How Our Gasket Insertion Tool Transforms ANSI B 16.20 Flange Tie-Ins

In subsea operations, you’ll know that every millimetre counts. Nowhere is that more evident than in the vital task of aligning and sealing flanges using RTJ (Ring Type Joint) gaskets under high-pressure subsea conditions. 

 

These tie-ins are not only technically demanding: they are also points of make-or-break regarding integrity, safety and project schedule/timeline. One set of misaligned flanges can mean days of costly delays or worse, a catastrophic leak.

 

This is where Octopus Subsea Tooling redefines the standard with its gasket insertion tool, a proprietary device engineered by Peter J Richardson, PMP®, to address one of the most frustrating engineering problems in subsea flange installations/tie-ins: accurate, safe gasket placement between flanges in challenging offshore environments.

 

Let’s explore the problem, and why this tool is rapidly becoming a must-have subsea installation aid.

 

The Engineering Challenge: Precision Gasket Placement

 

RTJ (Ring Type Joint) gaskets, especially those used in ANSI B 16.20 flanges, demand high levels of accuracy during installation. These metallic gaskets are designed for high-pressure environments, often used in deepwater subsea systems, manifolds, spool tie-ins, and pipelines.

 

The face of the flange has a precisely machined groove that accepts the RTJ gasket, which must align perfectly to form a pressure-tight seal. If the gasket is even slightly misaligned:

 

  • The seal may fail under pressure.
  • The flanges may be damaged during bolt-up.
  • The gasket may be crushed or displaced.
  • Extra work becomes necessary: underwater, under pressure, under tight timelines.

 

Traditionally, the alignment of gaskets has relied on manual placement using makeshift tools or highly risky methods. In subsea conditions, where low light/restricted visibility, soft mud, and tidal currents exist, such precise work becomes extremely difficult.

 

Introducing the Octopus Gasket Insertion Tool

 

The Octopus Subsea Tooling© gasket insertion tool is engineered to eliminate these problems. Built for precision, safety and control, it allows subsea technicians to insert RTJ or metallic gaskets with a level of accuracy that manual methods cannot match.

 

Key features of the tool include:

 

  • A mechanism to guide the gasket into the exact position between ANSI B 16.20 flanges without tilt or skew.
  • Secure gripping system that holds the gasket firmly during transit and placement, even in more tricky positions.
  • Quick-release design that enables remote or diver-assisted removal once the gasket is seated.
  • Tough, corrosion-resistant materials that withstand subsea conditions and mechanical stresses.

 

By design, the tool acts as a physical safeguard against misplacement, helping with alignment and stability while the flanges are drawn together.

 

Transforming Tie-In Reliability Offshore

 

In high-stakes subsea tie-ins, where multiple systems come together or new spools are introduced, the gasket is a small component, but it has huge implications. The Octopus Subsea Tooling© GIT tool ensures that:

 

  • Gaskets are seated correctly the first time, avoiding the need to revisit, separate and re-align.
  • Flange faces remain undamaged, as the tool prevents scraping or pinching from the contact of metal-on-metal.
  • Downtime is reduced, since alignment is achieved quickly and reliably.
  • Diving personnel safety risk is lowered, as divers spend less time in risky proximity to bolted connections.

 

If your operators are often under pressure to deliver projects on time and within budget, these benefits translate directly into cost savings and reduced non-productive time (NPT).

 

Beyond the Tool: Rethinking Subsea Installation Aids

 

The term subsea installation aids typically brings to mind heavy lifting frames, guide-posts, or alignment tools for entire spools. But our spool installation aids/flange tie-in tooling aids challenge that perception by proving that instruments for smaller components are just as essential to successful installation.

 

By focusing on gasket placement, a task historically overlooked in the planning phase, Octopus Subsea Tooling is focusing on a neglected area. Our gasket installation tool is more than a time-saver; it’s a seal integrity assurance device, giving operators confidence that their high-pressure connections are properly aligned from the start.

 

A Tool Designed by Engineers, for Engineers

 

At the heart of our innovative approach is the experience and insight of Peter J Richardson, PMP®, whose practical knowledge of subsea operations has shaped the design. The tool was not built in a vacuum; it was born from challenges in the real world, where misaligned subsea flanges led to damaged RTJ gaskets and to repeat interventions / revisits. Safety concerns, and operational frustrations came into focus.

 

What sets the Octopus Subsea Tooling Gasket Insertion Tool apart from others is its combination of elegant engineering and unbeatable practicality. It’s not overdesigned or theoretical. It’s fit-for-purpose, field-tested and operator-approved.

 

Explore our Subsea Installation Aids

 

In the world of subsea engineering, success often rests on the smallest of details. Along with the gasket insertion tool, Octopus Subsea Tooling also offers custom products, such as:

 

  • Flange Catchers
  • Drifts Pins
  • Flange Spreader Paddles (Manual)
  • Pipe Handling Frames (Manual)
  • Metrology Jigs
  • Flange Tie-In Equipment Installation/Storage Boxes

 

As offshore projects push deeper and demand more precision, subsea installation aids must evolve to meet the challenge. Octopus Subsea Tooling is already ahead of the curve, proving that innovation doesn’t always mean bigger, it often means smarter.

 

For more information on our subsea installation aids, simply get in touch today.