Hot Tap Service allows tapping or drilling entry ports into tubular goods, pipelines or flowlines.
Hot-Tapping Procedure Summary
Blockage is located and tubing is lifted until blockage is clear of well
A Hot Tap clamp is secured on the tubing below the blockage and above the next coupling
A full opening valve is attached to the Hot Tap clamp
A drill is installed and the distance from fully retracted to extended touching tubing is measured
The drill, valve and clamp assemblies are pressure tested to a minimum of 1.5 times the anticipated pressure or up to the maximum working pressure of the equipment being used
The pressure on the drill is decreased to slightly less than anticipated tubing pressure. During this procedure, an increase in pressure on the drill side indicates penetration
Once the hole is drilled, the shaft of the drill is retracted past the valve allowing the valve to close. The pressure is then bled off from the bit chamber allowing the drill to be removed
Pumping, freeze or depressurization operations can commence.