RU189577U9 - TAPE CLIP FOR REPAIR OF PIPELINES - Google Patents

Abstract

A collar for repairing a pipeline section and a method for preparing a pipeline are proposed. The clamp contains several parts (12) of the clamp and a seal (30) located on the inner surface (42) of at least one of several parts (12) of the clamp. The parts of the clamp are adapted to be attached to each other so that the parts of the clamp and the seal interact to cover the pipe section (20) with the channel formed between them, while the seal (30) is adjacent to the surface of the pipe section (20). Parts (12) of the clamp contain a polymer-based composite material.

Description

Technical field

This utility model relates to a clamp for repairing leaks and for strengthening pipes in a pipeline, for example, in an oil pipeline or gas pipeline.

Prerequisites for creating a utility model

In the oil and gas industry, raw materials and finished materials are transported in a stream through pipelines that contain joined pipe sections that pass both under water and underground. Due to erosion, corrosion or mechanical damage, leaks or areas of reduced strength can occur periodically in pipe sections.

One of the previously proposed solutions that allow repairing a leak or a zone of reduced strength without stopping the operation of the pipeline is to cover the damaged area with a steel clamp. However, metal clamps are susceptible to corrosion, both during storage and during use. In addition, they increase the weight of the structure being repaired. Depending on the size, their manufacture and installation may also take longer. Accordingly, repairs using metal clamps can be associated with significant costs, difficulties and delays.

It is desirable to provide a clamp for repairing sections of the pipeline that overcomes or mitigates the above disadvantages or at least provides a useful alternative.

Utility Model Essence

In a first aspect, the present utility model provides a collar for repairing a portion of a pipeline, the collar comprising:

several parts of the clamp; and

a seal located on the inner surface of at least one of several parts of the clamp;

wherein the parts of the clamp are adapted to be attached to each other, so that the parts of the clamp and the seal cooperate to cover the pipe section with the channel formed between them, while the seal is adjacent to the surface of the pipe section; and

while parts of the clamp contain a composite material based on a polymer.

In certain embodiments, each of two or more parts of the clamp comprises at least one flange, wherein the clamp is adapted to be secured to a portion of the pipeline by fixing corresponding flanges of the corresponding parts of the clamp. Each of the flanges may contain at least one hole made in it, while the fastener is made with the possibility of placement in the specified hole for fixing the respective flanges. Parts of the clamp may be identical to each other. Preferably, there are two parts of the clamp.

The clamp may contain a sealing element located on the inner surface of each part of the clamp. Sealing elements may be configured to cooperate to jointly form an annular seal around a portion of the pipeline. Each seal element may comprise first and second opposing end parts and first and second opposing side parts that extend between the first and second end parts. In certain embodiments, at least one seal member covers the inner surface of that portion of the collar on which it is located.

The corresponding end parts of adjacent pairs of sealing elements can be made so as to abut against each other, so that the end parts together form continuous seals around the circumference of the pipe.

At least one pair of clamp parts may be hinged.

In embodiments of the utility model, at least one portion of the collar is formed by a sheath of a polymer-based composite material that surrounds the core material. The core material may be selected from the group consisting of: closed cell polymer foam; syntactic foam; or metallic, composite or graphite honeycomb material.

Preferably, the polymer-based composite material comprises a fiber reinforced polymer.

At least one part of the clamp may be lined or coated inside and / or outside with chemically resistant and / or refractory and / or low permeability material.

In a second aspect, the present utility model provides a method for repairing a portion of a pipeline, the method comprising:

providing a collar in accordance with any of the above embodiments;

placing parts of the clamp around the pipeline section; and

fixing parts of the clamp relative to each other;

as a result, several parts of the clamp and the seal interact to cover the pipe section between the channel formed between them, while the seal is adjacent to the surface of the pipe section.

The method may further include applying a concentrated suspension to the inner surface of at least one part of the clamp. The concentrated suspension can be applied, for example, by injection into the channel. The concentrated suspension can be applied in the annular region bounded by the pipe and clamp.

The method may further include applying at least one layer of fibrous material or adhesive tape material to a weakened or damaged area of the pipeline section before fixing the parts of the clamp to each other.

