12″ Adjustable Diverter Flow Line

12" ADJUSTABLE DIVERTER FLOW LINE

THE CHALLENGE

Our client came to us with the challenge of designing an adjustable diverter flow line spool to minimize the amount of piping needed for a new-build offshore oil platform. Some of the design requirements specified were: the tool must be designed to meet API® 64 well control requirements, design pressure of 500 psi, employ H2S design considerations, offshore corrosion materials and coating selection, third party Lloyd’s certification, with an adjustable collapsed to fully extended range of 40″, and 12″ flange connections.

In addition to these requirements, the spool had to align with a wide variety of flange face angular misalignments in the proposed piping system layouts. Also, while the spool had to remain rigid to handle pressure loading, it had to maintain angular flexibility during divert events to avoid transferring moments to critical piping support infrastructure. On top of all this, there were severe space constraints as the rest of the rig was already designed and mostly fabricated… the flow lines had to be adaptable in geometry, in assembly, and handled with limited access.

MAXIMIZE PIPING EFFICIENCY

INNOVATIVE CUSTOMIZATION

Meeting the client’s required design specification needs.

THE SOLUTION

Mechanical Research & Design, Inc. engineers worked with our client to develop a custom adjustable flow line design from design verification through functional testing. To counter the variability in length and angularity misalignment due to numerous well slots, we employed a dual SEALFAST® Inflatable packer concept on a central telescoping section of the spool and provided dual SEALFAST® Inflatable Spherical Packer Connectors on each end.

The combination of the limited 3 degrees of rotational freedom on each end of the spool with the length adjusting central packer housing met all of the challenges of misalignment in the design cases. Durable SEALFAST® Inflatable Packer Seals were used in pairs at each connection for redundancy; these seals were actuated/inflated with hydraulic fluid with simple controls for rapid, reliable deployment. Another benefit of these sealing systems is that they can handle system wear over time and re-engage again and again, effectively, where other mechanical sealing systems would deteriorate over time. To date, the tools have been functionally and pressure tested successfully and are awaiting offshore commissioning in the near future.

Have Specific Requirements?

We specialize in custom solutions! Take a look at a few of our proven custom solutions or let us know your requirements. Our engineers and production staff are equipped to travel around the world at a moment’s notice to assist you with your needs!

GET A QUOTE