Line stopping: temporary

pipeline isolation
- without the need for shutdown

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 Line stopping

What is Line stopping?

Line stopping is a method of stopping flow and

Definition:
providing a shut off point where none exists to
an existing pipe or vessel which is still under
pressure or live

What is it To provide temporary isolation to a pipeline for repairs,

refurbishment, alterations, etc so that work can be
used for?
undertaken

What are the Can be performed without the need to shut down
the plant. No need for loss of production or
advantages?
supply to other areas

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 Line stopping

Where is line stopping

used?
Oil and gas setor
 Onshore, offshore and subsea
Petrochemical industry
 Hydrocarbons – crude & heavy oils
 Light oils, diesel, kerosene, petroleum,
motor oils
 Various chemicals
Power generating industry
 Steam and water
Pharmaceutical & food industry
 Compressed air
 Food products
Water industry
 Potable water and sewerage
Line stop being carried out on 24” pipeline

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 Line stopping

Line stopping: the Furmanite

IPSCO advantage
 Specialist engineering services provider
 Vast global experience in pipeline intervention
techniques (hot tapping, line plugging and pipe freezing)
 Suitably qualified experienced personnel (SQEP)
 Extensive inventory and personnel enable multiple
hot tap projects to be undertaken simultaneously
 Large diameter capability
 Full range of fittings and equipment in stock
at all times for customer use

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 Line stopping

Line stopping: Basic

procedure
 Shown is the line stop machine  Following the line stopping process,
with the actuator and stopping the drilling machine lowers the
head ready in its housing for completion plug through the valve
insertion and into its final position

 The temporary valve is part of  Segment locking screws secure the

the line stop equipment. plug while the boring bar is retracted
Special bore and configuration
valves are used for this purpose  The drilling machine and temporary
valve are removed and a flange is
 The head is locked in position fitted over the completion plug
holding back line pressure

Line stop head in position Completion plug installed Blind flange installed

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 Line stopping

Line stopping: Sure-stop

system
 Well proven cylinder-wedge
stopper method
 Available for 4” (100mm) to 46”
(1150mm) diameter pipes
 Sealing on machine edge
eliminates potential problems
related to erosion/corrosion -
internal pipe build-up, out of
roundness, etc
 Mechanically wedged seal
allows new pipe sections to
be pressure tested

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 Line stopping

Line stopping: HTP stop

 Positive sealing for high temperature

and high pressure pipe systems
 Metal-to-metal seal eliminates
problems from corrosion/erosion
internal pipe build-up and out of
roundness
 Creates a ‘block and bleed’ system

 Can remain in-situ longer than

elastomer seals
 Effective at temperatures up to 370°C
(700°F) and pressure ratings
up to 1480 psi (102 bar)

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 Line stopping

Typical line stop

configurations
Double-stop and bypass
1. For valve insertion 2. For permanent relocation 3. For permanent relocation
using 3-way tees

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

folding head system
The benefits
 Equipment is lighter and more
readily transported to site
 Reduced workspace required
around the pipe
 Sizes up to 72” (ND 1800 mm)
 Pressures up to 145psi (10 bar)

60” folding head

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping
process

Install bypass tees

Fabricate bypass
Install vent points

Install plugging tees

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping process

Drill and tap all

connections

Install temporary sandwich valves

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping process

Drill and tap all

connections

Install temporary sandwich valves

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping
process
Install bypass and commission pipework

W
FLO Install downstream
plugging housing ready
for installation
Install upstream plugging
housing ready for installation

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping process

W
FLO Downstream head goes
in first to reduce flow

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping process

Upstream head goes in second

to isolate section of pipeline

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping process
Mid-section de-pressurised
through vents

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping process

Mid section can now be cut out

and modified/repaired

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping process

After modification/repair,
the mid section is connected to
the plugging housing

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping process

Mid section can now be re-pressurised

through the vents and the plugging housing

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping process

Mid section can now be

re-pressurised through the
vents and the plugging housing

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping process

W Upstream head
FLO is removed first

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping
process

W Followed by downstream
FLO
plugging head

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 Line stopping

The Furmanite IPSCO

line stopping
process
Bypass can now be
de-commissioned

W
FLO

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 Line stopping

Line stopping: Typical

applications
Application:
Typical two-position line
plug with bypass

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 Line stopping

Line stopping: Typical

applications
Application:
Line stop with reduced bore
branch in position

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 Line stopping

Line stopping: Typical

applications
Application:

Close-up of line stop head in position

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 Line stopping: temporary
pipeline isolation
- without the need for shutdown

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