Hot tapping is a method of connecting into a pressurised system pipeline without removing the pressure from service, by drilling out.
The process is made by making a new connection to the existing pipeline normally by welding on a new connection/branch, then a full bore valve is installed onto the branch, this is then pressure tested below the valve to make sure we have no sand the pipe integrity is intact. Then a sealed drill rig is attached to the valve and the pipe is then drilled out while the valve is in the open position, the drill is then withdrawn and the valve closed off. The drill would then be removed and the new isolation valve would be plugged or blanked as appropriate for that valve.
The use of this procedure is to prevent shut downs, it also saves on costs of draining down systems and then the refilling of such systems, or the purging out of natural gas mains. This is really good when you want to put extra connections into existing systems.
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Stoke On Trent,
Staffordshire,
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