The Kvitebjorn Pipeline Repair

摘要

On the 1 of November 2007 during a routine inspection, severe anchor damage was discovered on the 30" Kvitebjorn rich gas pipeline, about 10 km from the platform at 210 m water depth. The damage constituted a localised dent and a 17deg buckle, but no leakage. Since 1987 Statoil on behalf of the different pipeline transportation licences, has invested time and money into building up an effective repair contingency for the pipeline network from the Norwegian Continental shelf, in particular the large gas export pipelines. The contingency repair method for the Kvitebjarn pipeline is based upon the use of two Morgrip couplings and a spool to be installed with remotely operated H-frames and a purpose build Coupling Installation Frame (CIF), constituting vital parts of the total Pipeline Repair System. The couplings were produced and tested back in 2005. This paper will cover the initial damage description, the repair preparations, the actual remote repair methodology and lessons learned. The Kvitebjern incident has shown how important it is to be prepared and it can be termed as a real baptism for the company's pipeline repair preparedness. The 27th of January 2009, one year and three months after the damage discovery, the repair was successfully completed and gas export from the Visund and Kvitebjern platforms resumed.