T.D. Williamson (TDW), pipeline pressure intervention services and technology specialists, help to maintain production flow through high temperature steam line during maintenance work. They used a double block and bleed pipeline intervention to enhances safety in refinery in Sardinia. When engineers at the Saras Refinery in Sarroch, Sardinia needed to replace two valves on a section of line, which operates at 235°C and is connected to the steam collector MP, they knew that a complex intervention would be necessary, especially because the work would have to be carried out without interrupting production. The Saras Refinery refines approximately 15 million tons of crude oil into petroleum products each year, which accounts for approximately 15 percent of Italy’s total refining capacity, so it’s crucial that it operates at optimum capacity year-round.
To create a safe working environment, Saras requested that TDW carry out a STOPPLE Train pipeline pressure intervention so that the high temperature steam line could be tapped, plugged and safely isolated without disrupting operations. The STOPPLE Train method uses field-proven Double Block and Bleed plugging technology to temporarily block sections of live pipelines. This design permits the simultaneous insertion of two plugging heads through a single fitting. This method is preferable because it provides two barrier surfaces (including a bleed port for pressure and product evacuation) between the intervention work zone and the line’s internal pressurized contents. “The TDW team demonstrated an excellent ability to integrate with our internal structure,” said Mariano Russo of Saras. “Every technician worked with determination to accomplish this operation, in all of its complexity. We thank the entire team for their professionalism and commitment.”