Companies operating in the oil and gas industry have seen significant improvements in the safety plans, policies and practices over the past couple of decades. This has partially been introduced out of necessity but also due to advancements in the technology and equipment, which is being deployed. Legislation has also been a driver for safer working practices, and there are various laws with implications for working with and maintaining pipelines.
The upstream, midstream and downstream energy sectors have all seen radical changes in the way hydrocarbons and their derivatives are found, exploited, transported and refined. And a person only has to attend some of the large industry trade shows to see and experience how these activities have been improved. The majority of these enhancements have been due to technology developments from an engineering, manufacturing or processing perspective. The focus of these is obviously founded on doing things quicker, better, more efficiently, cost effectively and safer.
But there are similar developments with-in the pipeline servicing market that aren’t as high profile or receive the same level of publicity yet they bring similar bottom-line benefits to those both planning and implementing pipeline maintenance projects, particularly in ageing assets. One example is flange joint management.
Any pipeline owner or his third-party contractor needs to undertake flange maintenance activities to ensure the optimal performance of the pipeline or to avoid potential reliability or safety issues. The annular gap around the outside diameter of a flange joint is subject to the penetration of debris, damp and other contaminants, which can result in the degradation of the flange, gasket and seal. Excessive flange corrosion is dangerous, and the resulting maintenance could lead to unscheduled downtime or flange or gasket replacement. Accessing and maintaining flange joints is a key part of any pipeline servicing project. And throughout the world, the traditional approach to handling such work is for teams of personnel to utilize equipment and use manual processes that have been in existence for 20 to 30 years. Take the example of a flange joint that has fused together but needs separating or spreading to facilitate essential maintenance work.
Flanges are manufactured in a range of sizes, and irrespective, they are heavy items that cannot be easily manually manipulated or spread. The traditional and still commonly seen practice for spreading flange joints involves using ropes, pulleys, tirfors, chains or in some instances small cranes to support the flange pipe work, while colleagues physically attempt to separate flange joints with hammers, blocks or mallets.
Obviously, there are inherent safety issues and concerns when using both the manual processes and equipment to undertake this type of work. With these approaches, there are considerable risks of hurting or damaging limbs, straining muscles or maiming digits. But there is also the serious hazard of causing sparks and potentially igniting materials that may have leaked from the flange joint. These approaches can also be time consuming where suitable support platforms or anchor points are not readily available or simply because of the time required to physically maneuver flange joints.
However, there is an alternative approach and one that can save significant time and money while enabling considerably safer working practices: flange spreading tools. The principle behind flange spreading is to utilize a tool to separate the joints, thus doing away with the need for the manual approach.
The principle with its use is very simple: By using a torque wrench or hydraulic pump, it’s possible to create sufficient force to safely, slowly and smoothly separate the flange joint. Another advantage is the majority of these tools are relatively light and portable, and weigh no more than 33 pounds, which means they are easily carried on-site and off-site for specific project work and provide rapid disassembly and reassembly for easy maintenance.
For more information, visit www.equalizeramericas.com or call Hector Santos at (713) 927-1840.