Capability Statement Dec 2016 - Primas Dry Ice Blasting Rust from 44 Inch Ball Valve Components in Perth, WA.

CONTEXT 

Primas Dry Ice Blasting was instructed to remove heavy rust contamination from five 44 inch ball valve housings, five valve adaptors, ten trunnion plates and eight valve elbows. The majority of the components had been used at an off shore oil rig while others had been used as part of on shore operations. The valves were disassembled as the valve balls were being replaced and the valve housings and components reconditioned and then reassembled and tested with the new valve balls.

SITUATION 

The rust contamination on the components ranged from light surface rust to complete rusting of the mill scale layer and significant pitting of the various substrates. The client requested that the surface rust be stripped from the components and that a smooth, white steel finish be provided. Given that some of the components weighed over nine tonnes the client requested that the cleaning be completed in situ and that the painted and machined surfaces of the components were not damaged.

ACTION

​Primas protected the various painted and machined surfaces of the components and then
carefully removed the rust from all affected surfaces. Care was taken to not over-blast on
to sensitive surfaces.

RESULT

The rust was efficiently and effectively removed from all of the components and a smooth,
white steel finish was provided. Dry ice blasting did not damage any of the substrates cleaned or harm any of the painted to machined surfaces. Dry ice blasting also significantly reduced the amount of time, expense, risk and coordination that would have been required if the components had been removed and abrasive blasted off site.