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Isolation of process pipelines, pipelines, vessels or equipment is a key requirement for safe and efficient maintenance, transformation and repair of any oil, natural gas and petrochemical facilities.

If the facility design does not have a suitable isolation point, a large number of activities may be required to safely isolate the equipment, thereby increasing HSSE exposure, time, risk, and cost, and affecting facility production.

The AOGV developed and patented by IK-Group is used to install a safety barrier between a pair of flanges on a system that runs continuously and cannot close a certain section. This will reduce or eliminate the need for nitrogen emissions and gas release from the pipeline system, and avoid cleaning by the process system upstream of the isolation barrier, ultimately increasing the plant's uptime.

AOGV provides active isolation without any physical modification or lasting impact on the process plant. After the operation is completed, the flange pair will be restored to its original state with new washers, bolts and nuts.

AOGV has been approved by many large multinational oil and gas companies and national oil companies, and has been used in upstream, downstream and integrated natural gas assets.

Valve and flange leakage is a challenge for any processing plant. AOGV can facilitate the replacement and repair of valves and seals when needed, without waiting or triggering facility or partial facility shutdown. In addition, by reducing the isolation area, more process inventory remains in the factory, thereby reducing the risk of leakage and emissions.

Positive isolation is considered the safest energy isolation method. The use of AOGV can promote:

The AOGV shovel is a suitable blind plate when set up to provide positive isolation. AOGV can set blinds to safely allow entry into the ship.

For all assets, on-site activities should be performed to keep facility downtime to a minimum, maintain asset integrity, and reduce risks to the "lowest reasonably feasible level." Built-in isolation points may require some facilities to be shut down and large amounts of inventory to be drained and flushed. The scope of work can cause significant production losses, and the more extensive the activity, the more exposed the personnel. By using AOGV to bring the isolation point closer to the point of interest, the area affected by the work will be reduced, thereby reducing the possibility of downtime and large inventory discharge.

AOGV can insert the isolation shovel at any live flange joint, so it can provide a zero-energy area where inspection and maintenance work can be performed safely and efficiently. Individual equipment can be isolated so that work can be performed outside of the turnaround time or without closing the process plant, thereby increasing asset uptime

AOGV technology provides value by reducing "in-plant" time and minimizing the affected facility area. Compared to alternatives, AOGV allows:

How does AOGV work?

AOGV technology is basically an isolation valve, which is installed on the movable flange joint upstream or downstream of the pipeline or equipment that needs intervention. The AOGV is isolated on the circumference of the flange. Once the joint is contained in the AOGV housing, the flange is unfolded, cleaned, and an isolation shovel can be inserted for isolation purposes, or the seal can be removed and replaced.

AOGV tools have been successfully used in pressurized hydrocarbon systems with pressures up to 2,175 psi and sizes from 1"-24". Workshop testing has been verified to operate in a temperature range of -261°F to 392°F. These tools comply with all relevant standards-EN 13445, ASME PCC2/B31.3, PED2014/68/EU, and carry the CE mark of DNVGL.

Unlike some other isolation technologies, AOGV does not require permanent modification, mechanical work or welding of the piping system.

AOGV has been used in a variety of applications, from replacing butterfly valves on submarine seawater pipelines below sea level through refineries, pipelines, FPSO and LNG facilities. Typical applications are:

 For more information, please visit the IK-Group website. Watch this video to better understand how AOGV works:

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