In yet another aspect, the present utility model provides a method for manufacturing a clamp for repairing a portion of a pipeline, including:

the execution of several parts of the clamp, each of the parts of the clamp contains a composite material based on a polymer; and

placing the seal on the inner surface of at least one part of the clamp;

wherein the parts of the clamp are adapted to be attached to each other, so that the parts of the clamp and the seal cooperate to enclose the pipe section between the channels formed between them, while the seal is adjacent to the surface of the pipe section.

The method may include inspecting said pipeline and performing said parts of the clamp based on the results of said inspection.

Parts of the clamp may be performed using one or more of the following: vacuum infusion of resin, fiber winding, pre-impregnation process, wet laying process or polymer injection molding.

Preferably, the polymer-based composite material comprises a fiber reinforced polymer.

A brief description of the graphic materials

It will be convenient to further describe the present model in connection with the accompanying graphic materials that illustrate possible designs of the utility model. Other constructions of the utility model are possible, and therefore, the specific nature of the attached graphic materials should not be considered as contrary to the generalizing nature of the previous description of the utility model.

In FIG. 1 shows a collar according to an embodiment in a pipeline section.

In FIG. Figure 2 shows how parts of the clamp are engaged with a portion of the pipeline.

In FIG. 3 shows an isometric image of the first part of the clamp.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a first portion of a collar.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an alternative portion of a clamp.

In FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a clamp used in bending a pipe.

In FIG. 7 shows a further alternative embodiment of a clamp in a partially open state.

In FIG. 8 shows the collar of FIG. 7, in the closed state.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the collar of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a clamp.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of a clamp.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the collar of FIG. 11 installed in the pipe section.

Detailed description

Embodiments of a utility model relate to a collar containing composite partial cylinders with resilient (for example, rubber or other elastomeric or polymeric material) seals that can be combined around a pipe section. The parts of the clamp can be held together by means of fasteners, which are preferably located on the flanges at the same distance from each other along their entire length. Embodiments also relate to a method for manufacturing a collar and a method for repairing a pipeline using a collar.

The following embodiments generally relate to a clamp containing two parts of the clamp, with the two components preferably having a semi-cylindrical bore. However, it should be understood that in alternative embodiments, three or more parts of the clamp may be used, which may (but are not required to) be substantially identical to each other. For example, if a clamp contains four parts of a clamp, then each part of the clamp can have a quarter of a cylinder in cross section. In certain embodiments, parts of the collar may be of different sizes. For example, if the clamp has three parts, then one of the parts of the clamp can be semi-cylindrical, and the other two have the shape of a quarter of a cylinder. Many other ways of dividing the clamp into two or more components are allowed. The features of the embodiments described below may equally apply to configurations in which three or more parts of the clamp are used.

Regarding, in the first place, FIG. 1 and 2, a collar 10 is shown comprising a first part 12 of a collar and a second part 14 of a collar. Each of the parts 12, 14 of the clamp is essentially semi-cylindrical and each contains an inner surface, the size and shape of which allows you to take the pipe 20 of the pipeline to be repaired. The collar 10 can be placed around the leak or the reduced strength section of the pipe 20, forming a sleeve that extends along the pipe in the longitudinal direction. As will be described in more detail below, the two parts 12, 14 of the clamp contain a sealing element located on their inner surfaces, so that when secured around the pipe 20, the corresponding sealing elements interact to form a tight seal around a leak or a section of reduced strength. Parts 12, 14 of the clamp may have a substantially identical design, but this is not necessary provided that they form a proper seal around the pipe 20.

The first 12 and second 14 parts of the clamp are fastened together by fasteners, such as bolts 16 (only two of which are marked for clarity), inserted into the holes 44 of the first part 12 of the clamp and the second part 14 of the clamp. In the shown embodiments, the openings 44 are located at the same distance from each other along the corresponding parts of the clamp, but it should be understood that this is not necessary. Bolts 16 may be made, for example, of a metal material or composite material. Other types of fasteners are also allowed depending on the particular application and the desired load distribution properties. It is not necessary that the fasteners (only) pass into the holes 44. For example, staples or other similar elements can be fixed around the outer surfaces of the clamp parts 12 and 14 to hold them together, and flanges 26, 28 can be eliminated if desired. Other possible fastening means include coupling belts, ties, ropes, etc., which are thrown over the clamps 12, 14 and then tightened to fasten them together.

