Ground breaking technology pioneered by STATS Group has been recognised by industry peers.
The Aberdeenshire-based firm has been awarded the Subsea Pipeline Project Award by the world-wide Pipeline Industries Guild.
STATS have invested significant capital in developing its subsea BISEP® technology which is deployed when pressurised pipelines require to be isolated to allow repair, modification or tie-in activities.
The BISEP® technology provides fail-safe double block and bleed isolation deployed through a single hot tap fitting, which offers significant safety advantages over traditional line stop technology. The BISEP is the only hot tap installed plug to be fully certified by DNV GL to verify that the design criteria satisfy the requirements for pipeline isolation plugs to provide dual seal and isolation in accordance with offshore standards.
STATS Group chief executive officer, Leigh Howarth said: “Over recent years we have focused our activity on developing equipment suitable for the subsea hot tapping and isolation market, recognising the potential and scale of this market.
“During this time STATS has completed four major international subsea pipeline repair projects in a range of pipeline sizes, in the South China Sea, East China Sea, Gulf of Thailand and Gulf of Mexico.
“We are delighted to be recognised by the Pipeline Industries Guild for our achievements in this field and the award is recognition to the commitment of the STATS team in introducing the BISEP to the subsea pipeline market.”
Mr Howarth added: “The ability to provide high integrity, temporary isolation barriers offer operators significant benefits. Lengthy decommissioning and recommissioning of entire subsea pipelines can be minimised or eliminated, increasing safety, reducing out of service time and loss of revenue.”
STATS Group sales director Ron James and business development manager Neil Mackay collected the award at a ceremony on board the HQS Wellington at London’s Victoria Embankment.