REINFORCEKiT® 4D SUBSEA, 10 external corrosion defects – Africa
Subsea composite repair solution for pipe reinforcement
Overview
The goal of the repair, carried out in February 2026 by 3X ENGINEERING (3X) specialists, was to strengthen a 12" riser affected by external corrosion defects: four through-wall defects and six metal loss areas. To restore the riser's structural integrity, REINFORCEKIT 4D SUBSEA was selected. This composite repair solution, designed for subsea application, was installed in two phases.
Results
This subsea repair successfully restored the structural integrity of the 12" riser despite significant through-wall and metal loss defects. Completed in shallow water under demanding conditions, the intervention met all quality requirements. The solution is designed to deliver a durable performance with an expected service life of 20 years.
 Defect type |
10 external corrosion defects |
Details |
12" riser, oil, design temp 50°C, press. 52 bar |
Location |
Africa |
3X Product type |
REINFORCEKiT® 4D SUBSEA |
SCOPE OF WORK
- Surface preparation was performed by sandblasting to achieve the required surface profile and ensure optimal adhesion between the riser and the composite repair system.
- A pre-manufactured metallic plate, conformed to match the pipe shape, was coated with subsea filler and immediately centered over the defect. The plate was secured using ratchet belts and maintained in position until full curing was achieved.
- The composite wrapping (Kevlar® tape + 3X subsea resin) was carried out in two phases depending on the defect type.
- Phase 1 (Through-wall defects): A total of 44 layers were applied over a 1200mm repair length to cover the four through-wall defects.
- Phase 2(Metal loss defects): This phase was divided into three wrapping sections to facilitate diving operations while maintaining high application quality (Wrapping 1: 10 layers/780mm; Wrapping 2: 10 layers/940mm; Wrapping 3: 10 layers/940mm).
- Identification plate was installed to ensure full traceability of the repair. Hardness testing was also performed to confirm complete curing of the composite system.
