OIL STATES MCS LIMITED

Pile Swaging

 

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The Hydra-Lok® Pile Swaging System
Swage Tool Graphic

Hydra-Lok® pile swaging uses hydraulic force to form immediate full-strength structural connections between structure pile sleeves and foundation piles. Due to its simplicity, extreme depth capability, reliability and speed, this technique is the preferred method for securing seafloor templates and is also often used for securing platform jackets to their piled foundations. 

The Hydra-Lok® tool works at any depth and does not require diver intervention or guide-lines. It has been operated successfully at a depth of 3,000ft (914m).

Hydra-Lok® pile swaging has been used for more than 700 connections on offshore structures, including templates, subsea manifolds and platform jackets.

 

Loke.jpg (65373 bytes)

The Loke template with 4 off 36” piles installed in 500 ft water depth

 N'Kossa.JPG (120764 bytes) One of two Elf ‘N'Kossa’ jackets in 560 ft water depth offshore Congo with 8 off  72” piles

 

Fast, Verifiable Connections
Hydra-Lok® pile swaging offers many advantages that in many applications make it preferable to grouting. Firstly, it is much faster, a Hydra-Lok® connection can be made in less than an hour and has immediate full strength; there is no waiting for grout to cure. 
Pressure/Volume plot The integrity of the swaged connection is immediately verified by two independent means:

A pressure/volume plot that clearly depicts each phase of joint formation as it occurs (see opposite) and an integral ultrasonic inspection system that confirms connection geometry as the tool is withdrawn. 
Secondly, it is a simple reliable procedure, with no packers, packer inflation lines or grout lines, there is no risk of downtime to repair permanent subsea equipment.

Thirdly, because Hydra-Lok® connections are compact, pile sleeves and piles can be shortened significantly, reducing structure weight and cost.

How Hydra-Lok® Connections are Formed
How connections are formed

1.The Hydra-Lok tool is deployed subsea and is entered into the pile until it sits inside the pile opposite the grooves in the pile sleeve.

2.The centralising rams and isolation seals are then actuated and hydraulic pressure is applied to the annular region between the seals expanding the pile into the groove(s).

3.The connection is complete, the ultrasonic inspection system is actuated and confirms the  geometry of the connection as the Hydra-Lok tool is retrieved

Works with Latch-Lok Levelling

The Hydra-Lok®  Pile Swaging Tool is a natural complement to the Latch-Lok levelling system, because it can be run in combination with the Latch-Lok tool, allowing a structure corner to be raised to level and locked to the foundation pile in a single deployment.

Hydra-Lok® PowerPoint Presentation & History

If you would like to view a PowerPoint presentation of the Hydra-Lok® swaging system, right click on the link to download Hydra-Lok® now, or request the file using the form on the Contact Us page.

Click on the link to view the Swaging Fact Sheet.

Click on the link to view the a list of  Installations Carried Out Using Hydra-Lok.

For Further Information

For further details, a consultation or quotation please go to the Contact Us page where you can E-mail OSMCS Ltd using the online form. If you prefer to speak to an engineer in person our telephone number is also available on the contact page.