Case Study 3

Tree Cap Flange Removal

Job: Removal of tree cap flange from top of XMT
Job Location: Malaysia

Project Description

■ Removal of a 7 1/16” 5M tree cap flange in order for the client to install an adapter plate. This was to allow them to hang the well from a tension table, for conductor cutting and replacement.
■ 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.
■ The client had tried several unsuccessful methods over a nine month period to remove the tree cap flange.

The Solution

■   ThinJack conducted a site survey and designed & manufactured ThinJack’s to suit the chamfer size of tree cap, this maximised the size of the ThinJack to allow greater force to be generated.
■   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

■   ThinJack service succeeded in 12 hours where all other methods failed.
■   Initial gap of 12.1mm increased to 26.6mm using 6 ThinJacks.
■   Maximum pushing force of 48 tonnes.

Case Studies