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I N N O V AT I O N S • J A N U A R Y -
M A R C H 2 0 1 4
production, which can be a disruptive, costly and
drawn-out procedure.
While hot tapping does avoid the pitfalls
associated with a shutdown, manual taps carry with
them some inherent risks, as technicians are cutting
into live, pressurized lines containing potentially
volatile material.
In addition, whether the job is being done
onshore or off, manual tapping depends largely on the
experience and hand calculations of the
technician operating the equipment. For example,
the technician primarily relies on sound and touch
to determine what is going on during the tapping
operation. On subsea pipelines, technicians work
with specially trained divers who provide the same
kind of sensory data via two-way radios. In a situation
where a wrong cut could mean anything from product
loss to catastrophic injuries, reducing or removing the
opportunity for human error is a top priority. Turner
is leading the continuing drive to reduce hot tapping
risk and increase overall performance.
A Move in the Right Direction
T.D. Williamson blazed a high-tech trail when, in the
early 1990s, it released its first remote controlled hot
tapping solution, the 2400 Series Tapping Machine
for on-shore applications. Instead of having to perch
on a live pipeline to operate the tapping equipment,
the technician controls the Remote Control (RC)
2400 Series Tapping Machine via a tethered control
console a safe distance away from the hot tap.
Since its introduction, several revisions to the 2400
Series Tapping Machine have been made, resulting in
increased reliability, greater accuracy and more data.
The current iteration of this RC hot tapping machine
also provides remote monitoring and real-time data,
giving technicians instantaneous information that
improves their decision-making. Digital sensors on
the equipment relay readings about pressure, rotation
speed and travel distance. For technicians who’ve
had to use analog gauges, linear measuring rods, and
intuition to make critical decisions about cutting into
flowing pipelines, the guesswork is gone.
“Improving our hot tapping technology
capabilities helps our customers mitigate risk while
also increasing their first-time success rate,” Turner
explains. “In other words, they can cut the pipe right,
the first try. And they stay safe.”
Reaching Greater Depths, Safely
Continuing the innovation of RC machines, in the
late 1990s, TDW developed and tested a concept
for a subsea machine that ultimately led to the
development of the Subsea 1200RC, which was
released in 2012. The Subsea 1200RC is intended
for both shallow and deep-water use.
In the subsea market, manual taps can only be
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
madness that accompanies out-dated, automated
phone systems. Instead, the faster, smarter, more
intuitive assistance we seek would be at our fingertips,
incorporated into the products we buy.
David Turner, Director of Hot Tapping and
Plugging Technology at pipeline services provider
T.D. Williamson, says that we’ve already gotten to the
point where consumers expect on-demand product
support, particularly when something goes awry.
With the likes of Apple’s Siri
®
, GM’s OnStar
®
and
Amazon Kindle
®
’s Mayday
®
– which launches befuddled
users directly into a live videoconference with help
desk staff – American businesses are doing a good
job answering the consumer call for immediate
assistance, he feels.
But why is the Director of Hot Tapping concerned
about Siri
®
or Mayday
®
? What do consumer-facing
companies like Apple or Amazon have in common with
a business-oriented pipeline equipment and services
company like T.D. Williamson?
Turner says that T.D. Williamson strives to elevate
the relationships the company has with its customers,
to be considered a partner rather than a provider.
With that in mind, T.D. Williamson is always looking
for ways to bring greater levels of service to pipeline
operators. That includes thinking about how to
integrate smart tools into existing product lines.
Turner suggests that the remote sensors and
controls that are now standard on valves, controls and
hot tapping equipment represent a significant first
step in the company’s efforts to bring more real-time
information to its customers. And although OnStar
®
-like
help is not yet available for T.D. Williamson customers,
Turner notes it might not be as far off as people think.
Perhaps someday soon, your hot tapping
equipment may be asking, “What can I help you with?”