Each part 12, 14 of the clamp is made of a composite material based on a polymer. In certain embodiments, the composite material comprises a resin matrix (such as a vinyl ester or epoxy matrix) with a fibrous material such as fiberglass or carbon fiber as a reinforcing material. In some embodiments, the reinforcing material may be at least partially metallic, provided that any metal components are embedded therein so that the parts 12, 14 of the collar remain corrosion resistant. The composite is preferably a lightweight composite.

Preferably, due to the implementation of the parts of the clamp from a composite based on a polymer, embodiments of the utility model provide a repair installation that can be easily and quickly designed and manufactured according to customer specifications in order to carry out repair work on damaged or worn sections of the pipeline without interrupting the operation of the pipeline. In particular, the parts of the clamp can be manufactured using a wide range of processes, each of which can be carried out much faster than the processes that are used in the manufacture of metal clamps. This reduces the cost and complexity of the repair, and also reduces the delay that occurs between the detection of damage / wear and the implementation of the repair.

The use of a fiber-reinforced polymer-based composite is particularly advantageous because the components of the clamp can be made much lighter than metal clamps, while ensuring equivalent strength. Accordingly, the structures can be repaired with high quality, without giving unnecessary loads, which would have been impossible with the use of metal components.

In addition, much greater design flexibility is provided. The composite material based on the polymer and / or the geometric parameters of the components of the clamp can be easily customized to meet the various geometric parameters of the pipe (straight or bent), pressure requirements and environmental conditions. The fiber type and density / lay-out can also be selected to order to optimize the design in terms of weight, strength and / or cost. The reinforcing fibers may be 2D or 3D fibers, and may be a woven or knitted fabric and / or a stitched or solid fabric preform.

In addition, unlike metal clamps, the components of a composite clamp (including fiber reinforced composite) based on a polymer are resistant to corrosion and therefore are well suited not only for ground applications, but also, for example, for underground use or use in harsh ocean conditions.

Further structural details of the first part 12 of the clamp are shown in FIG. 3 and 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-4, the second part 14 of the collar is identical to the first part 12 of the collar relative to the structure (but, as mentioned above, this is not necessary).

The first part 12 of the clamp contains a pair of flanges 26 and 28, which extend in the longitudinal direction between its ends 22 and 24. Flanges 26, 28 are located on both sides of the semicylindrical channel 46. Holes 44 for receiving bolts 16 are made in the flanges 26, 28.

The sealing element 30 is seated in several grooves relative to the inner surface 42 of the clamp portion 12 and lies under the optional protrusions 27, 29 that protrude into the channel 46. Alternative methods for making the seal 30 on the inner surface 42 are also possible. For example, instead of being seated in several grooves, the sealing element 30 may be glued or fusion welded directly to the inner surface 42. As another additional alternative, the sealing element 30 may be seated in at least one groove and, in addition, glued or fusion welded to surface 42.

The grooves can be performed simultaneously with the implementation of the parts 12 and 14 of the clamp in the same manufacturing process. Alternatively, they can be cut in parts 12, 14 of the collar after completing the parts of the clamp.

The seating of the sealing element 30 in the grooves of the inner surface 42 contributes to the resistance to the forces that arise when the internal pressure is pumped in the pipe 20. The protrusions 27, 29 reinforce the resistance, against which the side regions 34 of the sealing element 30 abut.

The sealing element 30 comprises a pair of opposing end portions 32, between which a pair of opposing side portions 34 passes. The end portions 32 are located in grooves adjacent to the ends 22, 24 of the clamp part 12. The side parts 34 are located in the grooves under the protrusions 27, 29.

