NDLI: Remote-Controlled Plugging Technology Minimizes Platform Downtime: Valve Replacement Through SmartPlug® Isolation

Content Provider	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection
Author	Lie, Rolf Gunnar Muangsuankwan, Natthasart
Copyright Year	2015
Abstract	Following a planned inline inspection pigging program of its 32-inch gas export pipeline (GEP) on the Bongkot platform in the Gulf of Thailand, PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) discovered that the line’s primary shutdown valve (SDV), last manual isolation valve, and one of the two isolation valves for the line’s pig trap were defective. The issues were creating unacceptable internal passing rates and external leakage to the atmosphere. In addition, the line had severe corrosion at the surface of a 5D bend underneath the deck sealing block. The situation mandated valve repair, removal and replacement operations, while the corroded bend necessitated treatment with composite fiber wrap. PTTEP planned for their shutdown and maintenance for over a year and it was to take place in April 2014. Faced with two options for safe and reliable isolation of its gas export line, PTTEP could either bleed down the entire line — a protracted and very costly option, or it could pressure isolate the line downstream of the valves and just bleed down the section back to the pig launcher. PTTEP chose SmartPlug pressure isolation with the remote-controlled plugging technology engineered by T.D. Williamson (TDW). With the export line securely isolated, the SDV and manually operated valves were replaced. Following the replacement of the valves, a hydrotest was carried out against the SmartPlug tool’s third plugging module to verify the integrity of the repair work. This paper describes the challenges of such an offshore pressure isolation, as well as the steps taken from planning, to site visit and engineering, to safely and successfully executing the isolation.
Sponsorship	Pipeline Systems Division
File Format	PDF
ISBN	9780791856468
DOI	10.1115/IOGPC2015-7910
Conference Proceedings	ASME 2015 India International Oil and Gas Pipeline Conference
Language	English
Publisher Date	2015-04-17
Publisher Place	New Delhi, India
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Leakage Composite materials Corrosion Pipelines Downtime Sealing (process) Inspection Valves Ocean engineering Maintenance Pressure Fibers
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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