How to ensure flange integrity in LNG plants

December 2, 2015, 4:00 am

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The process of converting natural gas into liquid form enables more efficient transport and storage but is widely held as hazardous and expensive, especially with the need for expensive cryogenic tanks used to store the liquid at extremely low temperatures.  Due to the flammable nature of the gas involved, the commissioning of an LNG plant demands that stringent safety measures and precautions are adhered to.

 This article aims to provide an overview of som ekey considerations for minimising the failure of pipe flange joints.

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Industry trends every pipeline project engineer should know

December 9, 2015, 3:00 am

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What does the future hold for pipeline projects?

In this blog post we focus on global pipeline projects, including how the state of the oil and gas sector will drive future activity and the potential areas for growth.

Essential machines and accessories needed for a hot tapping project

December 15, 2015, 3:00 am

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If you’re an engineer working in the oil and gas industry, no doubt you've heard about the hot tapping process. But have you ever wondered exactly what machines are needed and how they would be used?  We’ve put together an example project below, to give you an insight into which machines and accessories needed.

Case Study: Mirage Subsea removes a damaged Chemical Injection Metering Valve (CIMV) and creates a new Manual Torque Tool

December 21, 2015, 1:30 am

≫ Next: How milling machines can help improve power plant efficiency

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Operators and contractors performing subsea projects such as installation, inspection, maintenance, repair and decommissioning need to rely on companies who can provide rapid response, customized solutions. Mirage’s subsea tooling division in Houston was set up to meet these challenges.   Read on to understand more about the company’s capabilities through an overview of a recent solution they provided for a Client.

How milling machines can help improve power plant efficiency

January 5, 2016, 2:00 am

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Ensuring the profitable long-term operation of a power generation plant requires optimising the machinery used to help achieve maximum plant availability, equipment reliability and reduced forced outages. But how can this be achieved?

5 key oil and gas innovation findings from the Lloyds Register Energy report

January 13, 2016, 2:35 am

≫ Next: Infographic: Power Plant Maintenance - Costs, Strategies and Optimisation

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Throughout the world, advances in new technology have always remained important for the oil, gas and energy sector, but when the going gets tough do the innovators keep going?

With the current challenges facing the sector and the outlook for the future uncertain, there’s never been a better time to find out.

Infographic: Power Plant Maintenance - Costs, Strategies and Optimisation

January 20, 2016, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Case Study: Mirage develops bespoke CNC gantry milling machine for shipbuilding project

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This infographic shows which power plant types are the most costly to maintain,  the benefits of maintenance planning and the pillars of successful plant maintenance optimisation. Find out what style of manager you are. Are you a Tasmanian Devil, Wile E Coyote or Mr Magoo? 

Case Study: Mirage develops bespoke CNC gantry milling machine for shipbuilding project

January 25, 2016, 1:30 am

≫ Next: Video: Cutting through a heavy wall lower master valve using a split frame cutter

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Above left: The Gantry Milling Machine under development in Derby (UK). Above right: Ready for testing at Mirage Subsea in Houston (USA).

In 2015 we were asked to provide a solution for an on-site machining project for a client operating in the shipbuilding sector. Our engineers met the challenge by designing a custom built solution which was tested thoroughly before delivering it to the customer. Here’s an overview of the solution our team produced and how it was tested;

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Video: Cutting through a heavy wall lower master valve using a split frame cutter

February 2, 2016, 1:56 am

≫ Next: Guide to pipe cutting and removing flanges with a split frame cutter

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One of the Mirage split frame pipe cutters was put to the test recently when it was demonstrated at a client’s workshop. Despite the demanding requirement to cut through a heavy material wall thickness of 90mm, the MSF 26-32 performed exceptionally well and the client now uses the machine on their own offshore customer projects.

Take a look at the video to see the split frame cutter in action and if want to find out more get in touch.

Guide to pipe cutting and removing flanges with a split frame cutter

February 10, 2016, 2:20 am

≫ Next: Guide to subsea cutting and machining projects using portable machine tools

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How split frame cutters are used

Split frame cutters, or ‘clam shell cutters’ as they are often called, are frequently used in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries for parting, bevelling and counter-boring large diameter pipes. 

