Power Technology Services Limited (Power) has built its reputation through its range of innovative technologies and engineering solutions for large-diameter and high-pressure pipes in hot tapping, line stopping and related activities.

A Saudi company supported by its UK parent,  Power’s reputation is underpinned by more than 25 years of management experience with its services covering design and manufacturing, field services, engineering and specialist equipment supply.
Power was established in 1996 by a group of experienced managers and industry professionals, each of whom had been delivering technology solutions to the oil and gas industry since the early 1980s. Power continues to develop its range of engineering applications through innovative design and manufacturing with many applications customised for its increasing client base. In the field of line stopping, Power is considered to have the most diversified selection of methods available in the world.
The Middle East has long been a key area with Power committed to placing resources on the ground for its specialist applications backed up by local manufacturing and fabrication. Demand for its services is increasing across the region with an increasing client base. Power is active across Saudi Arabia including Yanbu, Jubail, Rabigh, Ras Tanura and Dhahran, as well as regionally through its affiliates in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.
Power is spearheading a major expansion of its operations in the Middle East, which involves a significant investment in a dedicated dual regional facility and hub centred in the Eastern Province and Bahrain to enhance its on-demand services to the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors. This investment in local manufacturing and fabrication includes the provision of possibly one of the largest drilling machines in the world at 96 inches in diameter.
The company is further strengthening its regional presence through training and its active Saudiisation policy while increasing its technical and engineering resources and equipment on the ground.
Power works closely with oil majors and specialist contractors and is also linking up with technology partners and affiliates as its business expands regionally.
Problem solving has become a major part of the Power value proposition to its increasing client base providing organisational flexibility and the ability to respond rapidly to “one-off” situations.
Power is involved in the business of solving ‘no-shutdown’ piping problems, manufacturing hot tapping, line stopping and leak sealing equipment. These specialist services include pipe freezing, installation of inline valves under pressure, camera investigation, coupon sampling, data logging, valve detection and mapping, cold cutting, bolt tensioning and valve turning services.

Hot Tapping
Hot tapping or pressure tapping is the method of making a connection to existing pipelines or vessels while the existing system is under pressure. This method employs a drilling or tapping machine and a full bore valve and either a nozzle or a full encirclement fitting welded to the existing pressurised system.
The drilling machine generally consists of a telescoping boring bar mechanically driven by a specially-designed gear box which advances a cutting tool. A necessary element in the hot tap procedure is the full bore valve although if the client application does not require the line to be depressurised a valve is not required. If a valve is required this allows the tapping machine to be removed after the cutting operation, flange ratings are from 150 lb through 900 lb ANSI ratings.

line stopping
Line stopping is a means of stopping flow and providing a shut. Line stopping can be used to isolate piping systems for repairs and alterations. Typically, a line stop operation begins with a size on size hot tapping connection.
However, the tapping fitting or linestop is provided with a special outlet so the temporary valve may be recovered. In the addition to the hot tap equipment, the line stop machinery consists of a stopping head inserted by a hydraulic actuator.
After the stopping operation is finished and the head removed, the special outlet receives a closure plug to seal the branch of the hot tap fitting, allowing the temporary valve to be removed.

Manufacturing Division
Power’s manufacturing division produces: 
•  Hot-tapping equipment from 1/2 inch to 96 inches in diameter;
•  Line-stopping equipment including Powerstop (1/2 inch to 60 inches);
•  Special equipment to suit a client’s needs;
•  Line-stop and hot-tap fittings, high and low pressure; and
•  Repair clamps, leak sealing clamps, and mufflers.
Power also provides full rolling services from
1-mm to 25-mm plate to 4-m diameter tubing. Its fabrication and machining shop is fully equipped with Webster and Bennett vertical and horizontal borers and the latest CNC turning machines.

Field Service Division
Its field services include:
•  Hot tapping: From 1/2 inch to 96 inches, vacuum to 1,480 psig (pounds per square inch gauge) as off-the-shelf standard, in temperatures of up to 700 deg F as standard;
• Line stopping: Methods available include Power’s unique ‘Powerstop’ process for sizes from 1/2 inch to 60 inches, for both low pressure and high pressure;
• Valve inserting: Installation of a unique Power valve into a pressurised system, mechanical or welded, in sizes of 3 inches to 48 inches; and
• Leak sealing: On-stream leak sealing from vacuum to 6,000 psi, in temperatures from
-20 deg F to 1,500 deg F, for the service, water, stream, air and process sectors.

Engineering
Power’s design team has engineered special procedures that go well beyond the normal field applications including top and bottom coupon samples over 90 inches in length to retrieve the bottom coupons, instrument insertion, sub-sea taps/stops and live camera insertion into pipelines under pressure. Leak detection services are also available through Power’s agency and partnership agreements.
Power’s range of services including hot tapping and pipeline stopping services are available to the petroleum, water, petrochemical and power industries and associated contractors.
Its service centre is equipped with a wide range of line-stopping and drilling equipment designed to reduce downtime or shutdowns.
As well as fast and reliable service response, Power holds extensive stocks of pipeline fittings to suit client requirements, and this is particularly useful in emergency situations. The company can provide hot taps into pipelines, tanks or blind flanges, (carbon steel or stainless steel) under pressure.
The company’s plugging equipment includes hinged plugging heads using a sealing element. Various material elements are also available in sizes of 3 inches to 60 inches in diameter.
Power also has a range of low pressure 16-bar plugging heads called Powerstops suitable for 21/2-inch, 31/2-inch, 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch lines.