Plast ic pipes
PE pipe used in electrical
installation in France
Utilities supplier GPS PE Pipe Systems
has moved into the electrical industry
after supplying its polyethylene Push-
Fast pipe and fittings system for a major
power project in France. The PACA
region in the south-east of France was
under constant threat of power outages,
prompting power network Reseau de
transport d’electricite (RTE) to invest
in a €200mn infrastructure project. The
scheme will involve the installation of
three 225,000V underground lines by
2015 to guarantee security of electrical
supply.
RTE has specified 30,600m of 225mm
Push-Fast pipe and fittings from GPS
to provide a cable duct solution that
will house the underground cable link
between the towns of Boutre and Trans.
Traditionally, concrete or PVC would
be used for this type of cable duct
application, and RTE considered several
options before selecting Push-Fast
pipes and fittings as an option
that could also reduce installation
times. Usually employed in water
infrastructure schemes, Push Fast
can withstand anticipated cable
surface
temperatures
of up to 70°C, and also
meet all of RTE’s ductility,
elasticity and insulation
requirements, while its
speed of installation helped
RTE keep to programme
time scales and avoid
financial penalties.
Richard Graty from GPS
commented, “RTE was
targeted with laying 200m of pipe each
day of the project and delay penalties
were applicable if they did not meet
these targets. Push-Fast’s innovative
end load resistant spigot and socket
system enables simple push-fit joints,
eliminating the need for welding and
significantly reducing installation times.
The result was a rapid installation and
cost-effective solution which has already
led RTE to specify Push-Fast for further
projects and also prompted other energy
companies to discuss the use of Push-
Fast for their schemes too.”
GPS PE Pipe Systems
– UK
GPS’s Push-Fast pipe and fittings eliminate
the need for welding
A selection
of Push-Fast
products
March 2014 Tube Products International
103
Pipe for intervention applications
Magma Global has developed s-pipe, a
small diameter flexible pipe suitable for
intervention applications that require
a combination of high pressure, high
temperature, sour-service and fatigue
performance.
s-pipe shares the same fundamental
qualities as m-pipe
®
, the company’s
high-end carbon fibre polymer pipe,
while offering a smaller minimum
bend radius (MBR). Using Victrex
®
PEEK thermoplastic polymer and a
combination of higher strain fibres to
facilitate lightweight and reel-ability,
s-pipe is suitable for challenging
interventionandwork-overapplications.
5, 10, 15 and 20ksi versions of s-pipe
are available in diameters up to 3". It is
resistant to highly corrosive fluids and
resilient at the high temperatures that
cause problems for existing solutions.
s-pipe addresses a requirement for
intervention work strings to have the
performance characteristics of the
m-pipe product but with the benefit of
a more tightly spooled package.
The high pressure, high temperature
and practically inert behaviour of s-pipe
combined with excellent flow rates and
reduced pressure drop will facilitate
improved performance and wider
engineering benefits across the whole
intervention equipment spectrum.
Magma sees s-pipe as being
an ideal product for the more
challenging intervention and work-
over applications, particularly where
pressures are 15ksi and above. The
company developed s-pipe in direct
response to the challenges customers
experienced with current solutions.
Magma Global Ltd
– UK
