February 2021

Hot Tap & Linestop In-Service Welding Considerations

1. Introduction & Background. In-service repairs provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly options for maintaining transport pipelines, associated piping infrastructure and process facilities to keep running for their design life. In-service welding is often required to: Repair a damaged pipeline or piping system Corrosion or mechanical damage Install a branch connection to tie in a new customer or source of supply Economic & environmental incentives Blow down vs. on-stream repair A meticulously developed and qualified Weld Procedure Specification (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) is at the heart of consistently performing safe in-service welding on pressurized pipeline systems. This paper focuses …

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Hot Tapping and Line Stopping

1. Overview of the Article This article will explain the hot tapping and line stopping operation from its typical uses and associated activities to illustrating the risks and benefits related to each operation. Hot tapping and line stopping are executed in a variety of sectors, on various materials, as well as infrastructure (such as tanks or pipes) and environmental conditions both onshore as well as offshore. This article will focus on the use of hot tapping and line stopping onshore and on steel pipelines in the oil & gas sector. The onshore hot tapping application is most visible in the …

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Requirements in Executing a Hot Tap

1. Introduction  This article details the technical and safety requirements for executing a hot tap on hydrocarbon pipelines, piping or tanks.  Hot tapping is a method of making a new connection to an existing pressured pipeline or vessel without interrupting or emptying that section of pipe or vessel. This means that a pipeline can continue to be in operation while maintenance or modifications are being executed. Another definition According to API RP 2201: Hot Tapping is a technique of attaching a mechanical or welded branch fitting to piping or equipment in service and creating an opening in that piping or …

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