CNOOC Engineering Qingdao’s ongoing project completed the largest helium-nitrogen pressure vessel test to date

Thread Content

On April 27, it was learned from Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (referred to as “COOEC”) that recently, COOEC’s Qingdao branch successfully completed the helium-nitrogen pressure vessel test for the largest project currently under construction. The entire process was carried out safely and under controlled conditions, with accurate data collection, enabling the project to pass the inspection on the first attempt. It is reported that this helium-nitrogen pressure testing is the largest and most complex pressure test carried out by Qingdao Company at present. The pipe diameters range from 0.5 inches to 38 inches, with a total pipeline length of 2,000 meters. Nitrogen accounting for 99% and helium accounting for 1% are used as the testing media, the test pressure is 1.35 megapascals, and the safety isolation distance is 130 meters. This requires extremely high standards in terms of construction techniques and safety management. To ensure the safe and orderly progress of the entire testing process, the module integration team at CNOOC Engineering Qingdao Company broke away from traditional working methods and innovatively adopted six intelligent and autonomous safety control measures to establish a comprehensive safety protection system covering the whole process and all aspects. In the pressure monitoring phase, wireless smart digital meters are used to enable real-time dynamic monitoring of data during the pressurization process, allowing for accurate tracking of pressure changes ； The key component of the airtightness test is the OPPS safety control device, which was developed independently and has received high recognition from the client. This device features a two-stage safety relief system: the first stage involves conventional safety valves for relief, while the second stage is an intelligent industrial control relief system that uses pressure sensors to operate control valves. Even if the conventional safety valves fail, pressure relief can still be achieved automatically based on the set pressure. In addition, drones are used for perimeter inspection and monitoring, keeping the operators at a safe distance from the pressure testing manifold and thus eliminating potential high-pressure hazards from the outset. At every stage of the process, operators are equipped with real-time monitoring cameras; the control room uses large screens to view the drone footage, thereby enabling real-time supervision of the positions occupied by those carrying out inspections, to ensure that all operations are carried out in a compliant and standardized manner ； During high-pressure leak detection tasks, the workers wear professional protective shields throughout the process. By using self-developed visible, extended probes, they can carry out the work with precision, thereby enhancing both safety and the accuracy of detection. For operating high-pressure airtight valves at pressures exceeding 10 MPa, a long lever is used for remote control to prevent personnel from coming into close contact with high-pressure equipment ； In terms of pressure relief, the team optimized the process design; the gas released under pressure is buffered and then discharged in an orderly manner through a silencer of their own development, thereby ensuring environmentally friendly and noise-free operation and significantly raising the safety standards for on-site work. The successful completion of this large-scale helium-nitrogen pressure vessel test fully demonstrates the project team’s professional competence in overcoming challenges and striving for excellence, thereby ensuring the high-quality development of the project.