The safety of oil and gas pipelines is a major concern worldwide, as pipes continue to corrode and lose strength. With 2.5 Million miles of oil and gas transmission pipelines in the U.S. alone, we have already seen more than 1,400 pipeline incidents since 1986, of which the Wall Street Journal reported 364 incidents last year. According to public interest journal Pro Publica, Corrosion has caused between 15 and 20 percent of all reported “significant incidents”, where extensive damage or death have resulted from broken pipes. Corroded pipes are not only potentially fatal, but come at a great cost to replace.
Oil and gas pipelines post danger to the environment when they leak, as hazardous materials are released into the environment, and explosions can occur when oil or gas are exposed to oxygen or heat/flame. Inspections help reduce the number of accidents we see each year. However, in the U.S. only 7% of natural gas lines and 44% of hazardous liquid lines are required for regular inspection. The remaining pipes are inspected less often. Furthermore, the expense of shutting pipes down to replace older pipes with new lines is not always practical when demand is an issue. Many operators will use a risk-based system for maintaining their pipelines, focusing safety efforts on the lines deemed most risky.
America’s 2.5 Million miles of oil and gas pipelines. Photo courtesy of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Pipeline replacement, when it does happen, is an expensive endeavor. For example, power utility Xcel Energy, who owns and operates gas transmission pipelines in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin, recently announced it is beginning a four-year, $69 Million dollar, 11.5 mile replacement effort of post-World War II gas pipelines. That is nearly $6 Million per mile. The National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) a global trade group for the corrosion control industry, estimates that repairing or replacing corroded pipes costs oil and gas companies more than $7 billion a year. Consider the costs of lost productivity and revenues—plus cleanup costs from spills or leaks—and this figure probably doubles, said Kevin Garrity, the association’s recent past president.
The cost to replace corroded pipes, such as this leaking liquid petroleum pipeline, costs oil and gas companies between $7 Billion and $14 Billion in replacement costs, lost productivity and clean up expenses.
But what if pipeline replacement could be avoided if there was a more cost-effective alternative that was also a long-term repair solution? HJ3 Composite Technologies’ carbon fiber pipe repair systems are tested and approved according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standards for high pressure equipment and piping: Nonmetallic Composite Repair Systems for High and Low Risk Applications. HJ3’s carbon fiber is 10x the strength of steel, but a fraction of the weight plus it will not corrode. HJ3’s systems are extremely chemical-resistant as well, and because of their strength, typically require a 2-layer system which saves pipe owners 60%-90% over replacement material and labor costs.HJ3’s steel pipe repair system was recently used to repair a leaking liquid petroleum (LP) pipe in Mexico. The pipe was 30 years old and had significant corrosion and leaking. After preparing the pipe’s surface per SSPC SP-10/NACE #2 guidelines, HJ3’s system was installed, and protected with a UV and chemical resistant top coat. The repair was completed in 2 days, saving the owner significantly.
HJ3′s CarbonSeal steel pipeline repair system was used to repair this leaking liquid petroleum pipe in just 2 days
As America’s oil and gas pipelines age and corrode, the safety of our people and our environment are of utmost importance. The same applies to pipelines around the globe. If 1 in 5 pipeline accidents in the U.S. are a result of corrosion and cost pipeline owners billions of dollars in clean up and litigation fees, cost-preventative inspections and cost-effective repair options are practical areas to focus on. Fortunately, technology exists that has satisfied decades of testing and is accepted by the world’s most credible agencies. Proven options are invaluable when making decisions that save lives and resources. To learn more about HJ3’s oil and gas steel pipeline repair solutions, or to speak with an HJ3 project manager for your specific pipeline repair, contact us at info@hj3.com, or on the phone at 1-877-303-0453.
A leaking underground storage tank is a huge problem for any company. Aside from the costs to repair or replace the underground storage tank itself, there can be massive expenses for clean up, and the possibility of state and/or federal legal action. Your company or business may even have an underground storage tank and not know it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (www.EPA.gov), Federal law defines an underground storage tank as a tank with only 10% of its full mass underground – meaning that even partially buried tanks may carry the lawful stigma or a tank that is fully buried.
What Causes a Leaky Underground Storage Tank?
A leaky underground storage tank can occur due to environmental factors, such as earthquakes or landslides, but most commonly, leaking is caused by corrosion of the tank. This is especially true in underground storage tanks installed before the mid-1980s, as storage tanks of that time had very little protection against corrosion.
Consequences of Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
The consequences of a leaking underground storage tank are enormous. Some of the most costly of these include:
Repair Costs – Depending greatly upon the size of tank, its age, and where the leak is coming from, the cost of repairing a leaking underground storage tank can range from $1000-$5000 on average.
