Challenge
Positioning the diamond wire saw to ensure safe handling in tight quarters, using spark-free, small footprint technology so rig operations could continue uninterrupted.
Cold cutting technology, a spark-free system, allowed this working platform to continue operations while cutting was performed. Bluegrass fabricated a special base for the saw in our machine shop, incorporating slots and clamps which facilitated mounting to the steel deck grating thereby eliminating the need for drilling or welding. In addition, a special system was designed to channel water around each tank circumference, encapsulating the diamond wire as it was cutting.
Solution
Outcome
Actual cutting occurred over a 5-day period within the client’s scheduling window. There were no safety incidents. The customer recognized cold cutting technology’s advantage for operating efficiently and safely in spark free zones, consequently avoiding expensive platform modifications. The initial contract involved downsizing two tanks, expanded on site to include two more tanks and a return later to perform additional tank segmentations on a medium compression platform.