The paper discusses the world's first proven leak-tight line stopping project on a high pressure 18" hydrogen pipeline. The safety, efficiency, and environmental benefits of the BISEP are also discussed.
STATS has successfully completed the world’s first proven leak-tight line stopping project on a high pressure 18” hydrogen pipeline for an SGN in the UK. The scope of work included the installation of a grouted tee, hot tapping, line stopping, swarf dispersal, and completion plug installation. At the core of the project was the STATS BISEP line stopping tool, which delivers a fail-safe, 100 percent leak-tight double block and bleed isolation. Trusted by operators worldwide for over two decades in hydrocarbon applications, the BISEP now brings its proven performance to the hydrogen sector. Offering significant safety, efficiency, and environmental benefits over lip seal line stopping methods, this technology provides the hydrogen industry with a best-in-class solution for temporary pipeline isolations, which are critical operations required throughout a pipeline’s lifecycle, including during repairs, diversions, and valve replacements. In addition to this hydrogen success, the BISEP has also been successfully deployed on dense-phase CO2 pipelines operating at pressures up to 150 bar, further demonstrating its unique capabilities and positioning it as a key technology in support of the energy transition.
Authors: Neil Mackay