PIPELINE-REPAIR TOOLS HEAD TO NIGERIA

Two 48-in., structural-repair clamps manufactured by Gripper Inc., Houston, were shipped to Shell Petroleum Development Co. Nigeria Ltd. earlier this summer. The clamps will be held in contingency for crude-oil pipeline repairs in up to 85-ft water depths. Line pipe for which the clamps were designed is 48-in. OD, 0.625-in. W.T., 5L X60 designed for 960 psi maximum working pressure and 1,440 psi maximum test pressure.

Oct. 15, 1990

2 min read

Two 48-in., structural-repair clamps manufactured by Gripper Inc., Houston, were shipped to Shell Petroleum Development Co. Nigeria Ltd. earlier this summer.

The clamps will be held in contingency for crude-oil pipeline repairs in up to 85-ft water depths. Line pipe for which the clamps were designed is 48-in. OD, 0.625-in. W.T., 5L X60 designed for 960 psi maximum working pressure and 1,440 psi maximum test pressure.

The clamp repairs a damaged or ruptured pipeline by encapsulating, structurally anchoring onto, and sealing a 4-ft section of the line. It contains internal hydraulic open/close mechanisms to assist the diver in properly positioning the clamps over and around the pipe section to be repaired.

Each clamp is trimmed with a multi-part marine epoxy coating system and fitted with an onboard sacrificial anode to prevent corrosion.

Once a clamp is positioned onto the pipe, the proprietary internal gripping collet and seal mechanism in each end is mechanically actuated to complete the installation.

The seals form a pressure tight barrier against any of the product that may be leaking from the damaged pipe section while the collets create a "structural bridge" between the pipeline and clamp body which isolates the encapsulated line section from external forces.