MegChem designed a special welding and installation procedure to repair a cracked elbow on a pipeline at an operating pressure and temperature of 4000 kPa and 420 °C respectively.

The weld pool temperature was monitored throughout the repair to ensure that it did not exceed the calculated safe value at which the pipeline material is capable of withstanding the operating pressure.

A potential shutdown of the Sasol Secunda plant was avoided, resulting in a production saving of approximately R20 million.