Into the Deep: Heaps Delivers on First Subsea Project

Published: 7th September 2015 | Issue 34 Share article:

First Subsea’s PRT featured valves supplied by Heap & Partners

First Subsea’s PRT featured valves supplied by Heap & Partners

A close up of the interface between the valve and actuator

A close up of the interface between the valve and actuator


The PRT was ‘fast tracked’ for shipping

The PRT was ‘fast tracked’ for shipping


Heap & Partners has recently delivered valves for a subsea application for the first time in its history. The 3˝ ASME 1500 RTJ flanged valves, are part of Heaps' Phase range of Trunnion Mounted Ball valves.

The project was successfully undertaken with connector technology experts First Subsea Ltd, and fellow BVAA member company KT Hydraulics which supplied its Kracht Double Acting Hydraulic unit.

The valves formed part of a 32˝ Pipeline Recovery Tool (PRT) which is used on pipe laying projects. It offers air injection for launch and capture of the pig; dewatering and in the event of a ‘wet buckle’, the recovery of the pipeline itself in water depths of up to 2,300 metres. The PRT uses First Subsea’s patented Ball & Taper Technology (Ballgrab®). The First Subsea PRT’s have been supplied for pipelines up to 42˝ Diameter for over 25 years and this failsafe technology uses the Ballgrab® patented mechanical grip system.

Critically, for the nature of this project, the valves and actuators are totally ingress sealed for the deepwater application. The interface between the valve and actuator is also pressure compensated in order to eradicate any potential for leakage at the installed depth.

This was a fast track project and as such Heap & Partners were able to manufacture, witness test and deliver the valves and actuators within 14 weeks of the order.

Heap & Partners Business Development Manager, Peter Burnett, explained the importance of the relationships between the three companies in order to successfully deliver the project to schedule:

‘The teams at Heaps, KT Hydraulics and First Subsea Ltd have formed a good working relationship. Through close cooperation we were able to combine the considerable specialist expertise of each party to great effect, and have been able to deliver a technically robust solution to a short lead-time.’

Heap & Partners has a strong track record of delivering valves to high criticality industries, more information can be found at www.heaps.co.uk

Heap & Partners Ltd
Tel: 0151 488 7222
Web: info@heaps.co.uk

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