When it comes to subsea operations, safety is paramount and monitoring voltage gradients is a necessity.  Voltage gradients pose a serious potential threat to divers, making their detection and management a critical aspect of subsea work.

In this blog post, we will introduce the Voltage Gradient Probe (VGP) – a product designed to tackle this challenge and provide divers with the assurance required to carry out their operations safely.  This is particularly important when working around subsea equipment connected to an electrical supply such as an impressed cathodic protection system.  This tool also highlights our commitment to safety and working closely with clients on bespoke designs.

Understanding the Need

The VGP was designed with a leading subsea contractor to address the critical safety issue posed by voltage gradients in subsea operations.  It is a robust tool that provides added diver safety and diving assurance in accordance with IMCA 45 standard D044, R015.     

Enhanced Visibility

The VGP is a reliable indicator, alerting users to the presence and magnitude of AC voltage gradients through a series of six LEDs.  These LEDs illuminate progressively at clearly defined trigger voltages, in an easy to interpret “traffic light” configuration.

Safety by Design

Safety is built into the VGP’s design.  It arrives pre-fitted with an insulating cap, protecting against inadvertent contact with known or suspected “live” parts.  Additionally, a dedicated Battery Status LED provides a clear indication of battery life and operational readiness ensuring you won’t be caught off guard by a depleted battery during critical operations.

Testing for Assurance

Prior to deployment, users can conduct a comprehensive functionality test using the VGP’s dedicated Testbox.  This streamlined process ensures operational integrity and enhances user confidence before subsea deployment.

Safety Elevated, Confidence Assured

In subsea operations, safety isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity.  The Voltage Gradient Probe offers robust solutions to mitigate risks associated with voltage gradients.  From its intuitive LED display to its comprehensive pre-deployment checks, the VGP provides divers with confidence, ensuring safety remains at the forefront of every operation.

To find out more about the Voltage Gradient Probe, get in touch today!

As we mark International Women’s Day, our Vice President Charlotte Hope shares her journey as a female leader in the energy sector. From breaking gender norms to discussing our company’s initiatives supporting women, Charlotte explores the evolving roles of women in the industry and offers valuable advice to aspiring female professionals. Join us in acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of women in oil and gas this International Women’s Day.

The Enduring Wisdom: Women Who Shaped My Journey

I am fortunate that there are many remarkable women that have shaped the person I am today. One such figure is my grandmother—an epitome of resilience, courage, and kindness. My grandmother was the OG of putting on your big girl pants and getting the job done. At the tender of 14, she left home to gain work experience on a remote farm. This bold move, especially for someone of her generation, showcased her determination to carve her path. As a child, I watched in awe as she worked tirelessly, displaying a unique blend of grit and determination. Despite the challenges of farming, there was always a twinkle in her eye—a silent reminder to approach life with both seriousness and a sense of humour. When faced with a dilemma, I often ask myself, ‘What would GGW do?’ The answer is usually: take a breath, prioritise tasks, and never succumb to the notion that you aren’t good enough or capable. However, her influence goes beyond tackling challenges. She imparted invaluable lessons in treating people with kindness and respect. This principle has been particularly impactful in my professional life, especially when working internationally. Understanding each other’s perspectives may be challenging in an environment where diverse cultures converge, but her wisdom resonates—never let the differences deter you from being kind and respectful.  Her teachings echo my daily life, reminding me that kindness transcends boundaries and respect is a universal language. As I navigate life, I carry with me the enduring lessons from a woman who faced adversity with grace and met challenges with unwavering strength.

Navigating Gender Norms in the Oil and Gas Industry

Growing up with a father immersed in the oil and gas industry, it felt almost natural for me to follow in his footsteps. Encouraged to break free from traditional roles, I kicked off my career in Accountancy—a field that has historically seen a more balanced gender presence. However, as my roles transitioned into more commercial and operational areas, especially while working in Africa, I faced my fair share of challenges. Despite holding senior positions, assumptions about my role persisted, highlighting the prevailing gender biases in the industry. During client meetings, people would often assume I was there as a note-taker.  While strides have been made in breaking down predefined gender roles, cultural nuances and stereotypes still present hurdles. I reflect on my journey, acknowledging the progress made while recognising that gender biases continue to influence perceptions of leadership qualities.

