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Minimising the risk of offshore spills
Marine breakaway couplings (MBCs) minimise the risk of oil spillage in an offshore environment.
The marine breakaway coupling is a vital component in offshore crude oil and refined product transfer systems. The MBC operates within a floating or subsea hose string and will activate and shut down flow when an event occurs. This activation is instigated by undue overload during tanker loading or discharging (for example, tanker breakout), or an extreme pressure surge.
If marine breakaway couplings are not fitted then the resulting oil spill and trauma to the transfer system may cause damage to hoses and equipment, injury to personnel, extended downtime, costly oil spill clean-up and environmental pollution.
Gall Thomson invented the petal valve MBC, conceived the flip-flap valve MBC and continues to be the world leader in the design and manufacture of safety marine breakaway coupling technology.
This proven technology means the Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBC and the Gall Thomson Flip-Flap Valve MBC are the industry standards for marine breakaway couplings. These breakaway couplings offer an unmatched record for reliability and durability and significantly reduce the risk of spillage during transfer; which is a frequent cause of offshore oil spills.
Gall Thomson MBCs provide a controlled parting point and spill shutoff facility to the exact requirements of the transfer system. The units are self-motivated and self-contained and require no outside power source.
Applications for marine breakaway couplings
Marine breakaway couplings can be used in a variety of operations, including:
- Single-point mooring
- Conventional berth mooring / multi-buoy mooring
- FPSO / FSO/ FSU
- Other offshore terminal crude oil
- Refined product and bunker hose strings
- Reeled floating and catenary hose systems
- Under-buoy and subsea manifold flexible risers
- Offshore and onshore service lines
- Subsea high-pressure ‘live’ crude flexibles
- Well choke and kill emergency disconnect systems
Petal valve marine breakaway coupling
The Gall Thomson petal valve marine breakaway coupling has been specifically developed for heavy fuel oil and crude oil safe transfer. This MBC offers zero headloss and protects hoses and assets from damage that might be caused by undue overload during tanker loading and discharging or extreme pressure surge.
This marine breakaway coupling offers low-maintenance, ease of fitting, pigging and is compact and lightweight. The unit is self-energised which means the MBC is not vulnerable to the reliability of external power sources.
The option of instantaneous or controlled closure means the MBC can be calibrated to suit particular system requirements.
Gall Thomson petal valve type marine breakaway coupling applications
Petal valve type marine breakaway coupling can be used in various operations, such as:
- Floating hose strings at SPM CALM / SALM buoy terminals
- Underbuoy hose strings at SPM CALM buoy terminals
- FPSO and FSO floating hose strings, export reeled floating or catenary hose strings
- CBM / MBM submarine hose strings
- Articulated loading platform in-air or submerged catenary hose strings
- Subsea high-pressure live crude flexibles
- Well choke and kill emergency disconnect systems
- Other types of offshore hose transfer system
Flip-flap valve marine breakaway coupling
The Gall Thomson Flip-flap valve marine breakaway coupling is suitable for low-viscosity products or short-term crude oil terminal operations, fuel and liquid gas (LPG) transfer systems and temporary loading/offloading operations.
The unit is compact and lightweight and offers flow efficiency and safety within offshore oil transfer systems. These include minimum headloss, 100% leak-free shut-off, low maintenance and ease of fitting.
This unit is self-energised which means the marine breakaway coupling is not vulnerable to the reliability of external power sources.
The option of instantaneous or controlled closure means that the unit can be calibrated to suit particular system requirements.
Flip-Flap Valve MBCs can be used in the following applications:
- Single-point mooring
- FPSO, FSO, FSU and other offshore terminal oil production, fuel and bunker floating hose strings such as barge and pontoon arrangements
- FPSO, FSO, FSU and other offshore oil terminal product reeled and in-air and submerged catenary hose strings
- Underbuoy and CBM / MBM submarine hose strings
- Subsea and riser high-pressure ‘live’ crude flexibles
- Well choke and kill emergency disconnect systems
- Early well test or early production systems
Welin camlock coupling
The Welin camlock coupling offers an efficient connect and disconnect of hose flanges and is considerably easier, quicker and much safer than the more traditional draft pin, nuts and bolt alternatives.
Each cam on the unit takes only five seconds to connect and is impossible to loosen once deployed in a pressurised line.
Gall Thomson offers a comprehensive range of fitment types and extras such as blind flanges and lifting lugs. Camlock couplings are also available in different materials and special paint finishes.
Welin camlock coupling applications
The Gall Thomson Welin Camlock Coupling is used throughout the world in marine loading / discharging terminals, ports, refineries, dock facilities, chemical plants and distribution centres. Applications include cryogenic, submersible and hydraulic operations.
Aftersales care
Gall Thomson offers a comprehensive after-sales service that is designed to maintain safe and efficient transfer systems. These services include return-to-factory MBC refurbishment, on-site MBC refurbishment, resetting, preventative maintenance, spares kits, advice and training.
Gall Thomson awards
Gall Thomson has achieved the following standards and awards:
- Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement
- ISO 14001: 2004 Environmental Management System
- ISO 9001: 2008 Quality Management System
