Live repairs to In-service pipelines

Mechanical damage and corrosion is part of every mechanical process and sooner than later, there will be a time when the mechanical system will develop faults and require repair. It must be noted that stopping operations and getting everything back online take time and often culminates in lost time and effort, something not too desirable for time-critical industries such as gas and oil, hence the process of Pipeline Tapping.

Pipeline Tapping is relevant for jobs where the work cannot be halted at all. The risks of opening up pipelines when they are under steam and live are several. In worst cases, it can lead to the air being contaminated with poisonous greenhouse gases. To minimize the risk and keep risk of seepage under control, Pipeline Tapping is the most reliable solution. With the help of this technique costly shutdowns can be averted.

5 Fundamentals to Note about Pipeline Tapping

• Pipeline Tapping should not be considered for routine maintenance.  There are other faster and economically viable alternatives that should be considered before Pipeline Tapping. 

• The task is very technical and requires the expertise of the right people for the job to go through without any untoward happening in site, and most importantly to get operations back online in as short a time as possible.  Hire a talented crew for the job. 

• Concerns of health issues arising from Pipeline Tapping and effect on the metallurgical resources must be addressed by getting a proper plan approved ahead of time to mitigate accidents and unplanned delays.

• Pressure of the ingredients within the pipe must be contained with of adequate thickness or risk leakages. Which means new section that is to be added to the repaired pipeline must be of the same thickness as the one replaced. 

• Proper replacement is of critical importance in Hot Tapping Pipelines. Using anything less than anything approved for the job will invite mishaps.

Make pipeline repairs easy with line stopping services

Do you work in the maintenance department of an oil exploration company? If yes, there are chances that you might come across different complex situations where find no ways other than pausing the entire line flow. In such situations, Line stopping services are of great help as they allow engineers to carry out maintenance or other tasks without the need to disrupt the existing flow in the pipe. In technical language, it is a mechanical method of creating a temporary isolation in a live main, where some flow exists and thus cannot be frozen, or a complete shutdown is not an option.

There are several advantages associated with line stopping and it ensures easy work on a live pipeline without creating the chances of a total shutdown or major disruption to services. Another advantage with this process is that this process can be carried out on a range of materials such as Steel, Cast Iron, Ductile Iron, Copper, Stainless Steel, Plastics and Cement Asbestos.

The most typical way to add any section onto a live pipe is to cut and weld a new joint. But with this revolutionary service, there won’t be any issue of total shutdown which could make a serious impact to your business.

Trust Allied Pipefreezing for Onsite Pipeline Isolation and Intervention Services

At Allied, we're a nation-wide specialist provider of onsite pipeline isolation and intervention services. Right from Pipe Freezing and Under Pressure Drilling to Wall Tapping, Line Stopping or Stopple and Tank Tapping, you can trust Allied for top-quality services throughout the United Kingdom. Log on to our website for more information on our services and contact details. We're here for years and always ensure that we deliver the best services to help our customers' businesses grow, without interruptions. Yes, you can always rely on our expertise for a smooth flow of operations.

At Allied Pipefreezing, we offer you:

• Personal and Flexible Customer Service (so that you never have to face shutdown of operations)
• Professionally Trained Workforce (to help you get the best of services)
• Personal, Flexible and Friendly Attitude
• Best-in-the-Industry Solutions to Industry Problems at Affordable Costs
• Highly-reputed for Good and Efficient Service

And, we will make sure that you never regret hiring our services. Now, all you need to do is contact us. So, if it is about world-class onsite pipeline isolation and intervention services, it must be about Allied Pipefreezing.

Line Stopping: Re-routing while operations continue

Line stopping is a fantastic way of obtaining a positive isolation in a live pipeline, and in a situation where shutdown is not possible. A bypass can be created for maintaining the flow of operations. And, thus, there is no disruption of services. It is to be noted that Line stopping can be used on almost all pipes, such as Steel, Copper, Plastics, Cement, and Cast Iron. 

See below for all benefits that Line Stopping offers:

• No need for shutdown
• No interruption to customers and industry
• Can be used on almost all types of pipes, such as Iron and Steel
• Can be applied to all types of pipe contents, such as liquid and gasses
• No drain down and associated waste problems

At Allied Pipefreezing, we understand your needs better. We really do. And, we offer smart solutions for all your problems. We examine the situation and offer the tailor-made (and most appropriate) solutions.

We’re a nation-wide specialist provider of onsite pipeline isolating and intervention services. From pipe freezing, under pressure drilling to wall tapping, line stopping and hot tapping, we offer you it all, at highly competitive prices.

The importance of hot tapping services

With a huge number of industries including hot tapping procedures worldwide, there are great number of companies providing both hot tapping and line stopping services. In general, there are accidents that result from mishandled hot tapping procedures or faulty equipments. To get the required outcome, it is very important to hire trained and experienced personnel, reliable equipment, and parts particularly designed to meet the needs of the line.

As every industry is different in itself, so the parts and equipments need to be modified according to the needs of the industry. There are numerous companies that provide fully customized hot tapping and line stopping parts and equipment specific to a particular industry. If you have a regular supplier, ask him to provide good quality parts and equipments for smooth processes.

Some materials are harder to tap into than others, and the machine used must be appropriate for the material. The machine must drill the hole, insert the valve, and then retract the bit; all while ensuring the integrity of the line. A machine incapable of doing this is an open invitation to accident.

Another most important thing to consider is to hire trained personnel having thorough knowledge of hot tapping (or Stopple) and line stopping procedures. Moreover, they must know the working of high pressure systems.

What is Line Stopping?

Line Stopping is a method of producing a temporary isolation in a live main line, where some flow prevails and thus cannot be frozen, or a complete shutdown is not an option. There are numerous advantages of line stopping including the installation of a bypass so as to maintain the flow, thus reducing the need of a complete shut down or major disruption to services. 

Line Stopping is widely used on most common pipeline materials such as Steel, Cast Iron, Ductile Iron, Copper, Stainless Steels, Plastics and Cement Asbestos. One or more bespoke fittings are either welded or bolted on to the pipeline, to which valves are fitted. The pipe is under pressure drilled as required, and then the Line Stopping equipment or Stopple is installed. In case of a bypass requirement during the installation, the water flow in the main line is stopped.

The major advantage of Line Stopping is little or no disruption during the operation. It also reduces the chances of harmful gas exertion. There is no drain or back filling time. It is perfect for isolating sections of ring mains. It can be applied to a wide range of liquids, gases and compressed air. Moreover, it is well-suited for fire protection, sprinkler systems and hydrants etc.