Unique Perspectives and Challenges

As a female leader, I’ve learned to leverage my emotional intuition to understand and motivate my team. However, the road is not without its challenges—gender biases often cast leadership qualities in a different light depending on one’s gender. What may be viewed as strength and assertiveness in a male leader is often labelled as aggressiveness or coldness in a female counterpart. Despite these obstacles, my unique perspective as a woman has equipped me with an understanding of women’s diverse responsibilities outside the workplace, emphasising the significance of achieving a healthy work-life balance.

Company Initiatives for Inclusivity: Our Commitment

At IK Trax, fostering inclusivity is a top priority. Initiatives supporting women include phased returns and part-time positions for those returning after maternity leave, coupled with flexible working hours accommodating childcare responsibilities. When I initially entered the industry, we faced a significant challenge of retaining highly skilled women after their maternity leave. Many struggled to balance childcare responsibilities and their careers. As their children got older, re-entering the job market became increasingly challenging due to the gap in their CV caused by their time away from work. We are committed to dismantling barriers hindering women’s progress and actively addressing overlooked issues, such as the impact of menopause on the workplace. This issue has long been overlooked but is finally gaining the attention it deserves.

The Strategic Move: Women’s Impact in the Industry

Promoting women’s involvement in the energy sector is a strategic move beyond morality. The diverse skill sets and perspectives women bring contribute significantly to innovation, problem-solving, and creativity and enable us to better understand and meet the needs of a diverse client base. While progress is visible in the representation of women in senior positions, mandated reporting sheds light on the persistent issue of inequality. Nevertheless, it’s encouraging to note a positive shift in the makeup of management at IK Trax and the IK Group, with two of the current Group VPs being female. At IK Trax, we also have women in managerial and technical roles, including our Workshop Supervisor.

Navigating the Path Ahead: My Advice

To aspiring women embarking on a career in the oil and gas industry, my advice is simple: seize every opportunity, believe in yourself, and don’t settle. It’s easy to underestimate your capabilities but believe me, you have the potential to achieve great things. In a world where negotiation styles often differ between genders, be assertive about what you bring to the table. Aim high and never settle for less than you deserve.  Speak up, and don’t be afraid to share your thoughts and ideas. If you see an opportunity for mentorship, latch onto it. Mentorship is akin to free career development, offering guidance and support as you navigate the complexities of your profession. I am a firm believer in getting the best out of everyone; let’s continue to support and uplift women, helping them fulfil their potential.  In my journey, I’ve found that women sometimes downplay their achievements. You are not just lucky to be in your position; you earned it. Have confidence in your skills, and remember that you can always learn and grow, even if there are gaps in your expertise. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s champion each other and recognise the achievements of women in our industry.

In the dynamic landscape of pipeline projects, the choice between non-intrusive and intrusive pig signallers can significantly impact both costs and operational efficiency. The blog post addresses some common objections and highlights the strategic benefits non-intrusive offers in CAPEX projects.

Overcoming Magnet Objections in CAPEX Projects

A common objection to non-intrusive pig signallers (or a reason to choose acoustic signallers) is the assumption that the pigs don’t have magnets.  While this holds some truth, a strategic approach during CAPEX projects involves ensuring that operational pigs come equipped with magnets.  Consideration could be given to purchasing startup pigs as part of the CAPEX project during commissioning.  Retrofitting magnets to existing pigs during their operational life is a complex task and generally this should be undertaken during manufacture in a competent facility with a proven design.  Although this may slightly increase the total cost, the long-term savings and advantages of non-intrusive signallers often outweigh the initial investment.  Alternatively, procuring new pigs with operator feedback incorporated into their design is a valuable exercise, contributing to enhanced operational efficiency.

Clarifying the Role of Foam Pigs in Operational Scenarios

Another common objection against magnetic pig signallers is their inability to detect foam pigs.  However, it is crucial to recognize that foam pigs, while serving specific purposes, may not be the most effective operational pigs.  The soft variety, commonly used for residual hydrotest water removal, can be supplemented by medium and high-density types for “rescue pig” or progressive cleaning operations.  In these cases, electromagnetic tracking devices can be seamlessly integrated, especially during non-routine operations. This not only addresses the objection but opens up possibilities for optimised pigging strategies.

Cost and Schedule Consideration in CAPEX

At the CAPEX stage, the cost dynamics heavily favour non-intrusive pig signallers over their intrusive counterparts.  Even before factoring in site fabrication, welding and non-destructive testing, intrusive systems tend to be more expensive.  Contractors often avoid the complexities of issuing valves separately, preferring suppliers to provide a limited number of highly specified diameter valves.  Non-intrusive signallers not only reduce costs but also minimizes schedule risks associated with acquiring pressurized fittings and valves.

