TPi March 2013

business & market news

Paradigm wins £3mn of contracts Pipeline blockage remediation

as chronic blockages can sometimes leave replacement as the only option. Oilfields in different regions face their own unique challenges, but our Pipe-Pulse technology allows vital remediation work to be completed effectively in a range of environments.” The Pipe-Pulse unit delivers high energy and volume pressure pulses into the pipeline or subsea umbilical; these pulses are then transmitted to the blockage several miles away. The system is designed to be connected on the topsides of the host platform to remove the blockages. Prior to Pipe-Pulse, these problems were usually remediated by expensive methods such as deploying a coiled tubing system from a rig into the pipeline, or undertaking subsea interventions using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or saturation divers. Paradigm Flow Services develops groundbreaking technologies for detecting, remediating and preventing subsea and topside pipeline blockages, for the oil and gas industry.

specialist Paradigm Flow Services has secured £3 million worth of new business with major oil and gas operators for work using its pioneering Pipe-Pulse technology. The company has netted four contracts to unblock subsea pipelines across four major oil and gas regions: the UK, US, West Africa and South East Asia, growing its market position on a global scale. Pipe-Pulse is a remote, non-intrusive method of locating and removing blockages in long distance pipe-work up to 30 miles. The current campaign of work will involve clearing umbilicals and flowlines to allow operators to re-inject chemicals and protect the integrity of their systems. Rob Bain, managing director of Paradigm Flow Services, said, “Integrity of subsea systems, pipelines and umbilicals is a major issue for operators around the world, particularly as assets age. Pipe-Pulse has the potential to save operators millions

Rob Bain, managing director of Paradigm Flow Services

The company was launched in 2010 and now has 32 staff, with plans for further recruitment as demand for services continues to grow. The company recently won a Northern Star Business Award for Commitment to Innovative Use of R&D, and also secured a Gold Award for Safety from Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in recognition of its approach to the prevention of accidents and ill health. Paradigm Flow Services Ltd – UK info@paradigmflow.com www.paradigmflow.com

An engineer using the Pipe-Pulse unit

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