Cleanup Costs – According to the EPA, cleanup costs have a large range depending on the extent of contamination from a leaky underground storage tank. This range can be as low as $10,000 to over $1,000,000 for a single tank. The average is about $130,000
Legal Fines – Fines for leaking underground storage tanks vary greatly from state to state. On a federal level, however, fines of up to $37,500 per day can be levied on a company for non-compliance.
Customer Relations Backlash – In today’s eco-friendly society, the backlash from customers hearing about a leaking underground storage tank and the environmental concerns relating to it can be absolutely crippling to a company or business.
Preventing a Leaking Underground Storage Tank
Luckily, methods of preventing a leaky underground storage tank exist to save you the time, effort, and money that even a single leaking underground storage tank can steal away from you. Cathodic protection, where sacrificial metal is installed to bear the brunt of corrosion, is a commonly used method. Another method is to either line the inside or wrap the outside of an underground storage tank with carbon fiber to act as a strengthening, non-corrosive buffer.
HJ3’s experienced and certified technicians can help you to avoid the costly and embarrassing consequences of a leaking underground storage tank. Repair services are also available if your underground storage tanks have already begun to leak. If you would like to invest in protection you can trust, give HJ3 a call today.
Cracks in a concrete foundation are caused by the water surrounding the concrete as well as the concrete expanding on hot days and then contracting during cold ones. Cracks in your concrete foundation wall can also be caused by your house settling. Fixing cracks in your concrete foundation can prevent further damage to your home and costly repairs, therefore it is imperative that you repair the cracks immediately.
When You Should Fix a Crack in Your Foundation
Professional opinion varies from resource to resource, if the crack in your foundation is 1/8 to ¼ of an inch, you may be able to fix it quite inexpensively. Cracks in your foundation walls greater than that can get costly to repair properly. They may be patched or filled depending on the area and location in your foundation of the crack. Vertical cracks are common with settling. Horizontal cracks are indicative of an underlying drainage problem.
Why Repair a Cracked Foundation
While some cracks in your foundation may not be serious, other can lead to sagging floors, unleveled floors, or other major structural damage. The biggest problems with foundation cracks are water leaks and pests. If you have large cracks in your foundation, you may want to contact a structural engineer to ensure that the crack is repaired correctly
When You Need Professional Help to Repair Your Cracked Foundation
If you find yourself in a situation that the crack in your foundation is too much for you to repair yourself, contact the professionals at HJ3. Our courteous and professional staff can answer all of your foundation cracks questions.
Foundation problems are a widespread complication for homeowners. A bad house foundation can lead to many problems, such as structural damage or complete collapse of the house. A crumbling foundation under your house endangers your house, your family and your bank account. Repairing or replacing the foundation sooner rather than later is an absolute must.
Signs of House Foundation Problems
Even if you haven’t seen any direct evidence that your house’s foundation has begun to fail, there are many tell-tale signs that you are having foundation problems. These include:
Interior wall cracks – Cracking walls, especially around doors, windows, corners and in the basement, are signs that your house has foundation problems. Walls crack due to a house shifting on its foundation.
Exterior wall cracks – Especially noticeable around the cement base of your exterior walls and on brick facades, are another sign of foundation problems. If you see places where the cement base has begun to crumble the problem has become serious and severe.
Floor-wall separations – If you begin to notice that your floor is sagging away from the walls along your interior baseboards, you may have a serious foundation problem.
Awkward doors – if any of the interior or exterior doors in your home are hanging crooked or no longer closing correctly, you may have a foundation problem.
Slanting – If you notice that your floor is slanting, or If round objects have begun to roll off of tables or shelves, it could be because your foundation has begun to sink on one side.
Repairing Your House Foundation
Replacing a foundation can be an extremely lengthy and disruptive process. If it becomes necessary, you can expect to move your family out of your house for several days (or even weeks in some cases) and return to a lawn torn apart by heavy machinery and equipment. It is always a better option to repair your foundation before the problems become so widespread that this becomes your only option.
At a fraction of the cost of replacing a foundation, maintaining and repairing foundation problems is an excellent investment in your home. HJ3’s foundation repair specialist can repair your foundation and prevent further damage with their advanced carbon fiber technologies. Give us a call today if you have questions or would like to set up an appointment.
You may have noticed a dank, musty smell coming from your basement. This is a common issue that results from the presence of fungus in your basement. Molds and especially mildew produce an earthy, musty smell that is unattractive and undesirable for a homeowner. A musty odor can be a persistent nuisance, but there are some things you can do to help get rid of the smell.
