Innovative double block line stopping and inline isolation technologies enabled the safe tie-in of pressurised gas pipelines for the newly constructed gas segmentation station in Oman, ensuring uninterrupted gas supply to customers.
This paper demonstrates how innovative double block line stopping and inline isolation technologies enabled the safe tie-in of pressurised gas pipelines for the newly constructed gas segmentation station in Oman, ensuring uninterrupted gas availability to key stakeholders. The scope includes highlighting the environmental benefits of reducing venting and flaring of gas pipelines during modification, thereby significantly lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and presenting real-world applications in Oman.
The approach involves deploying industry leading inline isolation and line stopping tools that provide fully proven, monitored dual seal barriers within live high pressure gas pipelines. These tools allow operators to safely break containment without depressurising the entire system, eliminating or drastically reducing the need for venting or flaring gas to atmosphere. The paper will detail the isolation deployment, seal testing and monitoring methodology, including reinstatement leak testing as an alternative to golden welds. Real world project examples will showcase how the isolation technology complied with stringent industry safety and environmental standards while significantly reducing emissions for OQ Gas Networks.
Recent projects completed for OQ Gas Networks on 48”, high-pressure (up to 90 bar) pipelines demonstrate that innovative line-stopping and inline isolation technologies can prevent the release of thousands of tons of greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional flaring during pipeline maintenance or modification. At three locations (SNGP, SRCPP and SURGSS), the successful tie-in of gas stations using complementary isolation technologies provided high-integrity isolation without production downtime, reducing project costs while significantly lowering emissions. Emission reduction assessments for both the line-stopping and inline isolation scopes confirmed that the use of dual seal isolation technology substantially reduced flaring, avoiding 25,297 tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions. These technologies played a vital role in supporting OQGN’s objective of enhancing gas infrastructure in the Sultanate of Oman while minimising environmental impact. Additional benefits included maintaining operational continuity and ensuring security of supply. Overall, the use of innovative temporary isolation tools enables oil and gas operators globally to meet sustainability targets, strengthen environmental performance, and advance decarbonisation efforts.
This paper introduces proven isolation technologies as a practical alternative to traditional venting and flaring during pipeline maintenance. By combining operational efficiency with substantial GHG reduction, it offers actionable strategies for operators and pipeline owners seeking sustainable high integrity solutions. The discussion of real-world deployments and technical challenges provides new insights into implementing decarbonisation technologies in live gas networks.
Authors: Adbullah Al-Riyami, Darran Pledger