Leading Aberdeenshire-based oil service company ThinJack Ltd has unveiled a significant addition to its growing service portfolio which represents overall investment worth in excess of £100,000.
ThinJackGAP is the company’s new “Real Time Gap Data” system for all flange separation methods including ThinJack services, conventional spreaders, cranes, drill strings and draw works. It has been created by the company’s Westhill-based team and assisted by £23,000 of Scottish Enterprise funding.
The new technology, which can save up to 30% of critical path time, was recently unveiled during live demonstrations when the ThinJack team used it in the separation of a 27-year-old bolted casing head flange from a North Sea platform. The events were received with hugely positive feedback, with ThinJack’s full service approach among the aspects singled out for praise.
The system displays the gap between the two parts of the bolted flange, during their separation. If this is not measured, there is a risk that the flange is tilted and jammed on its bolts. A small tilt and a strong pull, from a drill string or crane, jams the flange resulting in a long shift to release it - ThinJackGAP reduces the likelihood of this happening by displaying real time gap, measured around the flange circumference.
Commenting on the launch of the new system, ThinJack’s managing director Guy Bromby said: “We are delighted with the levels of interest which North Sea and international operators have already shown in ThinJackGAP and we appreciated the opportunity to share this significant development during our recent demonstrations.
These gave current and prospective customers the unique opportunity to view our new technology addition first-hand, and for us to explain it with refreshing, three-dimensional support from the equipment itself.
“Typical customer feedback emphasised the relevance of this new way of overcoming challenges on oilfield and industrial infrastructure, as well as the appropriate detail and organisation associated with both the system and the open days themselves.”
He added: “For us as a team, it is also very special to realise the vision of our late colleague Chris Wilkes who designed the initial concept which led to the creation of ThinJackGAP and we feel it is a very fitting legacy to a highly respected industry professional.”
David Rennie, international sector head for oil and gas at Scottish Enterprise, said: “Encouraging higher levels of innovation in Scotland’s oil and gas sector is a priority for us and we aim to support companies like ThinJack Ltd to develop innovative technologies to support the long-term growth of the sector in Scotland. We are delighted to be supporting the development of ThinJack Ltd’s new system which will significantly improve the company’s offering, enabling access into new markets. ThinJack is an innovative, forward thinking company and I wish it every success as it delivers this important project.”
ThinJack Ltd has an established, international reputation for its unique service in the safe, fast and rigless separation of seized well flanges. Earlier this year the company reached an agreement with a prominent Middle East oil and gas operating company and what could be ThinJack’s largest ever agreement in the region.
The ThinJack itself is a steel envelope which can be inflated with up to 2,500 bar of hydraulic pressure to exert hundreds of tonnes of force, making it the ideal separating and jacking solution in hazardous, difficult or restricted areas. The force delivered by ThinJack can reach over one million pounds (454 tonnes). ThinJack Ltd also offers a specialist consultancy service proactively identifying potential flange separation problems and evaluating solutions as well as integrating complementary technologies. In its milestone tenth anniversary year in 2015, the company launched new services for gap holding and pre-lift weighing, during platform decommissioning, using its PowerPad™ service.
ThinJack Ltd is headquartered in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and operates internationally from established bases worldwide. Since its foundation in 2005, ThinJack has operated successfully throughout the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Australia, Middle East, West Africa and Malaysia.
For further information or to find out more, visit www.thinjack.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1224 330 645.