HYDRAULIC PIN PULLER

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The Hydraulic Pin Puller (HPP) is a bespoke release system designed and fabricated by OCS to support buoyancy tank (BT) connections during heavy jacket installation campaigns. OCS recently delivered 16 custom-built HPPs for a 14,400 MT jacket with 16 buoyancy tank connections that provide a safe, efficient, and fully engineered solution for offshore pin release operations.

At the heart of the system is a robust 360 mm diameter main pin, engineered with a yield strength of 100 ksi and designed to withstand shear loads of up to 1,000 MT per side. The pin is operated by a high-capacity hydraulic jack powered from a surface Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU), with flow dividers ensuring synchronized extension and retraction across multiple units.

In addition, each HPP is equipped with a high definition underwater camera which has an water depth operational capacity of up to 100m. This way, the pin puller operations can be carefully monitored live to ensure that the main pin is fully pulled and free from any jacket structure prior to the buoyancy tank removal.

To maximize reliability, the HPP incorporates multiple backup systems. In addition to the primary HPU, each unit is fitted with an ROV hot stab connection for subsea override and a manual wire-pull system for ultimate emergency release. A spring-loaded centralizer with sacrificial welds provides further protection, allowing safe pin release even under misalignment or shifting loads caused by offshore conditions.

Each HPP weighs approximately 6.5 MT, is fabricated from high-grade offshore structural steels and undergoes rigorous material inspection. Every unit is fully verified through factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site inspection testing (SAT) to ensure seamless operations and integration into client projects.

The Hydraulic Pin Puller is a prime example of OCS’s ability to deliver bespoke, fully engineered equipment for complex offshore challenges. By combining robust design, multiple redundancies, and precision fabrication, OCS provides clients with a dependable solution that enhances both operational safety and efficiency.

For more information or to discuss custom-engineered solutions for your projects, please contact OCS.