A technician sits in a brightly lit, screen-filled control room,
using cameras and touch-pad technology to remotely control a complex
underwater robot. With just the touch of a finger, the technician can
instruct the machine to cut a small hole in a live, pressurized pipeline,
with near-perfect precision and, more importantly, without the
potential for personal injury.
It sounds like something straight out of science fiction – but the
truth is, industry researchers have been making strides in “virtual” hot
tapping for years, borrowing technology and ideas from a diverse range
of industries, such as medicine and electronics. It’s an exciting prospect
for the future of hot tapping, a job that – despite major advances in
safety over the past 50 years or so –
remains inherently risky.
In reality, it will
probably be several years
before hot tapping goes
completely “virtual.” In
the meantime, though,
Trained for
PRESSURE
The future of hot tapping
may be “virtual” – but until
remote operations are
possible, TDW’s extensive
training helps reduce risks
and eliminate errors.
8
S A F E T Y M AT T E R S