When installed on the pipe 20, part 12 of the clamp is placed under the pipe, and a second similar part 14 of the clamp is placed above the pipe. Parts 12, 14 of the clamp are engaged so that the flanges 26 and 28 of part 12 of the clamp coincide with the corresponding flanges of the second part 14 of the clamp, and then the two parts 12, 14 of the clamp are fastened together using bolts 16, as described previously. When the clamp parts 12 and 14 are assembled and secured around the pipe 20, as shown in FIG. 1, the ends 32 and side regions 34 of the seal members 30 are tightly pressed against the surface of the pipe 20, whereby a leak-tight and pressure-tight seal is provided in the region covered by the clamp.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternative collar portion 50 for a collar according to another embodiment of the utility model is shown. Part 50 of the clamp, like part 12 of the clamp, contains a pair of flanges 56 and 58, which extend in the longitudinal direction between its ends 52 and 54. Flanges 56, 58 are located on both sides of the semicylindrical channel 76. Therefore, when part 50 of the clamp is assembled with another similar partly, between the parts of the clamp a cylindrical channel is formed for receiving and covering the pipe. Holes 74 are made in flanges 56, 58 for receiving fasteners (bolts 16).

Within the clamp portion 50, a seal member 60 is fitted comprising a pair of opposing end portions 62 that are seated in the grooves of the semicylindrical channel 76, adjacent to respective ends 52 and 54 of the clamp portion 50. A pair of opposing side portions 64 extend between the end portions 62. The side portions 64 fit into the slots 78 and 80 of the flanges 56 and 58, respectively. Element 60 of the seal may be made in the form of a single component. Alternatively, the end portions 62 may be fusion welded / connected / brought into contact with the side portions 64 to obtain a seal member 60.

Opposite end portions 68, 70 of each end portion 62 located at the joints with the side portions 64 protrude above the flanges 56 and 58. Accordingly, when the flanges 56 and 58 of the collar part 50 are aligned on the pipe 20 with the flanges of a second similar collar part, the side portions 64 the first part 50 of the collar is in contact with the corresponding side parts of the second part of the collar, while the end parts 62 are tightly pressed against the pipe. The end sections 68 and 70 of the part 50 of the clamp will abut against the corresponding protruding areas on the second part of the clamp, forming a continuous seal around the circumference of the pipe 20.

Each of the seal members 30, 60 is made of an elastic material, such as rubber or other elastomeric or polymeric material.

As shown in FIG. 3-5, seal elements 30, 60 cover only part of the respective inner surfaces 42, 72 of part 12 or 50 of the clamp. In alternative embodiments, one or both of the seal members 30, 60 may be a leaf member that covers substantially all or one of both surfaces 42, 72.

In other embodiments, the implementation of the elements 30, 60 of the seal may contain or may be supplemented by one or more elastic linings. Each patch can be located on surface 42 or surface 72 in a place where it can abut against the pipe at the leak point. One such embodiment is shown in FIG. 11 and 12 illustrating the repair of the hole 22 in the pipe portion 20. The collar 400, comprising the lower part of the clamp 412 and the upper part 414 of the clamp, covers the pipe 20, while the elastic patch 420 on the surface of the upper part 414 of the clamp is located above the hole 22, as shown in FIG. 12. The mounting holes in the flanges of the clamp parts 412 and 414 are not shown for clarity. The elastic pad 420 may be seated in a recess in the surface of the clamp portion 414, or may be glued or welded thereto. An elastic pad 420 may be provided separately to form a seal over the damaged portion of the pipe 20, or may be provided with one or more additional similar linings that seal other damaged or weakened portions when the clamp portions 412, 414 are bonded to each other. Any such linings may also be provided with the seal members 30, 60 to further provide an annular seal around the pipe 20, as described above.

In further embodiments, the side portions 34 and / or 64 may extend outward to partially or completely cover flanges 26, 28 and / or flanges 56, 58. In such embodiments, the portion of the side portion (s) that covers the flanges may holes are made that coincide with the location of the holes 44 and / or 74. The holes can be made when performing elements 30, 60 of the seal or can be made immediately before or during installation, for example, by punching the elements of the seal (by drilling or yubym other suitable manner), when the first and second parts 12, 14 clamp placed in the desired position on the pipe 20.

