MBC activation examples

Event: Activation

Cause: Tanker breakout due to unexpected squall.

Result: Two Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBCs performed as designed.

Background

Two Gall Thomson 16” Petal Valve MBCs in operation at a SPM terminal in the Gulf of Mexico successfully activated after unexpected tanker movement due to a squall.
Damage to the hoses was therefore avoided and no product spillage occurred.
The activated MBCs will now be reset under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service program.

Event: Activation.

Cause: Tanker Breakout at CBM due to storm.

Result: Gall Thomson Flip-Flap MBC performed as designed.

Background

A sudden storm caused the breakout of a tanker at a CBM.
A Gall Thomson 10-inch Flip-Flap MBC activated and prevented a major oil spillage. Damage to hoses and the CBM were also prevented.
The MBC is being fully refurbished and reset at the nearest GTAC approved workshop.

Event: Activation.

Cause: Tanker breakout at CALM buoy.

Result: Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBC performed as designed.

Background

70 knot winds caused a tanker to breakout at a CALM buoy. This resulted in the successful activation of a Gall Thomson 16 inch MBC.

A major oil spillage was prevented and the hoses and CALM buoy were undamaged.

The MBC is being fully refurbished and reset at the nearest GTAC approved workshop.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Pressure surge in hose transfer system.
Result: Gall Thomson Flip-Flap Valve MBC performed as designed.

Background

A Gall Thomson small-bore Flip-Flap Valve Type Marine Breakaway Coupling in operation at a CBM activated due to a pressure surge in the hose transfer system.

Activation was successful in both preventing a major oil spillage and in protecting the hoses and PLEM from damage.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Unexpected movement of tanker moored at CALM buoy.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBCs performed as designed.

Background

The unexpected movement of a tanker moored at a CALM buoy caused a 12-inch Gall Thomson MBC to successfully activate.

The hoses were left in perfect condition and the MBC will now be fully refurbished and reset at the nearest GTAC-approved workshop. 

Event: Activation.
Cause: Tanker breakout due to adverse weather conditions.
Result: Two Gall Thomson Petal MBCs performed as designed.

Background

Bad weather in the Strait of Malacca caused a tanker to break its moorings.
Two large bore Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBCs activated successfully and prevented a major oil spill.
The MBCs also saved the hoses from damage.
The MBCs will be fully refurbished and reset at the local Gall Thomson GTAC approved workshop.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Tanker breakout due to monsoon weather conditions.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

Monsoon weather off the West Coast of India caused a tanker breakout.
A small-bore Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBC activated successfully; protecting the hoses linking the SPM to a tanker and stopping a major oil spillage.
The activated MBC will now be reset and refurbished under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service program. 

Event: Activation.
Cause: Excessive axial load.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

Two Gall Thomson MBCs in operation at a CBM terminal in the North-East of Sumatra, Indonesia, successfully activated when subjected to excessive axial loads.
Damage to the hoses or to the PLEM was therefore avoided and no product spillage occurred.
The activated MBCs will now be reset under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service program.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Heavy storm causing mooring hawser failure between SPM and tanker.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

A heavy storm with wind speed of 43 knots caused a mooring hawser between an SPM and tanker to fail during product transfer.
One 16-inch Gall Thomson MBC self-activated successfully.
No damage was caused to the hoses and no product spillage occurred.
The activated MBC will now be reset under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service program.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Excessive tension by tugboat on tanker causing SPM mooring hawser to rupture.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

The hold tugboat pulled excessively on the tanker moored on the SPM, causing the tanker to breakout.
One 16-inch Gall Thomson MBC self-activated successfully.
No damage was caused to the hoses and no major pollution was recorded.
The activated MBC will now be reset under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service program.

Event: Activation.
Cause: SPM mooring hawser rupture due to unexpected squall.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

An unexpected 60 knot squall caused a mooring hawser between an SPM and export tanker to rupture during crude oil transfer operations in the Gulf of Oman.
Two 16-inch Gall Thomson MBCs self-activated successfully.
No damage was caused to the hoses and no pollution occurred.
The activated MBCs will now be reset under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service program.

