Sherwin-Williams Introduces Pipeclad Frac-Shun ERC Technology

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine has introduced a new, patent-pending, erosion-resistant coating (ERC) technology to protect pipe interiors from the inherent sandblasting action of grit moving rapidly through the pipes. The applied powder coating remains intact far longer than other options, protecting the steel pipes from the significant metal loss that otherwise leads to potential leaks and early pipe replacements in many operations.

The new Pipeclad Frac-Shun ERC establishes a new coatings category with a system that resists erosion inside pipes located near fracking wellheads, thereby reducing downtime maintenance costs and enhancing drilling productivity.

The inner walls of pipes, especially elbows, located near wellheads can be eroded by fracking sandflows within six to 18 months, or sooner. Such erosion also occurs inside storage vessels and tanks where gritty, multiphase fluid flows strike interior surfaces. To date, no other coating category – whether liquid or powder – has been able to successfully mitigate this erosion. Instead, well operators are accustomed to frequent unexpected maintenance shutdowns following pipe wall thickness inspections.

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