Inline Weld Test Tool
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Newsletter

September 2026

Quarterly Review

Testing that Keeps Shutdowns on Schedule

Hi there.

When a shutdown or turnaround window is tight, testing is often what puts it at risk. New welds, fittings and tie-ins all need proving before a system can go back into service, and conventional hydrotesting means flooding, testing and dewatering entire sections of pipe just to verify a handful of joints.

STATS inline weld test tools solve exactly that. They isolate and pressure test only the section that's changed, acting as a verified vapour barrier during hot work and then switching to localised hydrostatic testing once welding is complete - no flooding, no dewatering, no disruption to the rest of the system. The result is testing that fits the shutdown, not the other way round.

Once in position, the tools hold a leak-tight seal under pressure even on pitted or corroded pipe, using liquid or gas test media to verify both strength and leak tightness - so operators get proof of integrity, not just an assumption of it.

Test tool conducting leak test

Thin-Walled Thrust Ring Testing

Location: UK

Thrust rings welded onto open-ended stainless spools, 4" to 24", were too thin-walled for the usual fix of end-capping and flooding the line. STATS' in-line weld test tool made a direct, localised test possible - custom clamps protected the pipe wall, calculated pressures for each size, no temporary fabrication.

Read the Case Study
2

Verified Barrier & Weld Testing

Location: Gulf States

A 2-day shutdown window with dual isolation required before any hot work - traditionally, blind flanges at every field weld, then a full system hydrotest. Instead, STATS supplied 28 tools across more than ten locations, using the same tool for the barrier and the weld test - finishing a day ahead of schedule.

Read the Case Study
Inline-Weld Test Tool Fairfield

Designed For Precision, Proven On Site

Localised weld test tools isolate and pressure test a short section of pipe using high-performance elastomer seals. These seals create a leak-tight barrier, even on heavily pitted or corroded surfaces. Designed to withstand high pressures and operate with liquid or gas test media, the tools verify the structural strength and leak tightness of new welds and fittings.

Inline weld test tools also serve a dual purpose: they provide a verified vapour barrier before hot work and can then be repositioned to test a new flange, fitting or off-take after welding is complete.

In-Line Weld Test Tool Worker Demo

Webinar: Reduced Crew, Meeting The Same Standards

Cutting headcount without cutting corners. How STATS' multi-skilled technicians let operators run test tools and fit connectors with a smaller crew on board.

STATS' test tools use only a minimal volume of test medium, and mechanical connectors remove the need for specialist welding personnel.

Watch The Webinar
Long-Distance Tool Deployment

Long-Distance Tool Deployment

Location: Scotland

A test tool had to reach 30 metres inside a live gas line - well beyond normal installation for these tools. STATS engineered a tethered deployment method, proved it with a factory acceptance test, and set the barrier first time - a first at this size and distance.

Read the Case Study
6

Custom Extended-Body Tools

Location: France

Non-standard pipe sizes on a live construction schedule, where testing each weld separately would have cost too much time. STATS engineered extended-body tools built to the project's own specification, each one long enough to cover several welds in a single test.

Read the Case Study

What's next?

Less Downtime, Less Risk. Every Turnaround

STATS' in-line weld test tools give operators a proven alternative to full system hydrotesting for shutdown and turnaround work.

Operators that adopt robust, proven solutions can minimise unnecessary system downtime, complete routine maintenance more efficiently and return assets to service sooner.

By isolating and testing only the new weld, fitting or tie-in, the tools cut out the need to flood, test and dewater large sections of pipe - reducing water handling, environmental impact and time on the critical path. The same, dual-purpose inline tool that provides a verified vapour barrier for hot work can then confirm the integrity of the new weld, without repositioning equipment or bringing in separate kit.

Until next time,

Vikas Shangari

Vikas Shangari

Global Sales Director

STATS Group

Stats Group
Aberdeen, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Doha, Edmonton, Houston, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Perth