Offtake, branch or bypass pipework, instrumentation lines or drain pipes are often tucked out of the way; restricting access, and frustrating efforts to stay on top of routine maintenance.
Many small diameter pipes also lack dedicated shut-off valves, which means that operators have traditionally been forced to shut down their entire system, or isolate a larger, productive pipeline to fix a problem or install an upgrade.
This is time-consuming, costly and wasteful which is why our in-house engineering team developed BI-STOP – a line plugging tool designed for small pipes up to 2" in diameter.
Designed to expedite routine maintenance and repair work, BI-STOP is reusable, quick to deploy, and provides the reliably high-integrity isolation needed to replace pipework, cap dead legs, add a valve or clear a blockage without halting production.
The quality of the seals and the level of isolation provided by BI-STOP is such that the tool has also been used to install gas meters on live municipal pipelines in Canada, and completely re-route branch lines in numerous on and offshore facilities.
It simplifies work that's otherwise challenging or arduous to action, and significantly reduces routine or planned maintenance costs.
It's also a tool with a small footprint and low maintenance requirements, which means that it can be held in reserve for emergency situations – enabling clients to expedite repair work and minimise the costs associated with an unplanned outage.
Case Study - 50 BI-STOP Tools Supplied To Major Canadian Utility Company
STATS Group built, tested and supplied 50 BI-STOP tools to ATCO – A Canadian utility company who needed a cost-effective solution for a major upgrade project.
Webinar - Pushing The Boundaries Of Pipeline Isolation
Learn about the latest developments in in-line isolation technology, and find out how to improve the safety and efficiency of maintenance operations in this 40 minute webinar.
Small-Bore Line Plugging Solution
Bi-Stop (MINI) Plugging Tool
An all-in-one tool designed to clamp, cut and isolate small-diameter pipe (5/8") with an industry-leading, high-integrity elastomer seal, BI-STOP (mini) enables operators to carry out routine or emergency maintenance without disrupting production or profitability.
Key Features
- Simple and straightforward to operate
- Can be deployed and activated in minutes
- Takes care of all pipe construct and destruct requirements
- Facilitates proof testing
- Durable elastomer seals with a long lifespan
- Provides leak-tight isolation in pitted or corroded pipework
- Suitable for all pipe materials and process flows
Bi-Stop Mini
BI-STOP (mini) has been developed for ease-of-use. It's a hand-operated tool that can be deployed in minutes, and enables maintenance teams to quickly isolate a pipe prior to testing and repair work.
In most cases, we deploy BI-STOP with trained and competent technicians – well-versed in our operating procedures, and experienced with small-bore pipe repair work. That said, we can and do supply individual or bulk BI-STOP orders to customers who want to carry out their own repair and maintenance work on small-diameter pipework.
In these scenarios, we also supply all of the written operating procedures and accompanying documentation needed to safely use our tool on live pipes. We can also provide in-person training to front-line operatives responsible for using our tool to ensure that all work is carried out properly and efficiently.
Irrespective of how you'll use BI-STOP, it's also helpful to know that STATS Group keep a large stock of all consumable parts, including hole saws and seals. Customers who maintain inventory of BI-STOP units on a contingency basis, or ask us to do the same enjoy better resilience against unplanned outages caused by issues with small-diameter pipe, and also report reduced maintenance costs.
