Ameen. “That way we were able to get it all to
Singapore to do a final assessment test before
going offshore.”
“Such complex operations typically take
several months to plan,” explains Ang.
ALL HANDS ON DECK
TDW, Pertamina EP and the contractors all met
to plan every detail of execution. First, various
pieces of hot tap and plugging equipment from
North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific were
gathered in Singapore, along with a team of
expert technicians. Once they completed system
integration testing and a mock-up simulation
of 14-, 20- and 24-inch hot tap and STOPPLE
plugging, the team was ready to mobilize to the
offshore jobsite.
In hot tapping and plugging, the entire
execution is performed by subsea divers. The
underwater operation takes a great deal of skill
to avoid human error. For example, if the plug
setting is not completed, the pipe contents can
escape, causing a potential safety hazard and
wasting valuable product.
A diving contractor was brought on to
support the project with their divers and dive
support vessels (DSVs). Working in five-
member teams at depths of 131 feet below the
surface, the divers deployed a 1200 XL and a
SubSea 1000 XL Hydraulic Operated Tapping
machine. They took field measurements on
the subsea mechanical clamps to calculate the
cutting distance, then mounted the tapping
equipment and completed the hot taps to cut
into the pipeline.
SAVING TIME WITH
SIMULTANEOUS ISOLATIONS
With all nine hot taps completed, it was time
to carry out the task of installing six STOPPLE
“
SUCH COMPLEX OPERATIONS TYPICALLY
TAKE
SEVERAL MONTHS
TO PLAN
”
– EDMUND ANG
TESTING &
MOCK-UP
SIMULATION
FOR HOT TAP
& ISOLATION
24
in.
PIPE
DIAMETER
14
in.
PIPE
DIAMETER
20
in.
PIPE
DIAMETER
MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE
POSSIBLE
I N N O V AT I O N S • A P R I L - J U N E 2 0 1 4
18
63
DAYS
EXECUTED
SIMULTANEOUSLY
9
HOT TAPS
6
ISOLATIONS
