Cortec® has pioneered corrosion solutions that restore and protect warehoused spares, allowing facilities to reclaim asset value and maintain production uptime.
What is the real cost of a rusty spare valve or pump in the oil and gas industry? It could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds if the absence of a ready replacement part brings production to a halt—even for a few hours. Cortec® has repeatedly provided corrosion solutions that help oil and gas facilities around the world reclaim thousands of pounds’ worth of warehoused assets from the grip of corrosion, ensuring spares are always ready. For those considering scrapping their rusted spares and starting afresh, these strategies may well be the best kept secret they need to reclaim asset value and maximise uptime.
At first glance, an oil and gas facility may appear well-prepared for emergency repairs, with hundreds or even thousands of spares stored on warehouse shelves. A closer inspection, however, may reveal corrosion forming over months or years due to inadequate protection in a fluctuating warehouse climate of humidity and temperature swings. Even worse, many facilities have exhausted warehouse space and reverted to storing piping, pumps, pulleys, and other parts on outdoor racks, exposed to rain and sea spray.
Warehouses full of rusty spares can be restored and maintained in ready-to-use condition using Cortec®’s simple “Clean, Protect, Preserve” approach, implemented worldwide. Hundreds of parts can be returned to serviceable condition by setting up rust removal stations and following these basic steps:
- Clean and degrease the part.
- Immerse the part in a solution of VpCI®-422 and periodically check rust removal progress.
- Rinse the parts in plain water to avoid contamination from one solution to another.
- Neutralise/clean the parts in a solution of VpCI®-414.
- Dry the parts and preserve.
Once parts are cleaned and restored, they can be preserved in ready-to-use condition with a variety of Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitor (VpCI®) materials. Options include VpCI®-126 HP UV Shrink Film or MilCorr® VpCI® Shrink Film for wrapping both small and large inventory, supplemented by VpCI® emitters or VpCI® fogging fluid as required. The durability of these materials may even make it feasible to use outdoor storage racks as safe storage areas, protecting spares against UV damage and corrosion. Each preservation process should be carefully documented for integrity assurance, allowing maintenance teams to go directly to the correct shelf with confidence that the spare is ready to unwrap and install, minimising downtime.