Pump test bench: a Movingfluid project for Saipem

In this article:

• The Saipem project: transforming the Scarabeo 5 platform
• The Movingfluid solution: create a customised test bench
• A consultancy approach: beyond mere supply 
• The oil and gas sector: an opportunity for Movingfluid 
• Automate, certify, solve: Movingfluid is with you 

Saipem pump test bench: how Movingfluid solved an impasse for diaphragm pump certification

An unexpected project can emerge from a supply of diaphragm pumps. The case we are going to tell you about is a typical example of what can happen in our work, an example in full Movingfluid style. Once again, our Problem solvers did not shy away from something very much like a problem: they seized the opportunity within and presented an innovative solution. This is how the pump test bench was created for Saipem, a historic energy services company involved in drilling and infrastructure activities.  

The Saipem project: transforming the Scarabeo 5 platform

It all started when Saipem asked us for support for a specific job: to supply six diaphragm pumps for its Scarabeo 5 platform. The platform will have to be transformed from a semi-submersible to an extraction vessel for the oil & gas sector, destined for Congo.  

The pumps are used to empty the ship’s bilge, i.e. the lowest part of the hull, where water drains gather. This compartment must be emptied regularly to avoid navigation problems and to ensure safety on board. The diaphragm pumps used in this operation are essential components for extraction vessels, as they ensure proper drainage and bilge cleaning. 

And it is at this point that supply turns into something different, which requires our reflection and further action, because we are soon faced with a challenge. 

Certifying diaphragm pumps to RINA standards

To be able to use the pumps on the Scarabeo 5, Saipem needed them to be certified according to RINA standards, a key requirement for safety and efficiency in offshore operations. RINA certification requires an official test in the presence of an operator from the certification body, who verifies that the pumps’ performance is in line with the manufacturer’s claims. 

Nothing new and nothing unusual, for those who work in this field. There was one problem, however. The parent company of the pumps did not support this certification process with the quantities of pumps required by Saipem. Quite a headache, not to call it a pitfall, because without this certification, the pumps could not have been installed on board. 

The Movingfluid solution: create a customised test bench

We are the Problem solvers. We are Movingfluid. And even this time, faced with an obvious deadlock, we chose to do what we do best: solve situations that others consider impossible.  

And so?  

And so we created a tailor-made pump test bench for Saipem. Instead of looking for external solutions, our experts built a test bench equipped with a flow meter, pressure switch, pressure gauge and all the necessary certified instrumentation to test the pumps according to the required specifications.

The bench is designed to test every single performance parameter of the pumps, as stated by the manufacturer. For example, if the pump has to withstand pressures of up to 8.3 bar, the bench simulates these conditions to check whether the pump maintains its stated performance. The same applies to the flow rate: if the pump is to reach 600 litres per minute, it is tested on the bench to ensure that the target is actually reached.

Once the test has been passed, a mechanical stamp is placed on the pump body, a sort of physical ‘certificate’ attesting its conformity. A unique service that Movingfluid made available despite the difficulty of finding external partners in Italy who could offer this type of testing. 

A consultancy approach: beyond mere supply

The added value of Movingfluid’s work with Saipem was not only the test bench in the physical sense, but also the consultancy approach adopted throughout the entire project. Saipem found itself in difficulty in managing and finding the necessary components, complicated by the internal complexity of its structure.

Movingfluid has gone a step further, offering comprehensive support: from identifying the right pumps through to certification management. This made it possible to establish an effective collaboration, going beyond the mere sale of products and offering a comprehensive technical and operational consulting service. 

Are you facing a problem in fluid handling? 

We are the Problem solvers and we will develop a customised solution.  

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The oil and gas sector: an opportunity for Movingfluid

The success of the Scarabeo 5 project opens up new perspectives towards the oil & gas market segment, in which our company does not yet work directly. Traditionally, Movingfluid has been active in sectors prior to mining, such as pipe production and painting. 

Oil & gas, in fact, offers many opportunities, particularly with regard to fluid handling in both offshore and onshore operations.  

The role of diaphragm pumps is essential in numerous applications, from draining ship bilges to handling liquids such as diesel, acids and other industrial fluids. The versatility and reliability of these pumps make them an indispensable tool in the extraction, transfer and processing of fluids. 

Automate, certify, solve: Movingfluid is with you

With Movingfluid, you have more than a supplier: you have a partner who solves problems and accompanies you at every stage of your project, enabling you to turn your challenges into successes. We have the technology, the skills and the determination to make a difference, just as we did with Saipem. 

 Don’t settle for standard solutions. 

With Movingfluid, you are always one step ahead. 

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