Industry-first hot bolt clamp system successful in North Sea

Aberdeen-based Stork Technical Services has launched an industry-first hot bolt clamp system that enables the safe removal and replacement of corroded bolts on live flanged connections that have eight bolts or less. The system has been extensively field-tested and was successfully utilized by Stork personnel for a recent project on a Chevron-operated asset in the North Sea.

Fraser Coull, operations support director for Stork Technical Services, said “Corroded and substandard bolts can seriously impact on an asset’s integrity and lead to hydrocarbon releases. This innovative hot bolt clamp system provides a safe, efficient and cost-effective method of rectifying this issue, which can be delivered without a traditional shutdown period.”

The hot bolt clamp system enables the safe removal and replacement of corroded bolts on live flanged connections that have eight bolts or less.

Stork Technical Services’ hot bolt clamp technology during live operations.

The system hydraulically clamps pressurized bolted pipeline flanges together so that corroded stud bolts can be removed safely without exerting additional force to the gaskets. Once all of the bolts have been replaced, the hot bolt clamps are depressurized and removed. Change-out of the bolts is achieved without taking the flanges out of operation, without disruption to the standard line pressure or danger of hydrocarbon release.

The hot bolt clamp system removes the potentially time-consuming activity from planned or unplanned shutdown programs, thereby reducing downtime and minimizing personnel required on board.

The clamp system improves the safety for offshore operatives and the asset as a whole by reducing the likelihood of hydrocarbon releases which can have a devastating impact offshore.
Coull continued: “We constantly strive to improve the safety and quality of our service delivery through innovation and the hot bolt clamp system is an excellent example of this. The system will deliver significant benefits to our customers and our recent project success with Chevron has led to wider interest from across the industry.”