Case Study

Rehabilitating Offshore Drain Systems Without Hot Works - North Sea, Norway

Tool - Mechanical Pipe Connector

Location - Norway

Operating Environment - Onshore

Pipeline Medium - Ambient

Activity - Pipeline Repair, Maintenance

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24" Mechanical Connector for installation in Norwegian North Sea

Corroded Pipework, Challenging Access, No Room for Hot Works

Aging drain systems on offshore platforms present a particular maintenance challenge. When corroded pipework is located under a platform in a hazardous and challenging access environment, and the client is unwilling to consider hot work activities, the options narrow considerably.

When Asset Integrity, based in Stavanger, Norway, was engaged by a major North Sea operator to address deteriorating drain piping on an offshore platform, the requirement was clear: new connections needed to be made and corroded sections rehabilitated - on 18" and 24" drain piping systems located under the platform, with hot works off the table.

When the Market Couldn't Meet the Spec

Asset Integrity reviewed the mechanical connection options available in the market. What they found was a gap - mechanical solutions from other suppliers were limited in diameter ranges, and with the client unwilling to consider hot work activities, a viable technical solution was sought.

STATS Group was contacted to provide that solution.

Two Scopes, One Approach

The rehabilitation covered two distinct areas of work.

On the 24" drain system, a STATS mechanical pipe connector enabled a new spool connection to be made into the existing line, with the internal lining also replaced as part of the same scope. On the 18" system, a flanged mechanical connector was used to create the required access point, allowing new liners to be installed on the existing piping, with the scope then completed using a separate connector and closing spool.

Both installations removed the requirement for hot works entirely - a significant factor in a hazardous and challenging access environment under the platform.

Highlights

Cold-work solution deployed in a hazardous, challenging access under-platform environment - no hot works required at any stage
Connections made on both 18" and 24" drain piping systems located under the platform
Mechanical solutions from other suppliers limited in diameter range - STATS provided a viable solution for the project
Corroded pipework sections rehabilitated and relined as part of the same scope
Access point created on 18" section, liners installed, scope closed out with separate connector and closing spool
Proven safe and effective method of permanently connecting large diameter pipework in hazardous environments

Rehabilitated, Relined, and Back in Service

STATS technology in partnership with Asset Integrity Norway provided a safe and effective method of permanently connecting large diameter pipework, removing the risk of hot works in a hazardous and challenging access environment.

New connections were made, corroded sections rehabilitated and relined, and both scopes closed out without hot works being required at any point.