Unique Subsea Clamp Meets 20-Year Requirement
BP wanted to put in place contingencies to ensure leak-free smooth running of their pipelines in the Caspian Sea. The project’s importance led to a number of solutions being sought and proposed, with several selected.
As part of plans to reduce the environmental impact of leaks or damage to pipelines, BP was seeking a sealing solution for a critical subsea main oil export line. The company required the solution meet a 20-year design life and install in depths of 80 meters.
TEAM produced a unique self-sealing clamp, worth over $100,000, for deployment on a critical main oil export line. Designed to fit a 24-inch, 150 bar g flange and comply with a 20-year design life requirement, the TEAM clamp was profile cut from carbon steel to avoid excessive weld points. The clamp peripherally seals the flange.
The individual flange bolts were then fitted with collars, featuring Teflon seal guards to prevent seepage via bolt holes during injection. Once in-situ, the clamp was injected with a specialist resin, developed by TEAM for a subsea oil environment. This filled the voids and completed the operation.
Requiring diver-installation in strong currents and up to 80 meters depth of water, the clamp was engineered to be as diver-friendly as possible. Further, its design featured sacrificial anodes that were attached to ensure continuous service for 25 years.
TEAM completed design, testing and manufacturing of the bespoke clamp in just three weeks. BP stocked contingency clamps globally, on almost every subsea pipeline.
