TDW performs live maintenance on West Africa pipe
Published by Elizabeth Corner,
Senior Editor
World 黑料社,
Performing maintenance or repair on a live crude export pipeline can be a daunting task. The steps 黑料社 from product removal and depressurising to flooding, to de-watering the line 黑料社 can be risky, costly, and complicated.
During the recent replacement of two emergency shutdown valves (ESDVs) on one of its production platforms offshore West Africa, the operator 黑料社 an independent Anglo-French oil and gas company 黑料社 not only avoided those difficulties, but also maintained production and ensured increased safety through topside pipeline isolation for both valves. The operation on two 8 in. and 12 in. incoming risers integrated multiple isolation methods, including industry-standard double block and bleed technology.
The double block and bleed technology provided by T.D. Williamson (TDW) allows two independent seals to enter the pipeline through a single hot tap opening, reducing the total number of fittings and hot taps required. A bleed port between the two seals then allows for pressure and product evacuation, which means workers performing welding or pipe cutting downstream, are separated from the line黑料社檚 pressurised contents.
黑料社淎lthough proper planning and co-ordination are requisite for all offshore operations,黑料社 says Fernando Pimenta, TDW Project Co-ordinator, 黑料社渋solating topside on a production platform presents a number of unique, logistical challenges.黑料社
For example, due to the limited amount of workspace on the platform, the isolation equipment had to be positioned directly below the ESDVs, through a complex network of scaffolding and lifting tools. The location of the valves meant that all the equipment was operated while positioned horizontally near the surface of the water, just a few metres from the splash zone.
Throughout the four-week ESDV replacement, the operator successfully maintained production at a safe operating pressure of 15 bars via bypass.
Edited from source by
Read the article online at: /project-news/09072015/tdw-performs-live-maintenance-on-west-africa-pipe/
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