The Izomax patented AOGV is mechanical isolation tool which can set and retract a blind spade in a pair of flanges on a pressurised process system. The blind spade or a combination of several spades in different locations can facilitate the replacement of valves and pumps. The AOGV can also be used to take a vessel out of a closed loop temporarily for safe entry and bringing it back on-line, whilst the main process is kept in continuous operation.

The AOGV mechanical isolation tool facilitated intrusive maintenance on the passing valve by use of isolation spades set in between the valve and pipe spools leading to the second stage separator.

Testing, planning & preparing

Izomax conducted an on-site survey, including a high precision 3D scan, allowing us to create an AOGV system which was 100% aligned to the flanged valve. With obstacles on both sides of the passing valve, the AOGV mechanical isolation tool was specially designed and manufactured to fit around a parallel 1” valve and blind flange on one side, in addition to a 6” valve located on the other side of the valve. As the 6” cl900 line had a ring joint as the sealing element, the AOGV was equipped with a bespoke removal tool. This enabled the ring joint to be removed from the ring joint groove, without coming into contact with the groove itself, thus avoiding any damage to the sealing surface. The AOGV system was also equipped with a special insertion tool, enabling a new ring joint to be inserted into the groove when restoring the system, allowing the flanged connection to be compressed against the new ring joint, avoiding contact with the insertion tool. Despite the system’s operational pressure not exceeding 89 bar throughout the operation, the AOGV mechanical isolation tool was verified at 1.43 x design pressure (143 bar/2075 psi) prior to mobilisation, to ensure no leakages in the event of pressure build-up.

Site operation

The AOGV’s isolation spades were set on each side of the leaking valve, creating a hydrocarbon and pressure freed valve cavity. The valve was discovered to be in far worse condition than anticipated, hence Izomax was tasked with creating a solution to completely remove the valve from the system and replace it. Within seven days, the Izomax team designed, manufactured and tested three bespoke isolation spades with integral bleed ports, to facilitate replacement of the passing valve from the line. The three spades were installed upstream, downstream and on the valve itself, in a complex operation where cavities had to be hydrocarbon and pressure-freed through the AOGV mechanical isolation tool or the special isolation spades.

The fundamental objective of the operation – to safely avoid any loss of production – was met, despite the unforeseen challenges with the condition of the valve. The entire operation was executed without any HSSE incidents or non-productive time. Izomax provided the fully engineered and certified isolations to enable the initial in-situ repair of the passing valve. When the valve proved to be beyond repair, we acted with speed and flexibility to provide an additional solution which would safely remove and replace the valve, whilst normal production levels continued.

Without the Izomax AOGV mechanical isolation system, a shutdown would have been inevitable. The length of any shutdown and loss of production would have increased significantly, when the need to replace the valve became clear. By mitigating the initial requirement for an unplanned shutdown, the Izomax AOGV mechanical isolation tool further assisted productivity by allowing a “hidden” issue to be solved whilst operations and production continued. Ultimately, use of the Izomax AOGV mechanical isolation system saved the operator an estimated $46million USD.