Prague: Rehabilitation of steel gas pipes using the egeLiner®
Europe is facing the challenge of having to rehabilitate and modernise its old gas supply lines which are also frequently in need of repair. Moreover, in the wake of discussions about a future transition to new sources of gas, and hydrogen in particular, these rehabilitation measures are vitally important. The egeLiner® technology, which will involve a polyethylene pipe sitting close-fit to the inner wall of the pre-existing gas pipes, provides an uncomplicated solution for rehabilitating gas pipes made of steel or other old pipe materials by means of trenchless installation.
The construction project at the centre of Prague, which involved the rehabilitation of steel gas pipes in the areas of Klárov, Pod Bruskou, Kosárkovo nábřeží and their environment, was realised by a company called ZEPRIS s.r.o. in 2022. The construction site was near the seat of government and in close proximity to the Vlatava River. The DN 500 steel gas pipe, of which a 600-m segment was rehabilitated, is part of the critical infrastructure, which is why major security measures needed to be taken throughout the rehabilitation process. Since the gas pipeline ran through the immediate neighbourhood of the country’s seat of government, precise alignment was absolutely essential. Furthermore, the project was subject to the requirement that the backfilling of the trenches would need to be supervised by a fire safety engineer for safety reasons.
and the investor around the drafting of the project documentation. Rehabilitation of gas pipelines in Prague is deliberately and carefully scheduled for specific months of the year to prevent any major obstructions. As the planner, Arnošt Polák, summed up after the construction phase: “The egeLiner® technology provides an excellent option for rehabilitating gas pipelines made of steel without requiring an open trench. It yields modernised gas pipe systems providing a long useful life and a high degree of reliability. Thanks to the small construction pits involved, this technology offers huge advantages in cities such as Prague since it ensures minimal environmental impact and high installation speed. While this rehabilitation method for gas pipelines requires painstaking preparation, it also has many benefits. In many places, it is the only available option for trenchless rehabilitation”.
Contact
Dipl.-Ing. Daniel Snajdr
egeplast international GmbH
Email: Daniel.Snajdr@egeplast.de
Tel.: +420 732 664 631
© istockphoto.com/Vanit Janthra