Guide to subsea cutting and machining projects using portable machine tools

February 16, 2016, 1:00 am

≫ Next: How to remove subsea piles, strings or members from below the mud line

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The type of subsea problems operators need help with can vary enormously, and with oil and gas decommissioning projects on the increase there will be a huge amount of new machining challenges to face over the coming years.

So what are the kind of projects where portable machine tools have helped to deliver successful outcomes for subsea operators? 

We've put together some examples to provide you with an insight into the typical problems faced and how they are resolved.

How to remove subsea piles, strings or members from below the mud line

February 23, 2016, 12:27 am

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The decommissioning of subsea oil and gas installations presents many difficult challenges, each needing to be overcome safely, within budget and without causing harm to the environment.

One example of these problems is the removal of piles or ‘strings’, which may have been used for structural purposes, or as the drill string within a wellhead for transporting the oil from beneath the sea bed.

A product which makes this achievable is a ‘single string cutter’. This particular product is designed for cutting through cylindrical walls made from a ‘single’ material.

This tool is capable of severing a single string of casing, conductor or pile using efficient cutting technology, so let’s take a look at how it works and understand the benefits of using this machine.

Infographic: Shale Oil & Gas Extraction (Fracking)

March 2, 2016, 1:30 am

≫ Next: A guide to oil and gas decommissioning equipment

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This infographic is designed to help you understand the origins of shale and gas extraction (know also as 'fracking' or 'hydraulic fracturing'). Take a look to find out about it's origins, the process, how the U.S economy has benefitted, plus public concerns about the process.

A guide to oil and gas decommissioning equipment

March 9, 2016, 2:06 am

≫ Next: Behind the scenes with the Mirage production team

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 Above: A Mirage Double Drill Unit creating lift holes to aid the removal of a caisson.

With oil and gas decommissioning projects on the increase, knowing in advance how to choose the equipment best suited to each specific job will help you to plan and budget your project more effectively.

So which machines are suited to the wide variety of decommissioning tasks the typical project engineer is faced with?

Based upon the challenges our customers have faced, we’ve provided a quick overview matching the machines used in recent decommissioning projects with the most common decommissioning tasks.

Behind the scenes with the Mirage production team

March 15, 2016, 3:00 am

≫ Next: 5 bespoke portable machine tools that solved on-site machining problems

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Regular readers of this blog will probably be familiar with our range of portable machining equipment. But have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes and what it takes to become a successful part of the Mirage production team?  Let’s take a look and find out.

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5 bespoke portable machine tools that solved on-site machining problems

March 22, 2016, 2:02 am

≫ Next: The line boring machine. Applications, capabilities and features

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Despite the vast array of on-site portable machine tools now available for service companies and plant maintenance engineers, new projects can throw up some unique and unexpected challenges where only a purpose designed product can solve the problem. The Mirage in-house design team has come to the rescue of many of these customers and here’s 5 examples of machines specially developed to solve some very specific and difficult problems.

The line boring machine. Applications, capabilities and features

March 30, 2016, 6:30 am

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What are line boring machines and how are they used? Read on to find out more and watch the video to see them in action.

Preventing bolted flange joint failure

April 6, 2016, 3:12 am

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Are you doing enough to prevent the failure of flange joints at your industrial plant or installation? In this post we cover some of the reasons why bolted flange joints can leak and take a look at what steps you can take to prevent this from happening.

How Diamond Wire Saws work

April 13, 2016, 3:00 am

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The origins of the Diamond Wire Saw

The practice of using diamonds for cutting hard materials can be traced back to Egypt as far back as 2500 BC. However, the industrial type of diamond wire saws we use today are a much more recent development and originate back to in England in the 1950’s when diamond electroplated beads were threaded onto a multi-strand steel cable. Over the next 30 years various companies refined the process (which was also helped by the production of synthetic diamonds becoming more efficient) and the first commercially viable solution was used at Carrara marble quarries in Italy in the late 1960s.

Portable milling machine: design process overview

April 20, 2016, 6:17 am

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Over the years, the Mirage team has designed and manufactured many successful milling machines for a wide range of on-site machining applications. One recent project was a perfect fit for the Derby based UK design team. Here’s an overview of the development process.