Atlas Copco’s highly efficient air compressors have successfully maintained pressure in an extensive pipeline thereby helping its maintenance. 

 

Atlas Copco Specialty Rental division in Central Asia was asked to assist with a pipeline inspection project in the Jambyl region in southern Kazakhstan. This project involved inspecting 96 kms of pipeline, requiring a number of specialised rental machines and tools to generate sufficient pressure to cover the distance, an Atlas Copco release said.

 

Maintenance matters

For almost 30 years, Atlas’s client in Kazakhstan has been a prominent service provider in the fields of pipeline cleaning, pigging and inspection, safety expertise, and various technical works for tanks, pipelines, and vessels, including diagnostics and repairs. 

 

Although pipelines are typically underground or submerged and thus invisible, their contribution to the quality of life for large people groups and entire continents is undeniable. Substances such as oil, natural gas, ammonia, hydrogen, water and steam all rely on pipeline structures for efficient, direct transport. This necessitates regular inspections to ensure there are no leaks and to mitigate the risks of malfunctions.

 

A fleet of powerful solutions

Although Atlas’s client is familiar with complex inspection procedures, the length of this pipeline route presented some challenges. They turned to Atlas Copco Rental to ensure there was enough power and pressure to move the PIG from one end of the pipeline to the other. 

 

Atlas’s first step was to plan the necessary equipment. Ultimately, it supplied several PNS compressors, a nitrogen generator, a diesel generator, and several XRVS compressors. The diesel generator powered the nitrogen generator, allowing the pipeline to be filled with nitrogen to remove gas. Then, air served as a propellant to move the PIG through the pipes. The system achieved a pressure of 24 bar, enabling the PIG to be purged at an airflow rate of 258 m3 per minute.

 

Experts on the ground

From planning to finish, the project took a total of four weeks to be completed. Atlas Copco Rental provided two onsite service engineers and one mechanical engineer for the inspection to ensure a smooth operation and the necessary technical expertise. 

 

Thanks to clear communication and a hands-on approach, the client was able to complete the required service successfully and on time. In addition, by choosing a rental solution, the overall project costs were reduced while the client was assured of well-maintained, compliant, and adaptable technology.--TradeArabia News Service