Acording to the piping class of a plant where I´ll have to perform a branch connection, a sockolet has has to mounted for 4″ x 12″ connection. As an alternative for tie-in, which means cutting and most important, closing the pipeline, i´m planning to perform a Hot Tap, wich doesn´t need a reinforcement. Do I have to weld the sockolet anyway?. The length of my hot tap machine may not be long enough to drill with the sockolet and the valve mounted.

Regards,

Zero