STATS GROUP - High Integrity Isolation

Temporary pipeline isolation technology to facilitate safe and efficient repair and maintenance activities.

High Integrity Isolation for Safe Pipeline Maintenance

Pipeline owners and operators are constantly looking to improve operational safety and reduce time and costs during pipeline maintenance and repair. Pipeline isolation is a key requirement for safe and efficient maintenance and modification of oil, gas and petrochemical facilities. Operators can often encounter difficulties isolating sections of their pipeline to facilitate maintenance activities if appropriate valves are absent from the line, or if the existing valves do not provide the required level of isolation. Pipeline isolation tools have been utilised pre and post-shutdown to reduce the duration and limit maintenance activities while maintaining safety and maximising planned duties, providing a commercially cost-effective solution to the end-user. The use of isolation tools can also help the industry meet its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by preventing the flaring and venting of vast sections of pipeline inventory, in some cases many kilometres.

Temporary Pipeline Isolation

STATS Group provide a wide range of industry-leading pipeline isolation plugs and line stopping equipment and with its vast experience can assist operators in assessing the optimum solution for their pipeline isolation, hot tapping and line stopping challenges. Temporary pipeline isolation and intervention can be undertaken safely and efficiently on piggable or unpiggable pipelines or pipework systems.

With appropriate material selection and testing, pipeline isolation and line stopping can be undertaken in any pipeline medium, examples include steam, liquid Co2, hydrocarbon liquid and gases. STATS has an extensive global track record of temporary pipeline isolation of onshore, topsides and subsea pipelines, from ¾ inch to 54 inches.

Non-intrusive inline isolation is provided by the Tecno Plug® which is pigged through the pipeline to the required isolation location from a pig launcher or receiver. Piggable isolation tools require no welding or cutting into live lines, leaving no residual fittings or hardware on the pipeline. Once at the desired location the Tecno Plug is controlled remotely using an extremely low frequency (ELF) inductive system for reliable tracking and accurate positioning of the plug. The Tecno Plug is hydraulically activated engaging taper locks which grip the pipe wall and radially expand dual elastomer leak-tight seals. The dual seal design provides a zero-energy zone to enable breaking of containment activities to be conducted safely and efficiently.

STATS BISEP® developed more than a decade ago provides industry-first, leak-tight double block and bleed isolation technology for temporary line plugging, offering a leak-tight seal every time. Traditionally, operators use multiple split tee fittings and lip seal line stopping equipment to allow for necessary repair or maintenance activities to take place safely. The BISEP offers significant safety advantages over traditional line stop technologies and can be deployed through a single hot tap intervention while production is maintained through an integrated bypass, avoiding interruption to production and reducing costs, without compromising safety.

STATS Tecno Plug and BISEP are fully certified by DNV GL to verify that the design criteria satisfies the requirements for Pipeline Isolation Plugs to provide dual seal and isolation in accordance with Offshore Standards; DNV-OS-F101 (Submarine Pipeline Systems) and recommended Practices; DNV-RP-F113 (Subsea Pipeline Repair) and in compliance with the following code; ASME BPVC Section VIII, Division 2.

The SureTap® range of proprietary hot tapping machines provide performance and reliability for critical, high-pressure tapping operations. Designed and built to incorporate industry-leading features, the SureTap range incorporates a double block and bleed sealing configuration allowing taps to be performed safely on a wide range of pipeline materials and mediums, including use with sour (H2S) products.

A Safer Energy Industry

STATS is constantly striving to improve the safety of its industry offering dual, proven barriers and controlled isolation, and replacing existing single seal unmonitored tooling with safer high integrity technology. STATS operate across the globe where its services extend over the entire lifecycle of hydrocarbon assets from construction, maintenance, assisting with extending the life of assets, through to decommissioning and on to hydrogen transportation, carbon capture and storage. STATS aim is to drive higher levels of safety and support the industry in the transition to a low carbon future.

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