REINFORCEKiT® 4D, Pitting and cracks (8 defects) – Africa
High-performance composite repair solution for pipe reinforcement
Overview
In November 2025, 3X ENGINEERING (3X) specialists carried out a repair operation on an LNG tanker. The goal of this job was to restore a manifold made of 12" and 16" pipelines damaged by six cracks and two pitting areas due to external corrosion. To reinforce it, REINFORCEKiT® 4D (R4D) composite repair solution, made of Kevlar® tape and bi-component epoxy resin, was selected.
Results
The repair successfully restored the integrity of the damaged manifold in compliance with ASME PCC-2. Once the manifold was brought back into service, the composite successfully cured as it gelled under operating conditions, driven by the extremely low service temperature of -163°C. REINFORCEKIT® 4D solution effectively treated cracks and corrosion on both 12" and 16" pipelines.
 Defect type |
Pitting and cracks (8 defects) |
Details |
2" & 16" pipelines, elbow, operating temperature -163°C, design pressure 10.2 bar |
Location |
Africa |
3X Product type |
REINFORCEKiT® 4D |
SCOPE OF WORK
- Leak sealing: Metal plates, specifically conformed to match the pipe shape and prepared, were fixed on the cracks using 3X filler and ratchet belts (step not required for pitting defects).
- Surface reconstruction: 3X filler was applied to rebuild the original geometry of the pipes and smooth the surface.
- Composite wrapping: The composite reinforcements were installed using Kevlar® tape impregnated with 3X resin.
- Defect 1 (12" elbow): 6 layers (360mm).
- Defects 2 & 3 (16" elbow): 8 layers (430mm per repair).
- Defects 4, 5 & 6 (12" elbow): 6 layers (350mm per repair).
- Defects 7 & 8 (16"): 8 layers (1552mm per repair).
- Finalization: A final resin layer was applied to protect the composite system, followed by an identification plate for full repair traceability.
