How does a specialist hydraulic valve developed in Aberdeen become a trusted solution for safety-critical applications around the world?
For us at Schoolhill Hydraulic Engineering, the answer lies in decades of engineering experience, close collaboration and a commitment to getting the detail right.
We have been serving industry for more than 70 years and have played an active role in Aberdeen's oil and gas sector since its emergence in the early 1970s. During that time, we have built our expertise in the design and manufacture of specialist hydraulic equipment, with a particular focus on bespoke hydraulic cylinders for deepwater and surface applications.
We also design and manufacture Quick Exhaust Valves (QEVs) for a range of critical applications. One project, which began in 2010, became an important milestone in the development of our high-flow QEV technology.
Meeting the challenge of a subsea project
In 2010, we received an enquiry to develop a specialist high-flow Quick Exhaust Valve for a High Integrity Pipeline Protection System (HIPPS) on a major subsea development in the Caspian Sea. The valve had to meet stringent Safety Integrity Level 3 (SIL 3) requirements, making reliability and performance essential.
Developing a solution to meet these demands required several years of intensive engineering, design development, testing and validation. We worked closely with the client and certification bodies throughout the process, taking the valve through a rigorous qualification programme before it ultimately achieved approval from TÜV.
The successful installation and operation of the valve on the project demonstrated the reliability of the design in service.
Building on engineering expertise
Since then, our high-flow QEV technology has been selected for and installed on numerous successful projects. This has reinforced our position as a trusted supplier of safety-critical hydraulic solutions to the global energy industry.
For us, this story reflects the importance of combining established engineering knowledge with the ability to develop solutions for demanding applications. Projects of this nature require careful design, thorough testing and close collaboration to ensure equipment performs as intended in service.
As the energy industry continues to operate in challenging environments, we remain focused on applying our hydraulic engineering expertise to meet the needs of our customers, both in Aberdeen and internationally.
To find out more about Schoolhill Hydraulic Engineering and our specialist hydraulic solutions, visit www.schoolhillengineering.com or email hydraulics@schoolhillengineering.com