CASE STUDY
SNAM Gas Pipeline Crossing Utilises Premier Bore-Wrap™
Buried Coatings
Project Data
| Location | San Vincenzo, Italy |
| Client | Snam S.p.A. |
| Consultant | TESI S.p.A. |
| Products | Premier Bore-Wrap™ |
| Date | 2026 |
Project Details
Snam S.p.A. is the natural gas transportation operator in Italy. They specialise in gas distribution, storage and regasification in Italy and abroad.
The Livorno-Piombino DN750 (30”) renovation project involves the construction of a new 84 km gas pipeline alongside the existing pipe (which is to be decommissioned) across the provinces of Pisa and Livorno. The works involved the protection of a section of the pipe during horizontal directional drilling at Podere San Bernardino.
- Crossing length: 225 linear metres (546.75 m2 of buried surface area)
- Pipe Coating: 3LPE 3.5mm
- Weld Joint Coating: Wrap-around Heat Shrinkable Sleeves
- Mechanical Protection Overcoating: Premier Bore-Wrap™ with standard two-layer application (55% overlap)
Solution
TESI S.p.A. supplied Premier Bore-Wrap™ – a heavy-duty, sacrificial Abrasion Resistant Outerwrap (ARO) designed for trenchless pipeline installations. This field-applied coating comprises a fibreglass cloth impregnated with a water activated resin that, once cured, is designed to offer outstanding mechanical protection against impact, gouge, abrasion, and fracture during horizontal directional drilling (HDD). On the Livorno-Piombino project, this was applied as two layers (55% overlap) as standard, with three layers (66% overlap) applied to the first two sections of the launch column to deliver enhanced protection in the sections subject to the highest stresses.
In addition to supplying the materials and tools for the installation, TESI conducted on-site training for the applicators. The ease and speed with which the system can be applied was clearly evidenced by the on-site teams; by the end of only the second day of training, the quality of application – and each applicators proficiency – had reached the target level.
Application Process
- Surface Preparation: The pipe surface was cleaned to remove any loose debris, dust, and contaminants.
- Water Application: The pipe surface was wetted prior to the application of the tape (with continuous spraying of the pipe surface and the Bore-Wrap as it was unrolled and applied).
- Wrapping: Circumferential wrapping of the pipe using Bore-Wrap, achieving the standard two-layers of protection (55% overlap) across the entire area to be protected (with the exception of three layers [66% overlap] applied to the first two sections only).
- Curing: The Bore-Wrap was completely saturated with water and immediately overwrapped with Premier™ Poly-Wrap. Once fully compressed, the Poly-Wrap was perforated for excess resin, moisture and gases to escape. Once the Bore-Wrap was fully cured, the Poly-Wrap was removed and disposed of responsibly in accordance with local legislations.
Project Outcomes
Geostratigraphic surveys revealed that the subsoil through which the HDD crossing passed had a high potential for abrasion. Upon completion of the project, final inspections showed that the 3LPE coating remained in excellent condition, with a measured insulation resistance value of 50.625 million Ω·m².
This result is more than 500 times higher than the recognised threshold for a coating to be classified as being in excellent condition (according to DIN 30670 and ISO 21809-1), confirming both the effectiveness of the Bore-Wrap mechanical protection system and the integrity of the pipeline coating following installation.
Bore-Wrap also successfully demonstrated its effective performance on large diameter pipelines for the first time in Italy, adding to the previous successful HDD projects performed on 4” and 8” diameter pipe (DN 100 and 200) completed under TESI’s consultancy.
Altogether, the final inspections confirmed the coating was in excellent condition in terms of integrity and efficiency, demonstrating the high quality of the applied coating system and the effectiveness of the protection provided to the pipeline.
Conclusion
The successful protection of the Livorno–Piombino pipeline HDD crossing demonstrated the reliability and effectiveness of Premier Bore-Wrap as a proven solution for buried infrastructure protection.
The protective outerwrap provided a robust barrier against the mechanical stresses associated with horizontal directional drilling while remaining straightforward and efficient to install in the field. Combined with effective on-site training and installation outcomes that surpassed project requirements, Bore-Wrap has established itself as an industry-leading solution for trenchless pipeline installations.
The pipe sections for the Livorno–Piombino pipeline HDD crossing.
Application of the Premier Bore-Wrap as water is sprayed on the surface of the pipe and the Bore-Wrap itself (left). A different perspective demonstrating the wrapping procedure and the personnel involved (right).
Wrapping of the pipe under the supervision of TESI S.P.A.
The Premier Poly-Wrap is perforated to allow excess resin, moisture and gases to escape (left). Once the Bore-Wrap is fully cured, the Poly-Wrap can be removed and disposed of responsibly.
Evidence of the pipe section being pulled through. Note the Bore-Wrap is visible on the emerging pipe.
The Bore-Wrap on the pipe emerging from the ground in extremely good condition, showing no visible signs of abrasion or damage.
The pipe sections for the Livorno–Piombino pipeline HDD crossing.
Application of the Premier Bore-Wrap as water is sprayed on the surface of the pipe and the Bore-Wrap itself (left). A different perspective demonstrating the wrapping procedure and the personnel involved (right).
Wrapping of the pipe under the supervision of TESI S.P.A.
The Premier Poly-Wrap is perforated to allow excess resin, moisture and gases to escape (left). Once the Bore-Wrap is fully cured, the Poly-Wrap can be removed and disposed of responsibly.
Evidence of the pipe section being pulled through. Note the Bore-Wrap is visible on the emerging pipe.