Although in the above embodiments, a seal member 30 or 60 was provided on each of the two parts of the clamp, in other embodiments, it is possible to provide a seal on only one of the parts of the clamp and still obtain the desired seal against leakage / pressure damage . For example, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-4, it can be modified so that the seal member 30 is provided either on the first part 12 of the collar or on the second part 14 of the collar, but not on both parts. This can provide several advantages, including the following: less material is used, the clamp is easier to assemble, and the clamp is easier to manufacture, since the seal-related features should only be on one part of the clamp.

In other further embodiments, there may be a concentrated suspension on the surface 42 and / or on the surface 72 (for example, a cementitious concentrated suspension or a non-cementitious concentrated suspension, such as epoxy resin or polyurethane), which may come into contact with the surface of the pipe 20. The concentrated suspension may be applied prior to installation or may be injected into channel 46, 76 in place. The concentrated suspension is cured, or allowed to harden, so that a reinforcing layer is formed on the pipe 20. Accordingly, the collar in these embodiments provides not only resistance to leakage / pressure, but also pipe reinforcement, which can be especially beneficial for pipes that have thinned due to erosion / corrosion. Part 12 of the clamp and / or part 14 of the clamp may contain one or more inlets to facilitate injection of the concentrated suspension and allow for verification of the seal after installing the clamp 10. Any or both parts of the clamp may also contain one or more ventilation holes that allow air to be displaced from the duct 46, 76 when a concentrated suspension is injected.

Optional lifting eyes located on the surface of the clamp part 12 and / or the clamp part 14 are not shown in the figures, but are useful in the installation process. The lifting eyes are preferably integral with the respective parts of the clamp during the manufacture of the parts of the clamp.

With reference to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of a collar 110 is shown. Clamp 110 comprises a first collar part 112 and a second collar part 114, fastened around a pipe in a bend between two straight pipe sections 120 and 122. Each part 112, 114 of the clamp is made in the form of a separate component with a bend, which coincides with the bend of the pipeline. The internal configuration of each part 112, 114 of the clamp is similar to the internal configuration of the parts 12, 14 of the clamp. Parts 112 and 114 of the clamp can be fastened to each other in any suitable way, for example by providing through holes (not shown) in the flanges of each part of the clamp in which fasteners can be passed.

In yet a further embodiment shown in FIG. 7-9, the clamp 200, assembled and mounted on the pipe 20 (Fig. 8), contains the first part 212 of the clamp and the second part 214 of the clamp. The internal configuration of the clamp parts 212 and 214 may, for example, be identical to the configuration of the clamp parts 12 and 14 or the clamp part 50. The collar 200 shown in FIG. 7-9, contains a hinge 216 connecting the clamp parts 212 and 214 along one edge so that after placing the clamp 200 on the desired section, the clamp parts 212 and 214 should be fastened together only along the second edge, passing the fasteners into the through holes 244 ( only one of which is marked on each part of the clamp for clarity). If necessary, the parts 212, 214 of the collar can also be fastened along the hinged side of the collar, so that the hinge 216 mainly helps to place the collar on the pipe 20, rather than acting as a supporting structure. The hinge 216 may be made of the same polymer-based composite material as the clamp parts 212 and 214. Preferably, the use of the hinge facilitates the installation of the clamp 200, since the positions of the parts 212 and 214 of the clamp in a relatively longitudinal direction are fixed, and the through holes 244 are aligned prior to installation.

In the modifications of the embodiments depicted in FIG. 7-9, the clamp may contain three or more parts of the clamp, adjacent pairs of which are connected by respective hinges. In such embodiments, the implementation of the two parts of the clamp may contain a flange with holes for receiving fasteners so that these parts of the clamp can be fastened together, and the remaining parts of the clamp are connected by hinges with two corresponding adjacent parts of the clamp, while the number of hinges in this case one less than the number of parts of the clamp. The advantage of using three or more parts of the clamp may be ease of assembly, since the multi-joint clamp has a large range of movement (a large number of degrees of freedom) and can be more easily placed around the pipe to be repaired.

