Novel manifold cuts down topside instrumentation
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Parker Hannifin - Parker Sales UK product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
May 7, 2004
A novel new type of manifold is helping to save a large amount of weight and space on BHP Billiton Petroleum's Angostura offshore platforms.
A novel new type of manifold developed by Parker Instrumentation is helping to save a large amount of weight and space on BHP Billiton Petroleum's Angostura offshore platforms.
The design re-engineers the "monoflange" double-block-and-bleed manifold concept to accommodate two instrument connections instead of one.
From a single flange interface to the piping or processing vessel, the new manifold provides connections for both a local visual gauge and an electronic transmitter that connects to the remote control room - each with their own double-block-and-bleed isolation valves.
This approach substantially reduces the weight and space of oil and gas process instrumentation on the platforms.
Parker's twin-monoflange manifold was developed to combat the severe space and weight restrictions on satellite wellhead platforms, following a suggestion from the facilities engineering contractor for BHP Billiton's Angostura development, Technip Offshore Engineering of Houston.
Technip would normally have specified a double-block-and-bleed arrangement using discrete valves and interconnections to meet the project's technical requirements.
Conventionally, such a construction would have started with a double expanding gate valve for primary isolation - a component costing several thousand dollars alone for this application's pressure class.
Parker's new component integrates all the discrete valves and tube fittings for process pipe to two instruments into a single assembly.
This reduces the height of the instrumentation by at least 80%, making it much easier for Technip to meet the access requirements of the platform's human-factor engineering specification.
Numerous other benefits include an estimated weight saving of some 70%, a major reduction in the number of connections and potential leak paths, and a significant cost saving.
Parker's complete twin-monoflange assembly costs less than the double-expanding gate valve alone, for example.
On other parts of the offshore instrumentation system - particularly when connecting to pressurised vessels such as the platform's vapour recovery units - the benefits are even more significant.
Here, the twin-monoflange dramatically reduces the size of the support fabrications that are used to mount the external instrumentation - saving very significant amounts of weight and space and greatly reducing the impact of vibration.
With around 50 pairs of instruments on every one of Angostura's three wellhead platforms, the combined savings from installing the new Parker manifold runs to an estimated 4000kg, plus hundreds of man-hours of assembly time.
Every manifold also eliminates interface connections, boosting reliability, and saves component costs.
"Every square inch and pound of weight cut from the topside equipment budget makes a major contribution to the overall cost-effectiveness and safety of offshore platforms", says Brian Ahlefeld, Senior Instrumentation Technician for Technip Offshore Engineering.
"I suggested there was scope to make some savings in this area, and within two days of discussing it with Parker Instrumentation, their development team in Barnstaple provided me with a drawing of an elegant solution".
"We've managed to squeeze two instrument connections and block-and-bleed valves into exactly the same space as a traditional monoflange", adds Kevin Burke of Parker Instrumentation.
"This design has implications for all areas of industry, but the benefits for offshore installations are particularly great, making a major contribution the cost reduction goals that are at the heart of all new projects".
"Compared with double-block-and-bleed connections built using two monoflanges the savings are around 50% of space and weight.
Compared with a system based on discrete valves and fittings, the savings are much greater", he adds.
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