Eliminating the Musty Smell in your Basement
As mentioned before, a musty smell in your basement is the result of mold and mildew. To remove the smell, you have to remove the source. Here are a few simple steps to get your basement smelling right again.
Find it – Finding the source of the smell could be difficult. If you cannot see any spots of mold or mildew, you may need to call in a professional cleaning service to help.
Remove it – If the mold or mildew is growing on an object, it’s probably best to get rid of it. If that isn’t an option, proceed to the next step.
Ventilate it – To help prevent mold and mildew from recurring, keep your windows open (if you have basement windows), and open your basement doors frequently.
Circulate it – Installing ceiling fans is a great way to keep the air in your basement moving. If that isn’t sufficient, adding a good, oscillating pedestal fans may also help.
Deodorize it – There is an absolute wealth of air freshening and odor removal products available at your local department store. Use them to introduce a nice, new smell to your basement environment.
Preventing Musty Smells from Returning
Once your musty basement is clean and smelling fresh it’s time to think about keeping it that way. Preventing cracks and keeping your basement plumbing in good condition are the only way to ensure that it does. There are many protective and repair options available to keep your basement looking and smelling nice.
HJ3 is the leading expert in home basement repair and prevention. With advanced carbon fiber technology they can reinforce your basement walls to prevent cracks, sure up your plumbing to repair and prevent leaks, and to top it all off, you have the option of doing it yourself or having it installed by an experienced, certified technician. To learn more, give us a call today.
Mold loves to grow in dark, moist places around your home. This makes your basement prime real estate for the intrusive fungi. But while common molds such as aspergillus and penicillium, and the dreaded “black mold” stachybotrys are unsightly and persistent, they can cause serious health concerns like asthma or allergic reactions if left untreated. Cleaning mold can be a simple task for most homeowners, but many cases require a professional mold removal service.
Cleaning Mold in your Basement
Below are a few simple steps you can take to clean the mold out of your basement:
Measure the mold colony area. Even if there are several small moldy areas in your basement they may be part of a larger colony. Measure from the first visible spot of mold to the last.
Do the math. As unfortunate as is it, your teachers in high school were right – sometimes you do need geometry in everyday life. Determine the size in area of the mold colony in your basement.
Determine if you can do it yourself or if you need to call in the professionals. If the area is less than ten square feet in area proceed the next step. If it is larger, it’s time to call someone with experience to remove the mold from your basement.
Close any doors to your basement to keep mold spores from entering your house while you work.
With a sponge, wash over any moldy surfaces with warm soap and water. Remember to use goggles, gloves and a dust mask to protect yourself from illness.
Allow the area to air dry.
Wash the area again with a solution of one-part bleach to four-parts water.
Wait twenty minutes, and then bleach again.
Wait another twenty minutes, and then bleach a third time.
Wait yet another twenty minutes, then wash with a borate-based detergent and warm water to help keep the mold from coming back.
This process does not have to be used just for your basement. Follow these steps to deal with areas of mold in your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or anywhere else you may find mold.
Preventing Mold in your Basement
Mold needs moisture to grow. If you clean a moldy surface without removing the source of moisture you’ll most likely find yourself cleaning it again a week later. The most common sources of moisture in a basement are cracks in the wall. When water from the soil outside seeps into your basement, it sets up a good environment for mold to grow.
Fix any cracks or small holes in your basement walls with a concrete filler and sealant from your local hardware store. If cracks and holes are large or widespread, it may be time to call a professional to repair the damage. To prevent further cracks that allow moisture in, install carbon fiber basement wall reinforcement strips.
HJ3’s line of StrongHold™ composite products can help you get the job done yourself or send in a certified technician to do it for you. From basement repair to reinforcement, we are the most experienced team available. If you’re worried about the condition of your basement, give us a call today.
Cement floors of any kind are prone to cracking and pitting. Cement is a solid material that has no flexibility to expand or contract. The main causes of garage floor cracking are foundation shifting, freeze-thaw cycles, poor craftsmanship and substandard concrete mixes.
Cracks and pits in your garage floor are unsightly and create dangerous trip-and-fall hazards. In some circumstances, it can even lead to severe structural problems for your garage or even result in a total collapse of your garage.
Fixing a Garage Floor
Often, repairs to your garage floor can be simple and inexpensive enough for a handy homeowner to do his or herself. Cement filling compounds, toppers, and sealants are readily available at your local hardware store. The process is very simple:
Select a filler or topper that meets your needs. Hardware store employees are often savvy enough to help you select the product that meets your requirements.
Mix the filler or topper (if necessary) following the instructions on the label of the product you have selected.
Fill the crack or pit with the compound. Remember to always read your product’s instructions for helpful tips and special considerations.
