Line stops are a solution for servicing pipelines under pressure. These services require experienced professionals to complete on your pipeline to ensure quality, safety, and effectiveness. There are many reasons to choose line stopping for your pipeline infrastructure.
What are Line Stops?
A line stop or line-stopping is a method for isolating sections of pipelines while they are in service. It’s common to use line stops when it’s impractical or costly to completely shut down the pipeline for things like repairs, modifications, and additions. Some common reasons to use line stopping for pipelines include:
- Adding permanent or temporary bypasses
- Adding branches
- Repairing damaged pipe sections
- Replacing damaged pipe sections
- Repairing existing valves
- Replacing existing valves
Generally speaking, line stops are added on both sides of the section you wish to isolate. This is to allow for a bypass installation to reduce service interruptions while working on the pipeline. Line stopping starts with hot taps, which is where we attach a special hot tapping machine to the pipe and remove a small section (commonly known as a coupon) of the pipe and attach a temporary valve. Then, plug-like components are inserted into the interior of the pipeline to stop the flow of product. Which type of stop you use depends on your application. For instance, it’s important to know the temperature, type of product, pipeline pressure, and also whether the interior of the pipeline is round or out of round. This helps our mechanical field services technicians determine the right type of plug to use for your pipeline.
Line stops work well in many different situations. You can use line stopping to isolate pipelines with many different types of products, including water, sewage, gas, oil, and steam. They also work well for many different pipeline materials, like cast iron, steel, PVC, and copper. Therefore, line stopping is a versatile pipeline isolation option for maintenance, repairs, replacements, and modifications.
Advantages of Line Stopping for Pipelines Under Pressure
Line stopping offers several advantages for many different applications. In most cases, line stops are used when there is no other practical option for completing repairs or modifications. The only other option is to completely shut down service for the pipeline to drain the product and allow for safe repairs. Therefore, if your organization needs to repair, modify, or perform maintenance on a pipeline section, in many cases line stopping reduces costs and risks.
One major reason to choose line stopping instead of service shut down is that line stopping services allow our professionals to install a temporary bypass system. This helps keep your pipeline in service while completing work on the pipeline. This is incredibly beneficial, as service shutdowns can have negative impacts on your organization. For one, it can create revenue losses for the entire length of time needed to complete modifications. In other cases, like sewer pipelines, lengthy shutdowns can even create public health concerns. Line stopping allows you to avoid these issues while you address the needed repairs or modifications. Therefore, if you need to perform pipeline work, reach out for our experienced line stopping and mechanical field services.
Leverage Mechanical Services – Your Source for Quality Mechanical Field Services
At Leverage Mechanical Services, we offer a wide range of services to support each step of your critical infrastructure’s lifecycle. Whether you need new construction or mechanical field services to repair aging infrastructure, we are your number one choice. Our certified technicians work with you to find reliable, cost-effective solutions suited to your needs. Get a free quote today for your mechanical, millwright, machining, or valve repair needs.