Cold cutting

If production cannot be interrupted for any reason but local isolation can
be achieved and 100% positive isolation at valves with spades installed
then it will be possible to cold cut the pipe. There are a number of actions
that need to be carried out.

 Positive isolation as mentioned above

 Product must be drained from the line and collected in appropriate
containers
 Gas tests must be carried out
 Scaffold required
 Crane in place to lift down the cold cut section of pipe
 All spading points physically identified (process operator to show
the contractor)
 Contractor to have method statement and risk assessment in place
and understand the permit to work.
 Hold toolbox talks with the workforce carrying out the task

Scope of work for cold cutting

 Raise permit
 Erect scaffold platform
 Crane in place to lift up cutting machine
 In case of valve let by install spade at tie-in 002B
 Set up cutting machine
 Gas test area
 Perform first cut
 Measure and mark up for second cut
 Set up machine
 Cut and prep pipe
 Install inline weld and test plug
 Set up rigging gear
 Lift up 20” RFWN flg (weight approx 172Kg)
 Set up butt for welding
 Weld butt
 Hydrotest flange
 Remove inline weld and test plug and lower to grade
 Remove cutting machine from scaffold and lower to grade
 Crane lift pre-fabricated spool into place and bolt up.
 Retain the spade at tie-in 002B and insert another at tie-in 002A

As the pre fabricated spool is 4550mm in length with a down hang

of 2332mm from the branch of the second tee piece it would be
prudent to have the spool in two pieces creating another field weld.
The approximate weight of the full spool is 3Ton.
The contractor shall ensure that all work is carried out in accordance
with its approved HSE Plan, Risk Assessments, Method Statements
and Permit to Work.
The contractor shall ensure that the external surface of the existing
pipework is properly cleaned prior to welding. PMI check may be
required
All welds will be subject to 100%NDT
The whole of the fabrication and erection shall be the subject of the
contractor’s project tracking system so that the status and quality of
the work from material certification to welding and NDT shall be
readily traceable and available for inclusion into QA/QC plan
All welding shall be carried out by qualified welders in accordance
with the contractor’s Quality Plan.
The contractor shall submit its hydrotest procedure to the client for
approval. The procedure shall define the recording and test
equipment to be used, the fill rate, pressurisation sequence with hold
points identified, the test hold period and depressurisation stages.
In its hydrotest procedure, the contractor shall detail the supply of
suitable hydrotest water and its subsequent disposal or storage in an
environmentally acceptable manner.
All field welds will require remedial painting and final punch listing
carried out and verified in the contractor’s tracking system.

Please refer to site procedures and standards.