In yet a further embodiment, shown in cross section in FIG. 10, the collar 300 comprises two collar parts 312, 314, each of which is formed by a sheath of composite material 320 based on a polymer surrounding the core material 322. Otherwise, the structural parts of the clamp parts 312, 314 may be substantially identical to the structural parts of the clamp parts 12 or 50, for example. Sheathing 320 may be made of a composite based on a polymer of the same type as that used to form parts 12, 14, or 50 of the collar. The core 322 can be made using various materials, including, but not limited to: closed cell polymer foam; syntactic foam; or metallic, composite or graphite honeycomb material.

The composite parts 12, 14, 50, 212, 214, 312, 314, 412, 414 of the clamp can be made in many different ways. Exemplary methods include, but are not limited to: vacuum infusion of resin, fiber winding, pre-impregnation processes (after which heat is usually applied to complete polymerization), wet-laying processes, and polymer injection molding.

Embodiments of a utility model provide one or more of the following advantages:

- the ability to quickly repair pipelines / risers without stopping their work;

- repair according to customer specifications, which can be quickly and cost-effectively performed for both straight pipes and elbows;

- resistance to corrosion and the absence of excessive loads on the repaired structures;

- light weight;

- the ability to quickly manufacture and install for various forms;

- cost savings in terms of the time it takes to install;

- rapid underwater, surface and underground use;

- the ability to change the geometric parameters of straight pipes and elbows / flanges according to customer requirements.

Despite the fact that the above is a detailed description of specific embodiments of the utility model, as one skilled in the art will understand, many modifications and variations can be made within the scope of the utility model.

It should be understood that the various features of the embodiments that have been described can be combined in different ways, obtaining numerous additional embodiments. In addition, although in connection with the disclosed embodiments, various materials, sizes, shapes, configurations, positions, etc. were indicated in the description, without going beyond the scope of the utility model, other materials, sizes, shapes, configurations, positions can be used. etc.

Claims (20)

1. A clamp for repairing a pipeline section, while the clamp contains: several parts of the clamp; and a seal located on the inner surface of at least one of several parts of the clamp; characterized in that the parts of the clamp are made to be fastened to each other so that the parts of the clamp and the seal cooperate to cover the portion of the pipeline formed between them by the channel, while the seal is adjacent to the surface of the portion of the pipeline; wherein each of two or more parts of the clamp contains at least one flange, while the clamp is made with the possibility of fixing on the pipeline by fixing the corresponding flanges of the corresponding parts of the clamp; wherein each of the flanges contains at least one hole made in it, while the fastener is made with the possibility of placement in the specified hole for fixing the corresponding flanges; wherein each part of the clamp is made in the form of a separate component with a bend, which coincides with the bend of the pipeline; and while parts of the clamp contain a composite material based on a polymer. 2. The clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a sealing element located on the inner surface of each part of the clamp. 3. The clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealing elements are designed to interact for the joint formation of an annular seal around a section of the pipeline. 4. The collar according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that each seal element comprises a first and second opposite end parts and a first and second opposite side parts that extend between the first and second end parts. 5. The clamp according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one sealing element covers the inner surface of the part of the clamp on which it is located. 6. The clamp according to claim 4, characterized in that the corresponding end parts of adjacent pairs of sealing elements are made so as to abut against each other, so that the end parts together form continuous seals around the circumference of the pipe. 7. The collar according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, characterized in that the parts of the clamp are identical to each other. 8. The collar according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, characterized in that at least one pair of parts of the clamp is connected by a hinge. 9. The collar according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, characterized in that at least one of the parts of the clamp is formed by a casing of a composite material based on a polymer that surrounds the core material. 10. The clamp according to claim 9, characterized in that the core material is selected from the group consisting of: closed cell polymer foam; syntactic foam or metallic, composite or graphite honeycomb material. 11. The collar according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, characterized in that the composite material based on a polymer contains a fiber reinforced polymer. 12. The collar according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, characterized in that at least one part of the clamp is lined or coated inside and / or outside with chemically resistant and / or refractory and / or low permeability material. 13. The collar according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, characterized in that it contains two parts of the clamp.

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