The Need for Comprehensive Planning during FEED & EPC

Despite the obvious advantages of non-intrusive pig signallers, the nuances of pigging and the diverse challenges faced by operators throughout a pipeline’s lifespan are often overlooked during the FEED and EPC stages. industry tends to default to intrusive or even acoustic solutions without thoroughly exploring potentially superior alternatives.

In conclusion, embracing magnetic non-intrusive pig signallers in CAPEX projects proves to be a strategic choice, offering long-term savings, operational efficiency, and a more tailored approach to the unique challenges of pipeline operations.  By challenging common objections and considering modern solutions, operators can pave the way for a more cost-effective and resilient pipeline infrastructure.

Would you like more information? Click here to get in touch.

Ian McGregor was recently promoted to Production Manager at IK Trax.  We caught up with him to find out more about his new role and what a typical day looks like leading the Production Team. 

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I’m Ian McGregor, Production Manager at IK Trax, based in Aberdeen.  I oversee production, procurement, and the logistics departments.  My job is to streamline everything, reduce obstacles, particularly for the technicians and make sure that production goes as smoothly as possible. Outside of work, I like going to the gym, I like rugby (a lot!) and I enjoy going for walks in the hills.  Anything that involves being outdoors.

You have been at IK Trax for several years now and dipped your toe into different departments.  Can you explain how you ended up in your current role?

I was  a chef before I started at IK Trax and decided that I would like to go into electronics.  I went to college and that’s where I first saw the advertised Electronics Technician role at IK Trax and that is where I started in 2007. After a few years, I moved into the R&D Department  whilst studying night classes at university.  I also did Technical Sales spending time in Australia setting up a regional office. After some time away from the company, I returned in 2019 in Hire & Service before moving into my current role.

I feel that my experience in multiple departments has its benefits.  I have seen how other departments operate and I know what is involved.  It can be easy for people to focus only on what is going on in their team and, especially in this role, I can help people see the bigger picture.

Is there such a thing as a typical day for you?  What does that look like?

A typical day is very busy! My days are varied so I wouldn’t say there is such a thing as a typical day. I spent a lot of time ensuring that our processes and work instructions are streamlined so that we can ensure we are able to build products efficiently.  I check in with Procurement and Logistics to ensure we have all the parts we need, and we can get orders shipped on time.

I also help with technical questions whether from our technicians or customers and I am involved in training and mentoring our new technicians and apprentices.

So there are a lot of things going on – every day is different but the main focus is always ensuring we have a smooth build process and we don’t experience delays.

What would you say is the biggest challenge for you?

I think the biggest challenge is ensuring that everything is lined up so that we can meet our customers’ targets and requirements as that is the most important thing.  There are numerous aspects to this such as build times, delivery of parts, relationships with suppliers, managing customer expectations etc all whilst trying to minimse costs.  Communication and openness between all departments is the key to managing this.

What do you enjoy most about your role and working at IK Trax?

I think variety is the main thing.  I like problems and problem solving, both in electronics and in day-to-day aspects of this role.  Customers come to us with specific requirements, and I like thinking outside the box and being a bit creative to help come up with a solution for them.  I’m glad I have been able to maintain that hands-on approach.  

Tracking and locating are crucial activities during pipeline pigging to ensure the pig’s location and progress through the pipeline.  Pig Tracking and locating allow you to do the following:

• Confirm a stationary pig is or is not at the expected location e.g launcher or receiver.
• Locate a stationary pig at an unknown location.
• Confirm the passage of a moving pig at a particular location.

The terms “pig tracking” and “pig locating” tend to be used interchangeably – for the context of this post we will use “pig tracking” for both operations and we will be exclusively discussing Electromagnetic (EM) Technology.

The EM transmitter null spot allows for precise locating, enhancing your confidence regarding pig location and eliminating time and costs associated with locating a stalled pig.  EM systems are extremely versatile and can be used onshore, topside, or subsea with pipelines carrying liquid or gas and in trenched and pipe-in-pipe lines.  They are suitable for almost every application.  However, depending on the pipeline specification and the environment, challenges can arise.

1. Pipeline Depth and Wall Thickness

Pipeline depth and wall thickness are both factors that can affect the received signal strength of an EM transmitter.

Pipelines are often buried for several reasons such as to reduce the risk of third-party damage. However, the deeper the pipeline is buried, the harder it becomes to receive a signal from any tracking device fitted to the pig.

