THE PROBLEM
In 2007 Claxton worked with a major operator in Norway to provide an application-specific subsea hot tapping machine. The operator needed to insert a hot tap tee to connect a new pipeline link – a critical-path operation.
THE SOLUTION
Claxton designed, built and tested a machine to work in 200 meters of water with a hot tap diameter of 10”. The operation was to be performed on a 20” gas pipeline and the system was built and tested to a 5000 PSI operating pressure. To work at the required depth the system was fully marinised and an offshore test confirmed the machine worked as planned at the required depth. Claxton performed a full in-house FEA analysis on the system which also included the supply of a hydraulic power unit and associated equipment to run the machine offshore.
THE RESULT
The system was built, tested and subsequently performed as expected. Claxton has since performed numerous hot taps for clients in the North Sea, Middle- and Far East for onshore and offshore applications.