Panel enhances valve safety

Smith Flow Control provided a solution by developing a custom-built operating panel that enhances safety and increases efficiency. It does this by moving the control and operation of Eni Norge’s large number of valves to a single, safe location.

The electronic operating panel works as a communication and verification system and enables an operator to control a sequence of actuated valves directly from the panel. Two operating panels were installed on a floating production, storage and offloading vessel built for use on the Goliat Field, the first oilfield to be developed in the Barents Sea. Although the operating panel can be used in a wide variety of applications, in this case the panel was specifically designed for use with a pigging procedure. Each panel controlled four valves and incorporated two mechanical interlock key units to ensure a specific sequence of operation.