Method for injecting strand-blocked cable

A method for rejuvenating a longitudinally strand-blocked cable having a conductor comprised of a plurality of conductor strands with interstitial volume therebetween longitudinally blocked by a PIB based mastic, the conductor strands being surrounded by a polymeric cable insulation, comprising:

• installing injection adapters that seal the cable ends of the longitudinally strand-blocked cable and are usable to inject fluid into the interstitial volume between the conductor strands of the cable, and accommodate at least 0.8% radial thermal expansion of the polymeric cable insulation;
• heating the cable to a temperature T1 at least 20° C. above ambient temperature T0, and elastically expanding the polymeric cable insulation through the application of pressure to the interstitial volume between the conductor strands of the cable;
• and
• injecting at least one injection fluid into the interstitial volume between the conductor strands of the cable, wherein the conductor temperature is maintained at least 20° C. above ambient temperature T0 during the injection, and wherein a longitudinal flow path is established through the cable between the conductor strands of the cable.