TDW Offshore Services AS (TDW) has successfully designed and built a customized 48-inch SmartPlug® pipeline pressure isolation tool for Nord Stream AG. Weighing approximately 12 tons, it is the largest SmartPlug tool ever produced.

Nord Stream retained TDW to assist in developing contingency solutions for pipelay, pressure testing and planned future maintenance of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Upon completion, the two 48-inch pipelines will extend 758 miles (approximately 1,220 km) from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. TDW carried out a series of pre-engineering studies before finalising the design. The SmartPlug tool was designed, built and rigorously tested by TDW at its global headquarters in Stavanger. The new 48-inch SmartPlug tool will be used to safely isolate pipeline pressure during scheduled pipeline maintenance and potential valve change-outs. It is currently Type Approved by Det Norske Veritas for a maximum operating pressure of 199 Bar.

“The tool design is based on our proven 42-inch SmartPlug design,” said Larry Ryan, Director, Operations for TDW Offshore Services. “However, the exceptionally large diameter of the pipeline meant that Nord Stream required a SmartPlug tool that was 30% larger. The new SmartPlug tool is not only exceptionally large, but is also capable of isolation at extremely high pressures,” he added.

Tags: TDW Offshore Services