CASE STUDY

Marine

‘Mobile drilling rig kept a float with Ballast Semi-Rotary Actuator upgrade’

THE PROJECT

To overhaul and upgrade the ‘Sovereign Explorer’ drilling rig’s 84off Ballast system hydraulic semi-rotary actuators and incorporate IP68 position indication.

THE PROBLEM

The semi-rotary actuators had been in service on a mobile off-shore drilling rig and had become very badly corroded over time.The position indication system had failed completely leaving no means of monitoring valve status.The Actuator units were leaking hydraulic oil and most of the seals had become obsolete.

DESIGN BRIEF

  • Treat corroded surfaces to extend service life of units.
  • Design a valve position indication system suitable for IP68 submersion in a salt water environment.
  • Modify Actuator seal housings to accommodate latest sealing technology

THE SOLUTION

  • Shot blast and paint all external surfaces with a 25year life paint system to suit environment.
  • Design and fit a valve position indication system incorporating two adjustable limit switches in a bespoke IP68 housing directly connected to the Actuator shaft.
  • Fully recondition actuator components, rebuild with new design seals and fully electrically and hydraulically test.

THE OUTCOME

  • Obsolete Actuator service life extended.
  • Position indication system now reliable and suitable for many years service in a hostile off-shore environment.
  • Spares are now readily available.
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