Event: Activation.
Cause: SPM mooring hawser rupture due to unexpected weather conditions.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

Unexpected change in the weather caused a mooring hawser between an SPM and export tanker to rupture during crude oil transfer off the North Coast of Borneo.
The floating hose string came under excessive tension and the 16 inch Gall Thomson MBC activated as expected – without the need for any human intervention.
No damage was caused to the hoses and no pollution occurred. The activated MBC is being reset under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service program. A spare MBC has now been installed.

Event: Activation.
Cause: FSO mooring hawser rupture due to unexpected squall.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

An unexpected squall caused a mooring hawser between an FSO and export tanker to rupture during crude oil transfer operations off the coast of Vietnam.
The floating hose string came under excessive tension and without the need for any human intervention, the 12inch Gall Thomson MBC activated exactly as expected.
No damage was caused to the hoses and no oil spillage occurred.
The activated MBC is being reset under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service program. A reserve MBC has now been installed.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Shuttle Tanker breakout from FPSO due to bad weather.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBCs performed as designed.

Background

Due to an unexpected and violent change in weather in the middle of the night, an incident occurred at the start of crude oil transfer operations from an FPSO to a shuttle tanker off the southern coast of China.
The floating hose string came under excessive tension and as a result, the 16 inch Gall Thomson MBC activated as expected. No human intervention was required.
No damage was caused to the hoses and no oil spillage occurred.
The activated MBC will now be reset under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service program.
A spare MBC was held on board the FPSO and was quickly installed in the floating string; this enabled the oil transfer to resume very shortly after the incident.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Tanker breakout from refinery due to bad weather.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBCs performed as designed.

Background

Due to bad weather, a tanker discharging crude oil at a refinery on the East coast of India broke her moorings. The Gall Thomson Marine Breakaway Couplings installed in the floating hose strings activated successfully, protecting the hoses and avoiding a major oil spill.
The MBCs will be reset and refurbished by Gall Thomson very shortly.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Tanker breakout from FPSO due to unexpected squall.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

Due to the arrival of an unexpected squall (40 knot wind with two meter swell), an incident occurred during crude transfer operations from an FPSO to a shuttle tanker in Sarawak, Malaysia.
The tandem loading floating hose string used between the FPSO and the tanker came under excessive tension and the 12 inch Gall Thomson MBC activated as expected.
No damage was caused to the hoses and oil spillage was successfully avoided.
The MBC is being reset under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service programme.

Event: Activation.
Cause: FSO breakout from SPM due to bad weather.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

On the west coast of India an FSO moored to an SPM broke its mooring due to bad weather (four metre wave height).
The floating hose string installed between the SPM and the FSO came under excessive tension and the Gall Thomson MBC activated successfully.
No damage was caused to the hoses and what would have been a horrendous oil spillage was successfully avoided.
The MBC is being reset under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service programme.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Tanker drift due to bad weather causing SPM chain assemble parting.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

Due to bad weather the chain assemble parted while loading at SPM and the tanker drifted.
The Gall Thomson Petal Valve Marine Breakaway Coupling successfully activated as expected.
No damage to hoses or spills were reported.
The MBC was returned to UK for refurbishment under the Gall Thomson MBC4 service programme.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Tanker breakout due to sudden increase in wind speed.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal MBC performed as designed.

Background

Due to a sudden increase in wind speed, a tanker broke its moorings while loading crude oil at an SPM terminal.
Two Gall Thomson Petal Valve Marine Breakaway Couplings successfully activated as expected. No damage was caused to the floating hoses and the product was contained within the hose strings.
Both units will be reset and refurbished in Saudi Arabia and returned to service with full Gall Thomson certification and warranty.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Tanker breakout due to weather.
Result: Gall Thomson Flip-Flap MBC performed as designed.

Background

A tanker offloading condensate at a Single Point Mooring terminal broke its moorings due to a sudden increase in wind speed.
The 16 inch Gall Thomson Flip-Flap Marine Breakaway Coupling performed at the precise moment and in response to the circumstance for which it was designed and in accordance with pre-set parting loads.
No damage was caused to the floating hoses and product was contained within the hose string.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Tanker breakout due to weather.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBCs performed as designed.