Allow to harden and dry. The time required for this varies from product to product. This also should be listed on the product’s label.
Apply a cement sealant to help prevent the damage from reoccurring.
Something to Keep in Mind in Regards to Fixing Garage Floors
Cracks in your garage floor are often a symptom of an underlying problem. Most garages, just like your home, have a foundation beneath them, which makes up the garage floor. Therefore, cracks and pits in your floor are cracks and pits in your foundation. This is especially troubling if you have an attached garage on the same foundation as your home.
HJ3’s StrongHold™ residential systems offers a line of certified technician installed or do it yourself products for basement, garage and foundation repair. If you are concerned about the foundation of your garage or home, give HJ3 Composite Technologies a call today.
What is Galvanic Corrosion & How Do You Prevent It
Lady Liberty stands tall and beautiful in the New York harbor. The Statue of Liberty is a great example of galvanic corrosion. During regular maintenance in the 1980s, it was found that this American icon had become a victim of galvanic corrosion when her copper skin started to chemically react to her wrought iron support structure.
What is Galvanic Corrosion?
Galvanic corrosion occurs when two metals are together and both electricity and electrolytes are present. One of the metals will start to corrode while the other will not. Galvanic corrosion occurs frequently in coastal areas. This is why they saw galvanic corrosion in The Statue of Liberty. The statue is made of copper and wrought iron. The Atlantic Ocean is a great source of moisture and electrolytes in the form of salt water.
Galvanic Corrosion Prevention
There are a few things you can do to prevent galvanic corrosion.
Insulate the two metals from each other
Keep both metals dry
Keep metals away from salts, acids or bases
Coat the two materials
Prevention of galvanic corrosion can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in replacement parts and repairs.
Save Your Money & Your Metal from Galvanic Corrosion
While some of these prevention tips may sound difficult, HJ3 utilizes advanced composites for galvanic corrosion repair and prevention. With your metal covered and coated, it and your wallet will be safe from galvanic corrosion.
If you would like to find out how we can help you prevent galvanic corrosion, feel free to call us.
If you have found water standing in your basement, you may have foundation problems. Water seeps into cracks in your basement walls and cause water damage, structural damage and mold. It is a very common problem among homeowners and can cause hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage.
Causes of Basement Wall Leaks
Basement leaks come from a number of sources, and have varying levels of leakage and do varying levels of damage. Common causes of basement wall leaks include:
Excessive rainfall.
Standing rainwater from clogged gutters
Melting Snow
Plumbing Leaks
Sewage Leaks
All of these things can contribute to basement leaks, flooding and structural damage to your home and basement.
Fixing & Preventing Basement Wall Leaks
A leaky basement is a headache at the very least and a catastrophe at most. Cracked and bowing basement walls are especially susceptible to water damage and can lead to further cracking, crumbling, or even total collapse. Water damage of this type can not only decrease the value of your home, it could potentially destroy it.
Fixing basement wall leaks are something that many handy homeowners can do themselves. There are several good sealants and crack fillers on the market that are easy to apply if you can locate the source of your basement leaks. However, in some cases the problem may be severe enough that you may have to contact a professional.
To prevent basement wall leaks (or to prevent their reoccurrence) your basement walls can be reinforced. Carbon fiber composite reinforcement services are available to sure up your walls with super-strong, durable, discrete strips of composite material.
If you need basement repairs, or would like to know more about our carbon fiber reinforcement services, call HJ3 – the most experienced team for basement restoration. Don’t let the problem continue unchecked, call HJ3 today.
The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has strict regulations pertaining to the installation, use, repair and removal of underground storage tanks. These tanks may be used for storage or fuel. The federal regulations on underground tanks are primarily for the tanks that house petroleum and hazardous substances.
Underground Fuel Tank Installation
The EPA requires that within thirty days of bringing the underground fuel storage tank into use, state and/or local agencies must be notified. There are many regulations, they may be quite daunting at first but just remember that the regulations are split up into three sections; technical requirements, financial responsibility requirements and state program approval objectives.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allocated $200 million dollars to cleaning up underground storage tank leaks also known as releases. Over fifty percent of the nation’s drinking water comes from groundwater; underground storage tank releases can cause contamination to it. Following the regulations set forth by the EPA greatly diminishes the risk of releases.
Keeping Our Groundwater Safe
HJ3 can help you stay within the EPA underground storage tank regulations with CarbonSeal. Not only can they repair your underground storage tank, they can make it stronger! With carbon fiber, CarbonSeal makes your underground storage tank resistant to harsh chemicals, abrasive materials and high temperatures.
Please feel free to give us a call if you are in need of underground storage tank repair or strengthening.
