Tuboseal

Introduction

Established in 1987, Tuboseal has developed into the foremost pipeline rehabilitation company in Cape Town, South Africa.
As a frontrunner in the pursuit of world class trenchless technologies in local municipalities and industries, Tuboseal has played an instrumental part in ensuring credibility, acceptance and success of trenchless rehabilitation methods in South Africa.
Entrepreneurial spirit and determination to stay on the cutting edge of technology is ever driving Tuboseal to offer its clients the best and most cost effective methods of pipe renovation available.
The rehabilitation methods offered are all geared towards minimising disruption to the immediate environment, traffic, the public and commercial activities. Technologies are adapted as needed to suit South Africa's unique operating conditions.

CCTV Inspection

CCTV Inspection of pipelines is one of the key components of rehabilitation work. Through the use of CCTV Inspection, problems with pipelines can be diagnosed with increased precision and subsequently the most appropriate rehabilitation method can be selected and performed with greater success.
Tuboseal has quality equipment and expertise to perform CCTV Inspections and recommend appropriate remedial work to a very high level of accuracy. The CCTV Inspection systems are also employed for quality control in new pipelines, which is usually required at the completion of civil construction projects.
Tuboseal has vast experience in the inspection of municipal & industrial pipeline systems.
Tuboseal's CCTV systems include tractor driven and forward facing push cameras.
Tuboseal can CCTV from 100mm pipelines to 1.2m pipelines.
Tuboseal's surveys come with a full digital CCTV report.

Pipe Cleaning

Most pipelines are subject to build-up of silt, foreign objects and other deposits throughout its lifetime. This build-up affects the performance and capacity of a pipeline dramatically, to the point where pipelines may become completely blocked.
Periodic cleaning of pipelines is vital to ensure proper functioning of pipeline systems. Tuboseal offers a variety of cleaning techniques to best suit the specific type of pipeline and residue level.
High pressure jet cleaning is most often used to remove small debris, moderate amounts of siltation, soap fat and other built-up residues from pipelines. A hose and specially designed nozzles is used to spray high pressure water jets into the pipeline, achieving the loosening and removal of residue.
Mechanical cleaning is most often used in pipelines where high levels of silt, large debris, roots and other tough objects are present. Debris is systematically removed by dragging specially designed buckets, pistons and scrapers through the pipeline.
Hand labour and vacuum cleaning of manholes, catch-pits and gullies are also used in heavily silted pipe systems.

Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP) Lining

CIPP Lining is the most technologically advanced lining system in use today and epitomises the use of totally trenchless technology. After inspection and cleaning of the pipeline section, a soft, resin impregnated liner is inserted into the host pipeline. The liner is inflated so that it settles into place inside wall of the host pipe (much like the inner tube of a bicycle wheel).
Once securely in place, the resin in the liner material is cured by means of heat, catalyst or Ultra-Violet light. The cured liner has exceptional strength, chemical resistance and flow dynamic properties. With a wall thickness of only a few millimetres, the rehabilitation results in minimal loss of the host pipe's cross section while also enhancing the structural qualities of the host pipe significantly.
After installation a remote controlled robot is then used to re-open lateral connections. A fully rehabilitated pipe system is achieved.
Installation is usually completed within a few hours and the infrastructure in the area surrounding the rehabilitation site is usually entirely unaffected. Large installation equipment is not required and earthworks are generally not required, thereby minimising disruption to the surrounding area and infrastructure.

Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP) Lining is ideal for:

High risk pipeline rehabilitation projects.
Pipelines that have very limited access or are deep beneath the surface.
Pipelines where excavations will create unacceptable disruption to traffic and other activities.
Pipeline that are surrounded by immovable or delicate infrastructure.
Pipelines that require minimal down time.

Pipe Cracking

Pipe Cracking is the process by which one inserts a new pipe into an existing line while breaking up and dispersing host pipe. During pipe cracking, a new High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE) pipe is connected to a cracking mandrel (or cracking head) and lined up at the one end of the host pipe. The new pipe (spear headed by the cracking mandrel) is then dragged through the host pipe by means of hydraulic or mechanical force. The host pipe is cracked open and dispersed, making way for the new HDPE pipe along the original trajectory.
The host pipe can be replaced with one of equal size or it can be up sized to a larger diameter. A continuous HDPE pipeline ensures total sealing of the pipe, while minimal excavations are required to reinstate lateral connections to the new pipeline. Chemical resistant and robust HDPE material with a 50-year life expectancy is normally used.

Pipe Cracking methods are very well suited for:

Pipelines that are surrounded by immovable or delicate infrastructure.
Pipelines that are covered by surfaces that are expensive or difficult to reinstate after excavations.
Pipelines where significant excavations will create unacceptable disruption to traffic and other activities.

Slip Lining

Slip Lining consists of inserting and securing a new pipe within an existing host pipeline. The small cavity (or annulus) between the wall of the host pipe and the new pipe is often filled with a cement slurry in order to secure the new pipe completely. While Slip Lining slightly reduces the diameter of the host pipeline, the benefits of simplicity, speed and economy often make this the technique of choice. Once the installation is complete the integrity and longevity of the pipeline is ensured.

Grouting & Joint Sealing

Grouting & Joint sealing is a process of re-sealing low-pressure pipelines, primarily against infiltration of ground water, roots and sand. This operation takes place between manholes using patented Tuboseal technology. A specially designed packer (or piston) is dragged through the pipeline and used to inject cement-based grout into crevices, damaged joints, cracks and cavities in or around the pipeline. Culverts and man entry pipes are sealed using a mould to inject grout. This method is especially effective in preventing the settling of pipelines, sink holes and blockages caused by infiltration.

Patch Lining

Patch Lining is based on the CIPP concept, but enables the rehabilitation of very short sections of a pipeline. A resin impregnated patch is wrapped around an inflatable rubber packer. The packer and patch is pushed along the pipeline to the exact location of the fault. The packer is inflated and the patch is seated securely onto the inside wall of the pipeline. The patch resin cures within an hour, after which the packer is deflated and removed from the pipe. The patch material has exceptional strength, chemical resistance and flow dynamic properties.
Installation is usually completed within a few hours and the infrastructure in the area surrounding the rehabilitation site is usually entirely unaffected.

Patch Lining methods are very well suited for:

Point repairs, leaking joints, leaking connections or other situations where only a short section of a pipeline needs rehabilitation.
Pipelines that have very limited access or are deep beneath the surface.
Pipelines where excavations will create unacceptable disruption to traffic and other activities.
Pipelines that are surrounded by immovable or delicate infrastructure.
Pipelines that require minimal down time.

Robotic Cutting

During the use of CIPP and patch lining techniques, lateral connections to the pipeline is often sealed off by the newly installed lining material. A robotic cutter is used to drive along the pipeline and cut open all lateral connections so that flow is reinstated.
Robotic cutters can also be used to remove obstructions in pipelines that would otherwise require excavation or other manually intensive operations. Obstructions like protruding lateral connections and heavy tree roots can often be removed with the help of robotic cutters.