Air Tightness Tests of Valves for the Offshore Oil Platform
Valves used for the offshore oil platform
Valves are crucial components in the operation of offshore oil platforms, which play a vital role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of offshore drilling operations. One type of valve commonly used on offshore oil platforms is the ball valve. Ball valves are known for their reliability and ability to provide tight shut-off, making them ideal for controlling high-pressure fluids. Another commonly used valve is the gate valve, which is often used for isolation purposes to prevent the flow of fluids in certain sections of the platform. In addition to these valves, butterfly valves and check valves are also utilized on offshore oil platforms to regulate flow and prevent backflow. These various types of valves work together to maintain the integrity and functionality of offshore oil platforms, ensuring smooth operations and safe extraction of valuable resources from beneath the ocean floor.
Valves are important components on offshore oil platform pipelines and are the core equipment for controlling the operation of process systems. Tightness testing of valves is an important measure to ensure the construction quality of pipelines on offshore oil platforms. In particular, tightness testing of key valves on natural gas and oil platforms is more significant. The integrity and reliability of these valves are paramount in preventing leaks or malfunctions that could result in catastrophic consequences. By conducting thorough tightness testing, engineers can identify any potential weaknesses or defects in the valves before they become a problem.
1. Introduction
A certain foreign-related offshore oil platform project is a gas field development project in Madaban Bay, Myanmar. There are 4 natural gas extraction and oil platforms. According to the requirements of the project specification, some manually operated valves need to be tested for leakages. The number of valves that need to be tested is more than 2,000. In order to shorten the construction period and improve work efficiency, a set of high-efficiency pressure tests are summarized and used.
2. Types of valve tests
The valve sealing test is divided into shell tests, sealing tests and upper sealing tests.
There are three sealing test media, which are as follows:
1) Air tightness tests: Use an air source to conduct the test to detect the sealing ability of the valve.
2) Water tightness tests: Immerse the valve in the pool; increase the water pressure and observe whether the valve leaks.
3) Oil tightness tests: Test the sealing of the valve in oil.
The construction methods and experience of the valve’s sealing test described in the first type above are introduced in this article.
3. Air tightness test ranges and key parameters of valves
3.1 Air tightness test ranges
Valve elastic seal, non-metal seal or metal seal gate valve, globe valve, ball valve and one-way valve with nominal diameter of 2 inches and above. Elastic seal refers to soft seal or a combination of soft seal and metal seal.
3.2 Key parameters of air tightness tests of valves
1) Air tightness test medium: nitrogen
2) Air tightness test pressure: 6BarG
3) Air tightness test pressure holding time: 5 minutes
Valves are crucial components in the operation of offshore oil platforms, which play a vital role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of offshore drilling operations. One type of valve commonly used on offshore oil platforms is the ball valve. Ball valves are known for their reliability and ability to provide tight shut-off, making them ideal for controlling high-pressure fluids. Another commonly used valve is the gate valve, which is often used for isolation purposes to prevent the flow of fluids in certain sections of the platform. In addition to these valves, butterfly valves and check valves are also utilized on offshore oil platforms to regulate flow and prevent backflow. These various types of valves work together to maintain the integrity and functionality of offshore oil platforms, ensuring smooth operations and safe extraction of valuable resources from beneath the ocean floor.
Valves are important components on offshore oil platform pipelines and are the core equipment for controlling the operation of process systems. Tightness testing of valves is an important measure to ensure the construction quality of pipelines on offshore oil platforms. In particular, tightness testing of key valves on natural gas and oil platforms is more significant. The integrity and reliability of these valves are paramount in preventing leaks or malfunctions that could result in catastrophic consequences. By conducting thorough tightness testing, engineers can identify any potential weaknesses or defects in the valves before they become a problem.
1. Introduction
A certain foreign-related offshore oil platform project is a gas field development project in Madaban Bay, Myanmar. There are 4 natural gas extraction and oil platforms. According to the requirements of the project specification, some manually operated valves need to be tested for leakages. The number of valves that need to be tested is more than 2,000. In order to shorten the construction period and improve work efficiency, a set of high-efficiency pressure tests are summarized and used.
2. Types of valve tests
The valve sealing test is divided into shell tests, sealing tests and upper sealing tests.
There are three sealing test media, which are as follows:
1) Air tightness tests: Use an air source to conduct the test to detect the sealing ability of the valve.
2) Water tightness tests: Immerse the valve in the pool; increase the water pressure and observe whether the valve leaks.
3) Oil tightness tests: Test the sealing of the valve in oil.
The construction methods and experience of the valve’s sealing test described in the first type above are introduced in this article.
3. Air tightness test ranges and key parameters of valves
3.1 Air tightness test ranges
Valve elastic seal, non-metal seal or metal seal gate valve, globe valve, ball valve and one-way valve with nominal diameter of 2 inches and above. Elastic seal refers to soft seal or a combination of soft seal and metal seal.
3.2 Key parameters of air tightness tests of valves
1) Air tightness test medium: nitrogen
2) Air tightness test pressure: 6BarG
3) Air tightness test pressure holding time: 5 minutes
