Introduction

Hot tapping or pressure tapping, is the method of making a connection to existing piping without the interruption of emptying that section of pipe. This means that a pipe can continue to be in operation whilst maintenance or modifications are being done to it.

Hot tapping is also the first procedure in line stopping, where a hole saw is used to make an opening in the pipe, so a line plugging head can be inserted.

Line stopping can be used in tandem to isolate and bypass the pipeline at once. Fluid in the line is bypassed, leaving a workable dead section to alter, repair or add a valve while service provided by this pipeline is continued.

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Technical process

 

 

 

>Weld the tapping fitting on the existing pipeline

 

 

>Install isolation valves

 

>Install tapping machine

 

>Hot tapping

 

 

>Retract hot tapping machine and the removed section of pipe

>Close isolation valve

 

>Remove hot tapping machine and install the line stop machine

 

 

>Open the isolation valve and plugging

>Oil or gas in the pipeline is bypassed

 

>Release the remaining oil and gas in the pipeline

 

 

>Install the gasbag

 

>Hot Tapping and Line Stopping completion and tie in the new line

 

>Remove the gasbag

>Remove the line stop machine and close the isolation valve

 

 

>Remove the bypass pipeline

 

 

>Lower in the plug and lock it into position

>Remove the isolation valve

 

>Install the blind flange

 

>Work completion

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 Related equipment

Power unite

Tapping fitting

Isolation valve

Hot Tapping machine

Line stop machine

Gasbag

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