Heavy wall* pipes are often used to overcome technical challenges such as high pressure and temperature or use in deepwater applications.  A heavier wall provides a greater barrier for EM signals to pass through, resulting in signal attenuation.

There are adjustments you can make to the equipment.  For example, you can increase the gain on the EM receiver but this could lead to a poor signal-to-noise ratio – it is important to balance the sensitivity with accuracy of detection.  Alternatively, you can increase the signal strength of the transmitter which sounds like an easy solution, but this will reduce battery life. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the length of your operation and how long you require a signal to be transmitted.       

At present, the most reliable way to tell if a reliable signal will be received is to carry out representative testing under simulated project conditions.

*For the purpose of this article we discuss carbon steel only.  Stainless steel signal attenuation is substantially less.

2. Pig Design

When it comes to pig design, it is crucial to find the right balance: selecting the most suitable design for the task is one aspect.  On the other hand, choosing the correct EM transmitter and mounting it to the pig in a way that optimizes signal can pose challenges.

IK Trax recommend that as large a transmitter as possible is selected.

This is because a larger transmitter is fitted with more batteries – this can be used to increase signal lifespan or signal strength – maximizing flexibility in the respect that it makes pig tracking easier.

• We can also provide guidance on mounting best practices such as the following:
• Reducing the amount of magnetic material surrounding the transmitter. 316 Stainless steel pig bodies provide a good balance of properties and cost.
• Adding slits to the body will help increase signal.
• Leave as much of the transmitter exposed as possible, where practicable
• The transmitter must be clamped to ensure no movement or vibration occurs as this could lead to damage.

We can work directly with customers and pig manufacturers to advise and ensure that the pig design does not compromise the performance of the transmitter and vice versa.

3. Small Diameter Pipelines

There are occasions when despite collaboration and communication between the customer, pig manufacturer and pig tracking supplier, fitting a transmitter to a standard pig is just not possible.  This is quite often the case when dealing with smaller pipelines of around 4” to 6” and the transmitter is too large to fit inside the pig body.  The temptation here could be to proceed without a transmitter and rely only on pig signallers or have no method of detection and hope that everything goes to plan…

The third option (and the one that ensures you sleep better at night) is to adapt the transmitter by fitting pig discs, effectively transforming the transmitter into the pig body.  As well as overcoming the issue of lack of space, this design has the added bonus of increasing the signal as it no longer needs to propagate through the pig body in addition to the pipe wall.

4. Stuck pig – now what?

Finally, the biggest challenge of all – what happens if my pig gets stuck?  A pig tracking system is often considered an insurance policy – it is there for peace of mind – but as we often experience in the “real world”, sometimes you just have to use it!

The implications of a stuck pig can be significant.  It can halt operations and cause potential delays in product delivery.  Retrieving a lost or stuck pig can be expensive and there are the additional costs associated with downtime and disruptions.

By following the recommendations provide earlier in this article, you increase your chance of a signal being detected but how do you increase the speed of detection to minimize these costs?

Firstly, you want to be able to narrow down the search area.  This can be done by placing non-intrusive pig signallers at set distances and/or at pipeline features such as valve stations.  They are fitted downstream of the valve so the operator knows that valve can be closed if needed.

Click here to find out more about non-intrusive pig signallers.

You can also reduce the length of search area by tracking the pig as it moves using a method called “leapfrogging” whereby an operator travels ahead of the rest of the team to the next location, ready to detect the pig as it passes.

Secondly, you will want to know the range of your transmitter, also known as the detection envelope.  The detection envelope is the standoff distance from the pipeline combined with the distance upstream and downstream of the transmitter.

To find a stalled pig, you would typically move along a pipeline, pausing at regular intervals to attempt signal detection.  Without knowing the detection envelope of your transmitter, you run the risk of missing the signal (larger steps) or taking longer than is necessary (smaller steps).  The optimum step size is roughly half the width of the detectable envelope which should help you not only locate the pig but also do so in a relatively short timeframe.

Conclusion

Electromagnetic (EM) pig tracking is vital for pipeline operations. While EM technology is versatile and accurate, it faces challenges like pipeline depth, wall thickness, and pig design. The potential of a pig getting stuck emphasizes the need for effective tracking to prevent costly delays. By addressing these challenges through equipment adjustments and effective strategies, setbacks can be minimized and pipelines can operate more efficiently.

Get in touch to discuss your pig tracking challenges with our team.