CASE STUDY
Protal 7300™ (UK): Protecting the UK’s Gas Network Now, for a Low Carbon Future
Buried Coatings
Project Data
| Location | Dalmeny, Scotland |
| Client | SGN |
| Products | Protal 7300™ (UK), Denso Paste™, Denso™ Profiling Mastic, Denso™ Tape and Denso™ PVC Self-Adhesive Tape |
| Contractor | APEX Integrity Solutions |
| Date | September 2025 |
Project Details
In a UK first, SGN (Scottish Gas Networks) completed a live trial to demonstrate the potential of repurposing the UK’s existing gas network to carry hydrogen.
The live trial was conducted on a 30 km stretch of high-pressure Local Transmission System (LTS) pipeline between Granton (near Edinburgh) and Grangemouth. This representative sample of the UK’s 11,600 km LTS network demonstrated that not only could the existing gas infrastructure be repurposed to carry hydrogen, but that key operational and maintenance works usually conducted on natural gas pipelines could also be safely implemented on live hydrogen pipelines. The success of this pioneering live trial is an important step towards decarbonising the UK’s gas network and proves that existing infrastructure, which delivers energy to millions of homes and businesses every day, can provide a minimally disruptive option for enabling a low carbon future.
Upon completion of the trial, APEX Integrity Solutions applied Winn and Coales (Denso) Ltd’s Protal 7300™ (UK), plus a Denso™ Petrolatum Tape System, to protect the pipework and flanges on a section of pipe used during the test, near Dalmeny.
Protal 7300 (UK) is a two part, VOC free, 100% solids liquid epoxy coating. It is specially formulated for application to damp substrates and is approved for use in the National Grid Coatings Register (Product Groups 9, 9c and 10).
After application by roller to the straight sections of pipe and the adjoining fittings, followed by sufficient drying time, the voids between the flange faces were primed with Denso Paste™ and filled with Denso™ Profiling Mastic. This low-density petrolatum mastic easily fills voids and creates a smooth, uniform profile between the two flange faces.
Circumferential wraps of Denso Tape™ and Denso™ PVC Self-Adhesive Tape were administered to fully encapsulate the protected areas.
A pre-application image of the unprotected pipe and valves.
Protal 7300 (UK) can be applied roller, brush or pad.
Protal 7300 (UK) can be applied to dry, damp or wet surfaces.
Protal 7300 (UK) can be applied to dry, damp or wet surfaces.
Wide angle view of the completed Protal 7300 (UK) application to the gas pipe in Dalmeny.
Denso Profiling Mastic can be seen to have completely filled the gap between the flange faces, thus preventing air pockets or space for water ingress into the void which could cause corrosion.
Denso PVC Self-Adhesive Tape (Yellow) is circumferentially wrapped to fully seal the void between the flange faces.
A pre-application image of the unprotected pipe and valves.
Protal 7300 (UK) can be applied roller, brush or pad.
Protal 7300 (UK) can be applied to dry, damp or wet surfaces.
Protal 7300 (UK) can be applied to dry, damp or wet surfaces.
Wide angle view of the completed Protal 7300 (UK) application to the gas pipe in Dalmeny.
Denso Profiling Mastic can be seen to have completely filled the gap between the flange faces, thus preventing air pockets or space for water ingress into the void which could cause corrosion.
