The Australian Pipeliner speaks with T.D. Williamson about its next technological leap in pipeline isolation: SHiiELD.
Whether it’s betting big on the Australian market by acquiring Pro Pipe Services, or launching new technology, T.D. Williamson (TDW) doesn’t do things by halves.
The company’s latest initiative is the launch of what it describes as a new class of pipeline isolation tool – one built around true redundancy, higher throughput and digitally enabled control.
This new generation of isolation tool is called the TDW SHiiELD, and it features double independent isolation and bleed (DiiB) technology. DiiB is a shift away from conventional double block and bleed systems which rely on shared pressure in the tool, towards fully redundant isolation. Both the primary and secondary modules of SHiiELD anchor and seal independently, creating a verified, leak-proof barrier designed to exceed existing safety expectations.
It is engineered for remote activation and monitoring, allowing the tool to be activated and monitored from outside of the ditch, minimising personnel exposure. Active isolation monitoring provides real-time data on pressure, temperature, and flow, delivering actionable insights to improve decision-making and operational reliability.
“SHiiELD is changing the game of how operators isolate pipelines while meeting their emissions and safety goals,” TDW Senior Product Manager – Hot Tapping and Isolation Cody Parsley told The Australian Pipeliner.
“The two modules are completely independent. You could de-energise one, or cut the line between them, and the isolation will remain intact.”
It sounds complex, but Cody said the vision from the outset was simple.
“SHiiELD is intended to allow our customers to get the highest safety and efficiency benefits possible when it comes to pipeline isolation,” he said.
“When you consider the amount of ageing pipeline networks that are out there, mixed with the increased demand for pipeline products, we knew that just making a small, incremental improvement wasn’t going to meet our customers’ needs.
“We knew there was a gap in the market for a completely new classification of isolation technology, one which would help our customers hit their goals of first-time success, better reliability, safety, and double independent isolation.”
While SHiiELD represents a new frontier in isolation technology, it’s built on proven components and design principles that TDW has been perfecting for decades.
“Looking at the grips we use on SHiiELD, they’re not new to us. We’ve had them on our SmartPlug® for about 30 years now. It’s new technology in the way that we’re using it, but it’s based off very reliable and proven technology,” Cody said.
“When we develop a new product like SHiiELD, we put it through rigorous paces that most other companies in our market can’t match because they don’t have the history we have through our technology readiness level framework.
“SHiiELD has several years of development behind it, as well as considerable infield testing.”
Keeping pipelines flowing
In most cases, pipelines need to remain flowing right up until the moment of isolation. The problem with this is that the insertion of an isolation tool can severely limit the throughput – typically by around 80 percent. But the TDW SHiiELD was built to minimise this downtime.
“SHiiELD achieves four times more internal bypass during isolations, eliminating the need for operators to modify the operation of their pipeline, or make additional taps,” Cody said.
“Australia may not have the capacity to meet tomorrow’s energy demands if we start shutting lines down for maintenance. And so being able to do these inline, intrusive isolations while keeping product flowing – and minimise disruption of these pipelines – is really going to help minimise supply disruptions to companies and the public.”
Good riddance to leaks
Each TDW SHiiELD plugging module features an advanced energised seal that is electro-mechanically activated, delivering a certified, emission-free, leak-proof isolation. The high-quality isolation also makes the tool suitable for future fuels like hydrogen, which is the smallest molecule on the periodic table.
“The last thing an operator wants is to flare off eight kilometres worth of gas on a 36-inch pipe, only to see that they’ve got to refill the line because of a bad seal,” Cody said.
“SHiiELD’s onboard intelligence is able to measure pressure inside the annulus so that we can remotely verify the seal before blowing down the line.”
TDW’s customers are enjoying the benefits of a reliable seal thanks to DiiB technology and SHiiELD’s onboard pipeline insights.
And field technicians, like welders, are enjoying having two independent, leak-proof seals between themselves and the hydrocarbon.
As SHiiELD rolls out across Australia, more and more pipeline operators are reaping the benefits. The technology is transforming field operations by making complex, high-pressure isolation work safer with no emissions.
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