Subsea Pipeline Isolation

The isolation of subsea pipelines can provide many challenges if appropriate valves are absent from the pipeline. Operators are often required to isolate sections of subsea pipelines to facilitate repair, maintenance, decommissioning or tie-in activities. Non-intrusive inline isolation plugs allow short sections of pipelines to be isolated, while the pipeline remains at operating pressure, reducing the shutdown duration and minimising venting and flaring activities.

STATS Tecno Plug isolation tools provide fail-safe double block and monitor isolation and are pigged through the pipeline to the required isolation location from a pig launcher or receiver. Piggable isolation tools require no welding or cutting into live lines, leaving no residual fittings or hardware on the pipeline. Once at the desired location the Tecno Plug is controlled remotely using an extremely low frequency (ELF) inductive system for reliable tracking and accurate positioning of the plug.

DNV Type Approval

STATS’ inline isolation tool the Tecno Plug® is fully certified by DNV. This verifies that the design criteria satisfy the requirements for Pipeline Isolation Plugs to provide dual seal and isolation in accordance with; DNV-OS-F101 (Submarine Pipeline Systems) and recommended Practices; DNV-RP-F113 (Subsea Pipeline Repair) and in compliance with code ASME BPVC Section VIII, Division 2.

Specification

Size

3” to 56”

Pressure

230 bar / 3336 psi

Verification

DNV Type Approved

Applications

Valve installation, replacement / repair
Pipeline tie-in / re-routing
Sectional pipeline replacement / repair
Riser replacement / repair
Subsea bbandonment plugs can be supplied as a temporary or permanent cap to terminate open pipe ends.

Pressure testing, leak detection of risers or repaired pipelines
Isolation of subsea manifolds or skids for repair or replacement
Dead leg removal
Platform / pipeline abandonment, bypass, or decommissioning

Related Resources

36” remote tecno plug | forties pipeline system, north sea, uk

STATS Group were contracted by Apache North Sea Ltd to safely isolate the Forties Pipeline System (FPS) so that subsea isolation valves (SSIV) and piping spools could be ...

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20” Tethered Tecno Plug | North West Hutton Decommissioning

As part of the North West Hutton decommissioning programme, STATS Group were contracted to supply a high pressure pipeline isolation plug to provide a double block and ...

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