News Briefs

Yes…Clause 195.415(f), Federal Register, Vol. 64 No. 239 of the Federal Register states that a repair method shall repair the pipe “by a method that reliable engineering tests and analysis show can permanently restore the serviceability of the pipe.” Ultra-Wrap™ has been wholly tested and analyzed by Stress Engineering Services (SES) in Houston, Texas.

Additionally, all the completed engineering testing and analysis demonstrates that by reducing the stress level in defect region below and threshold level effectively arrests defect growth or defect deterioration. The bottom line benefits of Ultra-Wrap™ is it is equal to carbon fiber (in some tests) and it is a fraction of the cost. It has ASME PCC-2 certification and it has multiple uses (anomaly repair and as a crack arrestor).

Yes…the table below summarizes the results from the ASME PCC-2 qualification tests including the 1000-hr long-term strength and spool survival tests. The test results confirm that the WS Ultra-Wrap™ composite repair system meets the minimum requirements designated in the ASME PCC-2-2011 Standard. Any certificated designs using the WS Ultra-Wrap™ repair system must meet the minimum composite thickness requirements of ASME PCC-2-2011 (based off the minimum thickness formulas).

Finally, a comparison between the two internationally-recognized composite repair standards, ASME PCC-2 Article 4.1 and ISO 24817. For all practical purposes the use of these two standards produce the same type of composite design in the repairing corrosion defects. Hence, a system such as the WS Ultra-Wrap™ repair system that meets the requirements of ASME PCC-2, by comparison satisfies the design requirements set forth in ISO 24817. (NOTE: The above information/table is from the SME PCC-2 & ISO 24817 Certification Document – Ultra-Wrap™ Repair System test report by Stress Engineering Services in Houston TX).

The “cost” has many factors involved it in… from the actual dig to the degree of difficulty of the terrain to pipe itself. The bottom line benefits of Ultra-Wrap™ is it is equal to carbon fiber (in some tests) and it is a fraction of the cost. For more information or to talk to a Western Specialties professional… CLICK HERE.

All testing was performed on a third party bases with Stress Engineering Services (SES) in Houston, Texas. The tests included load bearing testing, axial testing, cyclic fatigue, vintage weld, leak-test, strain gauge analysis and a burst test. See “Results” section for copies of the SES testing documents.

Ultra-Wrap™ is an e-glass composite wrap that competes with carbon fiber for a fraction of the cost. Ultra-Wrap™ is a patented pending pipeline anomaly repair solution that protects and supports pipeline flow. It utilizes a military-grade chemical adhesion process to repair pipeline anomalies (cracks, dents, corrosion, wall loss and leakage). In most cases the pipeline does not need to be taken out of service to make the repair.

There is no maximum internal pressure issue, therefore it is usually not necessary to shut down or lower the operating pressure. In the case of severe and deep corrosion, lowering the pressure should be considered for safety reasons.

No…however, the patent is pending. All paperwork has been submitted to the U.S. Patent Office in Washington D.C. Ultra-Wrap™ is an e-glass composite wrap that competes with carbon fiber for a fraction of the cost.

A Composi-Sleeve™ trained and certified installer. Western Specialties is the Composi-Sleeve™ solution creator, developer and manufacturer. LMC Industrial Contractors is the manufacturer and supplier of the steel sleeves. The LORD Corporation is the creator, developer, manufacturer and supplier of the chemical welding agents. Primoris Services Corporation, and their family of operating companies, is the trained and certified service agents/applicators of Composi-Sleeve™ pipeline repair system and projects.

Additionally, in some cases Western Specialties and/or other pipeline repair contractor(s) may be used as the certified service agents/applicators of Composi-Sleeve™ pipeline repair system and projects. Generally speaking, each repair situation is dictated by the requirements of the pipeline operator.

Everything is conditional to the individual situation. The “how long does it take” has many factors involved it in… from the actual dig to the degree of difficulty of the terrain to pipe itself. With regard to the actual installation time of Ultra-Wrap™, typically it is approximately one hour after the preparation work is complete (digging, shoring, etc.). The curing of the chemical welding process is subject to the environment and ambient temperatures and conditions.

Backfill can take place immediately after the chemically welding process has acceptable level of cure (harness). The curing of the chemical welding process is subject to the environment and ambient temperatures and conditions.

Western Specialties is the Composi-Sleeve™ solution creator, developer and manufacturer. LMC Industrial Contractors is the manufacturer and supplier of the steel sleeves. LORD Corporation is the creator, developer, manufacturer and supplier of the chemical welding agents. Primoris Services Corporation, and their family of operating companies, is the trained and certified service agents/applicators of Composi-Sleeve™ pipeline repair system and projects.

Additionally, in some cases Western Specialties and/or other pipeline repair contactor(s) maybe be use as the certified service agents/applicators of Composi-Sleeve™ pipeline repair system and projects. Generally speaking, each repair situation is dictated by the location of the repair work and the requirements of the pipeline operator.

Western Specialties™ is the inventor and developer of the pipeline anomaly repair solutions Composi-Sleeve™ and Ultra-Wrap™. The team is built around the core competencies of solution development, testing and quality. Additionally, training, certification and contractor qualifications are primary areas of focus. Finally, marketing and business development are critical to our success strategy.

Carl “Whitey” Brooks
Sr. Vice President, Inventor of Composi-Sleeve™ and Ultra-Wrap™
Carl “Whitey” Brooks has distinguished himself, over a 60 year window of time as a “Pipeliner”. He pioneering an innovative non-welded pipe repair and reinforcement solution set. It utilizes a military-grade chemical welding process to repair pipeline anomalies. The solutions, Composi-Sleeve™ and Ultra-Wrap™, has revolutionized the pipeline repair industry. The solution set improves the quality and integrity of pipeline repairs with a cost effective system, that out performs mechanical welding and composite wraps. “Whitey” started his pipeline career in 1955 as a welder’s helper. In a very short time he moved up in the ranks to become an accomplished welder, foreman and pipeline repair solutions pioneer. As “Whitey” worked as a “pipeliner” he always believed there was a better solution to be found to repair pipeline anomalies. He observed the limitations of mechanical welding and composite wraps which caused him to develop the Composi-Sleeve™ and Ultra-Wrap™ pipeline repair systems.

Ryan LaVergne
Director of Technology
Ryan LaVergne is South East Texas native from “The Groves”. Ryan studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Houston. Ryan spent the previous ten years at Stress Engineering Services Houston, with the last six with their pipeline division under the direction of Dr. Chris Alexander. He was intimately involved in the testing of many different types of scenarios that concentrated on composite repair systems. Ryan has refocused his efforts in the past year, from full scale destructive (pipeline) testing to designs to insure against full scale destruction. Ryan is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the designs of our repair systems, as well as quality assurance and control of all products that Western Specialties has.

Technology, Quality Assurance and Operations

Carl “Whitey” Brooks
Sr. Vice President, Inventor of Composi-Sleeve™ and Ultra-Wrap™
Email: cbrooks@westernspecialtiesllc.com
Cell: (916) 870-8425

Ryan LaVergne
Director of Technology
Email: ryan.lavergne@westernspecialtiesllc.com
Cell: (713) 899-3975