Bolting & Flange Facing
Controlled bolting and on-site machining that stands up to re-commissioning — and to audit.
01 — Overview
Flange integrity is a discipline, not a bolt gun
Every flange opened during a shutdown has to go back together correctly, first time, with evidence. GarnetShores provides hydraulic bolt tightening and tensioning, flange facing and on-site machining as a single controlled service — the same crew planning the joint, preparing the surface and recording the final load.
Our bolting crews work at onshore facilities and offshore locations, most often during shutdown and campaign work but also on call-off scopes such as joint audits, leak assessment and targeted re-tightening on operating plant.
Because we also runrope access andcomposite repair crews, we can take bolting scopes to locations that would otherwise need scaffolding or lifting equipment — a combination clients find useful on pipe racks, flare systems and offshore assets where flange integrity cannot wait for convenient access.
02 — Scope of work
What our bolting crews deliver
- Hydraulic bolt tightening (torque) to client procedures or recognised joint-assembly practice, with recorded values on every connection
- Hydraulic bolt tensioning on standard and compact flange geometries where torque is impractical or disallowed
- Flange joint assembly: gasket handling, stud lubrication and tightening sequences to documented procedures
- Flange facing and refacing of damaged sealing surfaces in situ, machined to the specified surface finish
- On-site machining: spot facing, pipe cutting, bevelling and end preparation
- Stud removal, stud extraction and nut splitting on seized connections
- Controlled re-tightening of weeping joints under permit, where engineering assessment permits
- Post-tightening verification and torque audits on sampled joints
- Flange management documentation: joint-by-joint records, tool calibration certificates and final sign-off
- Calibration management of pumps, hoses and gauges, traceable to national standards
03 — Typical applications
Where you will meet our crews
- Heat exchanger and vessel flanges during shutdowns
- Wellhead and manifold flange connections
- Pipeline tie-ins and line re-instatements
- Compressor and pump casing joints
- Valve bonnets and actuator mountings
- Steel structure and module connections
- Offshore platform pipework and riser flanges
04 — Equipment
What the crews bring
- Pneumatic-hydraulic torque wrenches covering flanges from 3/4 in to 4 in stud diameters
- Hydraulic tensioner sets for standard and compact geometries, with calibrated load cells
- Two flange facing machines for in-situ resurfacing of flanges up to 48 in diameter
- Torque pumps, hoses and gauges held under a documented calibration regime
- Nut splitting, stud extraction and thread-cleaning tooling
05 — FAQ
Bolting and flange facing — questions we are often asked
Torque or tension — which should we specify?
It depends on the joint. Tensioning gives a more uniform stud load on large or critical flanges; torque is faster and works well on standard connections with good access. Where the client does not mandate a method, we recommend per joint in line with recognised flange assembly practice and record whatever method is applied.
Can you repair a damaged flange without removing the spool?
Usually, yes. Our flange facing machines reface damaged sealing surfaces in situ — machined to the required finish, without hot work and without lifting the pipework out. Where damage exceeds machining allowance, we report it and agree the repair route with your engineering authority before proceeding.
What records will we receive?
A flange management pack for every joint worked: joint identification, gasket details, tool and calibration references, applied torque or tension values by pass, and the final witnessed sign-off. The pack is compiled during the campaign, not reconstructed afterwards.
Do you support live plant, or only full shutdowns?
Both. Much of our bolting work happens during shutdown and campaign work on out-of-service systems, but controlled re-tightening and audits can be executed on operating plant under the appropriate permit, risk assessment and engineering approval.