Page 56 - Apmor 2018

oil piping systems

Mechanical pipe systems can help oil

companies streamline operations By Arrie Nel

wC’s “Africa Oil and Gas Review” for Easier logistics and quicker installation more effective operations, and once again less
2017, which was released in November, Oil facilities are often located in remote areas, skilled labour is required.
Phighlights how the global industry is still so lack of reliable infrastructure can present a Maintenance is also a lot safer and simpler
adjusting to the realities of a $50 to $60 per challenge. When installing and maintaining a with mechanical pipe joining systems, as there
barrel oil price landscape. On the continent, welded piping system, a considerable amount is no fire risk, and so health and safety hazards
other challenges that are specific to the region of heavy equipment is needed, which must on the job site are drastically reduced. You
and the market have been relatively consistent be transported to the oil facility. Mechanical also need fewer people working on site for a
over the past decade, and include regulatory pipe joining systems like those of Victaulic, shorter period of time, which in itself reduces
issues, corruption and financing costs. however, require very little equipment, which health and safety risks.
Additionally, a top priority for oil companies makes conveyance to the site far easier.
in Africa is the issue of costs. With the oil Installation is also much quicker – up to five
price staying low, cost cutting has become a times faster than traditional welded systems. In There is a perception in the oil
key focus and streamlining operations is even addition, Victaulic pipe joining technology can industry that mechanical pipe
more of a business imperative. In fact, PwC’s easily accommodate changes in the scope of joining technology can make the
study reveals that operational excellence has the project, as the pipes can be taken apart and pipes more vulnerable to oil theft
been the top strategic focus area identified by the same parts can be reassembled with ease. and tampering, believing that
respondents since 2014. The PwC report notes Mechanical pipe joining systems also require
that innovative technologies are particularly far fewer workers and less skilled workers, the joints are sites of weakness.
important in this regard. With oil companies unlike welded piping where qualified welders However, this is not the case.
depending considerably on piping systems as a are crucial to the installation process. Because Victaulic produces tamper-proof
vital part of their business, one such solution there are relatively few of these artisans on couplings in which the bolts and
to lowering costs and streamlining operations the continent, they are in high demand, which nuts are hidden and not easily
is mechanical pipe joining systems, which makes welding labour costs very expensive. In accessible to untrained persons,
offer an alternative to the use of flanges or addition, mechanical joints only require visual making tampering and removal of
welding to connect piping systems. Globally inspection to ensure a proper joint, whereas
this technology is one of the most popular and welded joints require costly x-ray tests. Should the couplings prohibitively difficult.
trusted methods of securing pipes, but Africa any joints fail, they need to be cut, welded and
has been slow to catch on. Getting the most out of an oil facility with a
x-rayed all over again.
Simpler to maintain and short lifecycle
tamper-proof One recent Victaulic project involved the
Remboue Oil Production Facility, which is
Another advantage located on a remote island two hours off the
of using mechanical coast of Gabon, Ghana. The facility produces
pipe joining systems 10,000 barrels of oil per day and consists of
for oil facilities is a crude oil header, three phase separator,
simpler maintenance. pumping station and tanks.
Victaulic makes use of
a union at every joint, Because the plant had a lifecycle of only two
providing easy access years and would then be moved to another
for maintenance and location, getting the facility online quickly so
system expansions. production could start was critical. It was for
In fact, maintaining this reason that Victaulic grooved mechanical
a mechanical pipe products were chosen over traditional welding
joining system can be or flange pipe joining methods. Because of the
up to ten times faster ease and speed of the pipe system installation,
than maintenance of a an impressive six months was shaved off
welded system. Much the plant’s installation and commissioning
less oil is also lost in the schedule, reducing the overall project time
process. Both of these from 18 months to just 12 months.
aspects are critical to Arrie Nel is Territory Manager at Victaulic
oil companies achieving

56 | AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol 21, Issue 20, 2017