Offshore installations are periodically modified or upgraded which inevitably requires additional pipe work, valves etc. The operator needs to minimise downtime and costs during those periods. A report from DNV states the SPO compact flange to be as reliable as a 12m length of girth welded pipe. This means the prefabricated and cold work assembled solution is an acceptable technical alternative (and cheaper option) to hot work habitat welding of joints. Without the habitat the whole installation must shut down during the hot work process.  

Requirement for SPO CF solution :• Spools pre-fabricated and tested onshore.
• Installation of spools and assembly of flanges offshore 
  (cold work permit)

Requirement for Habitat solution :• Habitat to be designed to fit each location
• Habitat fabricated from fire resistant materials.
• Installation of habitat and ventilation system.
• Risk analysis of Habitat environment.
• Welding operation (hot work permit)
• Preservation of pipe work.
• Removal of habitat.

As you can see you can greatly reduce shut down periods and costs by using SPO compact flanges, as well as improving safety by eliminating offshore welding!


As reliable as a welded connectionDNV (Det Norske Veritas) considers the SPO CF to be in the magnitude as a welded connection with respect to leakage probability (stated in DNV report no/DNV Reg. No. : /12FQG2F-6 Rev 01,2010-03-12).
This means that the SPO CF can be considered as being as reliable as a welded connection.

Standard offshore flanges on the other hand (chart left hand side) are regarded as a potential leak source and is consequently avoided at certain areas at an oil & gas installation. Operators have taken advantage of the high reliability provided by the SPO Compact Flange to use flanged connections in hazardous areas, and consequently achieved significant savings.