Background

Tanker offloading crude oil at a SPM terminal broke its moorings due to a sudden gust of wind.
Two 16 inch Gall Thomson Petal Valve Marine Breakaway Couplings performed at the precise moment and in response to the circumstance for which they were designed and in accordance with pre-set parting loads.
No damage was caused to the hoses and a major pollution event was avoided in an area frequented by local fishermen.
The two MBCs are now being reset and refurbished in a Gall Thomson MBC4 local workshop in India.
Both units will then receive Gall Thomson GTAC full certification with extended warranty and returned to service.
In India, 17 known activations of Gall Thomson MBCs have occurred since 1986. All operated exactly as designed – protecting assets, people and the environment.
All were caused by tanker breakouts or extreme pressure surge events.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Hawser failure.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBCs performed as designed.

Background

Reeled hose transfer system used to pump condensate from FSO to a shuttle tanker. Maximum wave height 4 metres. Wind speed up to 28 knots. Hawser failure provoked emergency situation.
Gall Thomson Petal Valve 10 inch MBC activated and closed the transfer system.
No damage was caused to marine hoses or any other assets and no pollution was reported.
The Gall Thomson MBC performed at the precise moment and in response to the circumstance for which it was designed and in accordance with pre-set parting loads.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Tanker breakout due to tanker mis-manoeuvring.
Result: Gall Thomson Flip-Flap MBC performed as designed.

Background

Gall Thomson MBC activated in response to CBM tanker breakout. A wrong manoeuvre during offloading operation caused the rupture of the mooring hawser.
The MBC closed instantaneously the upstream and downstream Flip-Flap valves. No damage was caused to marine hoses and no pollution was reported.
The MBC was sent to Gall Thomson for a fast track refurbishment operation and the MBC is now back in service. The end user is considering the procurement of a spare MBC in order to keep the terminal in operation and fully protected after an MBC activation.
The Gall Thomson MBC performed at the precise moment and in response to the circumstances for which it was designed and in accordance with its pre-set parting load.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Excessive weather conditions provoked tanker breakout.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBCs performed as designed.

Background

Wind speeds in excess of 75 knots caused an oil tanker to break its moorings. The resulting tensile load transferred from the hoses to the Marine Breakaway Couplings (MBCs). Two Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBCs activated and closed the upstream and downstream flow of crude oil within the transfer system. Separation of the hose strings then took place.
No damage was caused to the marine hoses and no pollution was reported.
The Gall Thomson MBCs performed at the precise moment and in response to the circumstances for which they were designed and in accordance with their pre-set parting loads.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Pressure surge in hose transfer system.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBC performed as designed.

Background

Unexpected and uncontrolled pressure surge of media within the hose transfer system. The event would have caused asset damage and spill but for the designed activation of the fitted Gall Thomson MBC.
The Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBC activated and closed the upstream and downstream flow of media. Separation of the hose strings then took place.
No damage was caused to transfer assets and marine hoses and no pollution was reported.
The Gall Thomson MBC performed at the precise moment and in response to the circumstances for which it was designed and in accordance with its pre-set parting loads.

Event: Two activations on two separate occasions.
Cause: Tanker breakouts.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBCs performed as designed.

Background

Gall Thomson MBCs activated due to CBM tanker breakouts. Each MBC closed the upstream and downstream flow of media. Separation of the hose strings then took place.
No damage was caused to marine hoses and no pollution was reported.
The Gall Thomson MBCs performed at the precise moment and in response to the circumstances for which they were designed and in accordance with each pre-set parting load.

Event: Activation.
Cause: Tanker breakout.
Result: Gall Thomson Petal Valve MBC performed as designed.

Background

Gall Thomson MBC activated in response to CBM tanker breakout. The MBC closed the upstream and downstream flow of media. Separation of the hose strings then took place.
No damage was caused to marine hoses and no pollution was reported.
The Gall Thomson MBC performed at the precise moment and in response to the circumstances for which it was designed and in accordance with its pre-set parting load.

Each MBC is manufactured with a tailored set of parameters for a specific terminal, therefore MBCs cannot be interchanged.

Following the MBC activation, the customer utilised the Gall Thomson MBC4 service.

Information and data from all known activations are assessed and processed into the Gall Thomson’s continuous Research and Development program.