaine Weller, Flexpipe Systems

Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe (RTP) combines high performing materials with high strength reinforcements in a unique construction to create a spoolable high pressure pipeline system. This construction is well suited to a variety of applications.

The primary use of RTP has been in the upstream oil and gas industry for a range of applications covering oil gathering, gas gathering, water injection and water disposal. RTP has also been installed in several gas distribution applications in Canada.

This paper is co-authored by the pipeline end user and the RTP manufacturer. It presents the experience of the use of RTP in a gas distribution application by AltaGas Utilities Inc. The application is approximately 6.6 km in length and has a normal operating pressure of approximately 3.5 MPa. It has been in operation since 2007. The advantages and disadvantages of using RTP in this application are discussed taking into account project economics, technical considerations, installation, operation and reliability.

Blaine Weller – Manager of Applications Engineering – Flexpipe Systems
Assaad Sakr – Senior Applications Engineer – Flexpipe Systems