Joint integrity specialist Hydratight has completed an upgrade project on a section of subsea pipeline on the North West Shelf of Western Australia.
Contracted by Australian firm Quadrant Energy on behalf of the John Brookes Joint Venture, Hydratight engineered, manufactured, delivered and supported the installation of an 18” MORGRIP connector on the John Brookes subsea pipeline located 54 km north-east of Quadrant’s Varanus Island facilities.
Two of Hydratight’s most experienced engineers, Mark Fisher and Bob Till, who have been in senior industry roles for a combined 65 years, were embedded in the offshore installation team.
“This was an exciting project to be part of due to strict safety and environmental expectations in place,” explained Fisher.
“These included working closely with a DNV inspector who flew in from Singapore to witness all aspects of the repair. It also meant an independent critique of our manufacturing procedures.”
“The component parts were of extremely high specifications and we had strict rules on forging and manufacturing. These included the use of a compliant biodegradable mineral hydraulic fluid used for activating the tensioners and flushing and cleansing all tooling.”
A representative from Quadrant Energy oversaw the factory acceptance test of the completed connector in the UK, before witnessing a second test and diver training on arrival in Australia.
Bespoke features were included on the engineered product. These included corrosion resistant alloy cladding, composite graphite seals, Hydratight’s ball and taper technology and also the company’s subsea tensioning equipment.
The MORGRIP series of connectors is known for a leak-free record since they were first installed in the 1980s as an alternative to welding. They take less manpower and fewer man hours during a repair. The technology is a permanent solution, yet the connector can be detached and reused.