Case Study 1
Flowline Removal
| Job: | Separation of Spool Pieces 45° Shoulder Face |
| Job Location: | North Sea |
| Time Taken to Complete Removal: | 11 Hours |
Project Description
■ The Spool Piece had to be released from between the 45 degree angle shoulder of the XMT and the flow line.
■ Significant amounts of blinding force generated by rust in the bolt hole annuli and between the flange faces extending all the way to the ring gasket.
■ Cantilevering effect caused by the angle of the spool piece and other flanges also had to be overcome.
The Solution
■ The ThinJack System was used to raise the flange block evenly without jamming it at an angle on the studs.
■ A combination of ThinJacks and associated shims, manufactured to API 6A 7 1/16” 5M flange size specification were tightly packed into the gap. This allowed the ThinJack technicians to precisely control the location that the generated force was applied to.
The Result
■ Initial gap of 11mm increased to 51mm using 16 ThinJacks.
■ Maximum pushing force of 168 tonnes.
