I N N O V AT I O N S • A P R I L - J U N E 2 0 1 4
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M A R K E T R E P O R T
Working in Isolation
How Isolations Can Help Solve Pipeline Challenges –
From Valve Repair To Extending Reservoir Life
The Malampaya Shallow Water Platform in the Philippines
provides 40 percent of the gas to Luzon, one of the most populated
islands in the world. So shutting it down for any length of time could
result in gas shortages and serious damage to Luzon’s economy.
But that’s exactly the proposition that Shell Philippines Exploration and
Production (SPEX) was faced with in 2010, when they learned that a shallow
water platform’s main emergency shutdown valve (ESDV) and neighboring
manual block valve were defective. If the platform needed to be isolated in
case of emergency such as a fire, the valve could leak and fuel the flames.
The consequences could be disastrous – major hydrocarbon spills into the
environment, potential loss of the platform, and large-scale disruption of an
integral part of Luzon’s supply of energy.
Due to the dangers inherent to a leaky valve, most operating
companies diligently monitor internal leakage in critical valves and
replace them if the leakage rate is above a certain threshold.
That threshold had been crossed.
SPEX, the line’s owner-operators, knew the valves had to be replaced.
But what solution would cause the least disruption to the island’s
energy supply?
One option would be to bleed down the line, blow
down 504 km (313 miles) of pipeline, purge the entire
length of the pipeline using nitrogen, replace the valves,
then carry out additional purging steps prior to the
reintroduction of natural gas. Blowing down the line
