Valvetight’s self-developed DBB-SAVER technology

Valvetight is a company supplying its self-developed DBB-SAVER technology which makes working behind (otherwise) passing valves safe by mitigating any leakage. Zero leak rate enables the execution of activities on isolated equipment without shutting down the plant, platform or pipeline to increase boundary isolation.

The technology is based on creating, maintaining, controlling and monitoring of a vacuum-lock in the bleed section between either two valves (in a classical DB&B configuration) or in the body cavity of a single valve (e.g. a ball or gate valve). The vacuum-lock will make passing physically impossible!

The advantages are:

• Zero leak rate towards safe work area
• Online isolation integrity monitoring (the presence of the vacuum-lock) + alarms
• Online monitoring of the valve leak rate and any changes + pre-alarm
• Online registration of any GHG emission reporting obligations of processed gas
• Preventing plant shutdowns by preventing boundary isolation increase requirement
• Preventing GHG emissions by preventing boundary isolation increase requirement

The DBB-SAVER vacuum control unit is hooked up to the point(s) during the period the isolation needs to be in place (how it works: https://my.valvetight.com/ video). It can be used to systems:

• of any line size diameter
• of any pressure rating
• with multiple bleed points simultaneously, even with mixed diameters and pressure classes
• containing gaseous (wet or dry) media, liquids, liquified gasses or multiphase media

Valvetight was founded in 2014 in the Netherlands by Jeroen Pronk, an former Asset Manager himself in the Oil & Gas industry, developing the technology. First commercial operations commenced in 2016 and in 2019 Valvetight opened their offices in the UAE. For equipment deliveries and operational services Valvetight can be contacted directly or via their agents in various regions.

To date they can look back on their operational history of:

• >1000 Deployments
• >1 Billion USD in prevented plant shut downs
• >4 Million tons prevented CO2 equivalent GHG emissions
• Zero accidents
• 100% success rate in all projects executed with previously known leak rate
• >98% success rate in all projects executed with no previously known leak rate

Show case

A typical application of the DBB-SAVER is to assist when pig trap valves are passing. It is very dangerous to expose personnel when pig trapdoors are unsafely opened for pigging operations. The DBB-SAVER however, makes it possible in such case to safely continue operations without losing precious time on-site.

For example, an offshore pig trap isolation support job in the North Sea. Here the DDB-SAVER was installed on 3 bleed connection points in the system of the CPP to Barrow-on-Furness South pipeline export trap and enabled a truly zero passing condition and thereby creating a safe working environment for the team to load the pig. The vacuum was kept on a continuous low level to prevent air ingress potential through the inner valve and keep the mixture in the bleed section well above UEL (non-flammable) while maintaining vacuum.

Deployment of the Valvetight DBB-SAVER achieves the safest way to isolate systems relying on valves. It is a step change in achieving a new level of ALARP conditions and thereby allowing our customers to keep their plant, platform or pipeline running while executing any kind of maintenance or repair activities on a part thereof. Valvetight DBB-SAVER