IGS awarded GCC LNG contract for sour service pipe remediation

The work has been awarded to deliver a solution for severe internal corrosion in the finger slug catcher system, with sections of 48 in. diameter carbon steel piping severely deteriorated, risking plant shutdown. With replacement of pipes not an option within the turnaround timeframe, IGS has been selected to rapidly deploy its proprietary nickel-based High-Velocity Thermal Spray (HVTS®) cladding for pipes in combination with Corrosion-Resistant Alloy (CRA) weld overlay at field joints. This solution is designed to enable rapid restoration, long-term asset reliability, and the potential to save hundreds of millions of dollars in lost production from avoidable downtime.

To overcome restricted internal access associated with large-diameter piping, IGS is also deploying semi-autonomous technology, using remotely operated vehicles to perform internal grit blasting, quality control inspection, robotic overlay, and HVTS application deep inside the pipe work. These advanced techniques enhance safety by minimising human intervention, ensure repeatability, and provide precision cladding in previously inaccessible geometry, while enabling a continuous corrosion barrier to be installed with limited uptime interruption.

The news comes amid the Middle East's natural gas sector on a rapid growth trajectory, with production in the next four years set to increase by 30% to meet growing demand for power. As a result, asset integrity and production continuity are under the spotlight, with ginger slug catcher systems playing a central role in protecting downstream equipment and maintaining stable gas processing operations, particularly in harsh, sour gas environments where internal corrosion can rapidly escalate to unplanned shutdown risk.

The contract win for IGS is now in its first phase of delivery, and the project will see 700+ metres of new carbon steel pipe internally clad with HVTS, representing 3400 m² total coated surface area, alongside in-situ protection of existing pipework with internal cladding.

IGS’ integrated integrity solution is designed to stop further internal metal loss, extend asset life, and reduce the risk of containment loss. The scope includes 100% internal visual inspection and detailed cladding thickness mapping, delivering full traceability and confidence in barrier performance.

Dennis Snijders, Director for Middle East & North Africa, IGS, said: “By delivering turnkey in-situ installation capabilities, we are redefining what is possible in internal corrosion protection, restoring asset integrity directly where the equipment operates, while avoiding CAPEX-intensive replacement and long turnaround timelines. Protecting the pressure boundary of these slug catcher fingers in severe sour service requires a durable, field-proven approach. Our HVTS cladding, combined with CRA weld overlay at joints, freezes the existing damage mechanism and returns the asset to reliable service without extensive replacement.”

Project mobilisation began in 4Q25 and IGS crews have been active on site through January 2026, completing in-field works and preparing for the next phase of execution.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/05022026/igs-awarded-gcc-lng-contract-for-sour-service-pipe-remediation/