At the next MTS Houston lunch on December 7, David Gilbert with ExxonMobil will present a summary of the HOOPS dead-leg inspection project.
His presentation will include the summary results of the AUT and Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) inspections. David will also present and discuss the project’s diving safety assurance process from both the company and from industry guidance viewpoints.
The Hoover Offshore Pipeline System (HOOPS) runs from the Gulf of Mexico offshore Galveston to Jones Creek, Texas. It transports crude oil from a number of offshore production facilities, including Gunnison, Hoover-Diana, Perdido, Boomvang and Nansen to Seaway’s facilities at Jones Creek and Texas City.
Two pipeline dead legs exist near the GA-A244 platform on the HOOPS pipeline. Dead Legs are sections of the pipeline circuit that contain idle, stagnant or intermittently flowing fluids. They often form part of the circuit that is only engaged during start-ups, shutdowns or regeneration cycles or may be associated with closed block valves, spare pump piping, etc. Since they are not in continuous services they are particularly susceptible to corrosion and degradation.
The primary scope of work for this project was to examine the pipe segments in the dead-leg zones for internal wall loss that might have been caused by microbial influenced corrosion (MIC), or any other local internal corrosion mechanism.
The basic tasks included the following:
Contractor selection – with contracts awarded to Aqueos Subsea and Bibby Offshore.
Vessel, dive system and crane assurance inspections.
Subcontracting of Sonomatic to develop a site-specific kit for the NDT inspection, including mock-up SIT.
Mobilization of the Bibby Sapphire to GA-A244.
Uncovering each dead leg and preparing the pipe sections for inspection.
Performing NDT inspections.
Upon completion of NDT work installing grout/sandbags and mattresses to support and protect each dead leg.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
David Gilbert has over 30 years' experience in the offshore diving industry and is currently the ExxonMobil USP Diving and Subsea Construction Advisor. David is responsible for planning and safe execution for all US Production subsea projects. He is involved with several diving industry organizations and is currently serving as Chairman of the US GoM Diving Safety Work Group.
UPCOMING MTS HOUSTON PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS
January 25, 2018 – Lunch, Shell Deepwater Development -Edwin Verdonk, Shell International E&P
February 22, 2018 – Lunch - To be announced
March 22, 2018 - Outlook Conference
March 24, 2018 - Clays Tournament - (Online registration will open November 15, 2017)
