Advancing remote repairs for Shell
The oil and gas-giant prioritized safety when contaminants were expected to be found in a MEG reboiler scheduled for maintenance: Having robots perform the repair, while personnel monitored the process from a distance.
Safe cleaning and repair in confined space
At Shell’s gas processing plant Nyhamna, a MEG reboiler required maintenance in the form of cleaning for inspection and repair welding of pitting. Potential presence of contaminantsposed significant health and safety risks if personnel were to enter the vessel during the hot work operation, as applying heat to the metal could release ingrained gasses. Effee was tasked with completing the operation, while maintaining a safe distance.
Robotic precision in a controlled habitat
Effee’s robots performed remote laser ablation, grinding and welding inside a specially designed habitat, while personnel monitored the process from a distance. The solution included:
Encapsulation of the hazard zone: A custom habitat encapsulated the reboiler access hatch, maintaining an over pressurized environment to prevent gas ingress.
Robotic remote laser ablation: A digital twin system was used to program and execute precise robotic paths for laser cleaning. This ensured an accurate and efficient surface cleaning process.
Robotic remote grinding avnd welding of pitting damages internally in vessel.
Remote monitoring: All gas readings were continuously monitored from outside the habitat, keeping personnel at a safe distance from the hazardous zone.
With rigorous scientific modeling and real-time monitoring, Effee performed the complex repairs safely and effectively.
Safety- and technological milestones
HSE excellence: Personnel were kept outside the risk zone throughout the hot-work operations, significantly reducing health risks. Continuous monitoring ensured the safety of both workers and the surrounding environment.
Cost-saving efficiency: The remote robotic repair provided unmatched efficiency, restoring the MEG reboiler with minimal risk of contaminant release or structural compromise.
Effee’s approach not only met Shell’s safety and operational requirements but also proved the viability of deploying advanced robotics for high-precision repairs in hazardous environments.