Hot tapping is also known as a form of pressure tapping and it is a way of connecting the present pipeline or containers, without the requirement to empty any connected part of the pipe or the container. This means that the work can be done on the line without the need to shut down the complete system.
This work can also be done on pipes that will be able to carry the water, sewage, natural gas, steam, and chemicals and the petroleum products. It can also be done on pipes that are made up of any kind of material. This method can also be conducted on offshore platforms, gas production plants, refineries, and any other place, where a pressurized tubular system is present.
This is the first step in line stopping and it uses a hole-saw to drive a hole inside the hot tapping pipelines where a plugging head is inserted. It also permits the pressure to be contained, vented, and also removed from a live system.
Hot Tapping provides diverse benefits. It permits simultaneous operations as the pressure is totally contained. The work can also be done on that section of the pipe without the need to shut down the other sections. This kind of system is very modular and it is able to handle diverse applications. This process is limited to only that amount of pressure that needs to be contained, this means that if there is a way from which the pressure can be contained then any hole size can be made to cut the pipe.
It is only due to the flexibility of the hot tapping pipelines procedure that several people are selecting it as a mode to function on the pipes. This process can be completed manually or automatically. It can be done on both the surface pipelines and subsea pipelines. In this process, several diverse power options are also available which includes hydraulic and pneumatic power systems. The drill lengths can also be of several different kinds and it is possible to bore a hole anywhere from half an inch to several diverse feet in the diameter. If there is a requirement then even large holes can be cut in different pipes. This is known to be a very safe and secure way to repair or add on to the existing pipelines.
Basically, hot tapping is conducted on materials like carbon steel, stainless steel, cement lined pipe, fiberglass, and the plastic pipes. These materials can be connected to several new sections of the pipe. This process can also be done on the pipes that are made up of materials that cannot be welded easily or sealed. It includes transite, cast iron and carbon steel. This process is done using a bolt on tapping or a plug. In some cases, a personalized product may be required for the need of connecting the pipes.
