The Pipeline Technology Center (CTDUT) intends to invest R$ 50 million (US$ 26.6 MM) through 2015 in research projects for pipelines, said Raimar van den Bylaardt, the president of the institution, on Thursday (September 22). The resources will be for the expansion and construction of laboratories to serve the demand of suppliers for the pipeline market.

Next month CTDUT hopes to inaugurate a cathodic protection laboratory that will carry out research and evaluation of anticorrosive coatings in pipelines in Brazil. The project is the result of a partnership with Petrobras with whom the center has signed a term of cooperation for the installation of a gas loop of 2.5 km extension initially planned for 2014.

Besides the gas loop, CTDUT will build a 12 inch diameter pipeline of 2.5 km extension for research into onshore transport of liquid fuels. The pipeline is planned for 2013.

At the beginning of next year, the center plans to begin the construction of a laboratory for valves. The installation planned for 2013 will be the first laboratory in Brazil to certify valves following the Technical Standard 15827 of NBR.