Frames and partner Mokveld have completed two high integrity pressure protection systems (HIPPS) for PEMEX’s Lakach field gas collection station. This is said to be one of the first ever certified HIPPS in the offshore Mexico sector. Mexican contractor Arendal, which is responsible for constructing the gas gathering plant for the deepwater Lakach field, assigned the contract to Frames.
The HIPPS will protect the gas collection station against high pressure in the event of a pressure control valve failure. To minimize on-site installation activities and to prevent installation errors, Frames designed a fully-integrated skid-mounted solution. The modular design is said to reduce the number of interfaces and simplifies certification of the HIPPS.
Each SIL3-certified HIPPS package consists of two Mokveld pneumatically-actuated axial valves, pressure transmitters with interlocking manifold and a programmable logic solver. As the skids are in a hazardous area, the logic solver is installed in an explosion- proof cabinet. All the other equipment is also rated for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere. To ensure high availability of the system, a pneumatic buffer vessel is installed on each skid and the actuators are provided with passive fire protection.