Brown & Root Energy Services (BRES) and GD Engineering
jointly developed the Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP) sub-sea pig launcher.
Bennett Associates, working alongside GD Engineering's own design team, produced
the detailed engineering designs for the prototype launcher system. The
production launcher is currently operational deploying pigs as often as four
times per year into BP's Machar subsea oil field (UK North Sea).
The launcher is located at BP's 16-inch diameter Machar subsea
field. The 245 Bar, 36 km long production pipeline runs to the Marnock platform
in the northern sector of the North Sea. Build up of petroleum wax deposits on
the inner wall of the pipeline could result, over time, in a significant
reduction in flow capacity and ultimately revenue. The challenge was to not only
launch the pigs from their sub-sea location but also do it without the need to
stop oil production; innovative design realised this challenge.
BRES and GD Engineering were presented the 2000 Award for the Most
Significant Contribution to Subsea Pipeline Technology by the Pipeline
Industries Guild for their work in developing the first subsea pig launcher to
be used for regular maintenance on a multiphase oil pipeline.
M G Bennett and Associates Ltd is now part of the
Group
