T.D. Williamson carries out first Stopple® Train intervention operation on a pipeline in Europe

T.D Williamson has carried out its first STOPPLE® Train intervention operation on a pipeline in Europe. The operation took place in Italy at the SARPOM Refinery (Raffineria S.A.R.P.O.M.), which is owned by ExxonMobil and ERG Petroli. The refinery is located on the border of the Piedmont and Lombardy regions in the heart of the Po Valley.

In preparation for scheduled line maintenance, T.D. Williamson (TDW) was retained in March 2009 by ExxonMobil to provide STOPPLE intervention services to ensure that a key hydrogen sulphur line could be cut, plugged and safely isolated without shutting it down. The only other alternative would have been to shut the line and production unit down, resulting in a complete halt in production, which was deemed unacceptable.

Using equipment from the company's base in Nivelles, Belgium, a team of TDW technicians from Italy, Belgium and the US commenced work on the intervention operation at 9:30 am. on 18^th November 2009. TDW used a standard 660 tapping machine to hot tap the line, and one six-inch simple position STOPPLE Train double-block and bleed plugging system to plug the line. The operation was successfully completed at 16:30 on 19^th November 2009, in just one day.

A success

As a result of TDW's experience and careful preparation, the line was isolated, creating a secure environment in which critical maintenance and servicing could be carried out. The fact that the line was isolated with a minimum amount of equipment and required only one fitting also meant that costs associated with welding and fittings were significantly reduced. "We are extremely pleased that TDW's first ever STOPPLE Train intervention operation in Europe went so smoothly, and that ExxonMobil benefitted in terms of enhanced safety and reduced costs," said Rutger Schouten, General Manager, Europe & Caspian Region for T.D. Williamson SA.

"The success of this STOPPLE Train intervention operation in Italy bodes well for us as we forge ahead with plans to provide this specialist service to pipeline, refinery and petrochemical plant operators throughout Europe," Schouten added. 

TDW has carried out many STOPPLE Train intervention operations for nearly every major operator in the US, and the company is now expected to expand this service throughout Europe.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/27012010/first_intervention/