WO2002100562A1 - Elimination d'un blocage dans un pipe-line - Google Patents

Elimination d'un blocage dans un pipe-line Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002100562A1
WO2002100562A1 PCT/GB2002/002699 GB0202699W WO02100562A1 WO 2002100562 A1 WO2002100562 A1 WO 2002100562A1 GB 0202699 W GB0202699 W GB 0202699W WO 02100562 A1 WO02100562 A1 WO 02100562A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pipeline
tubing
interior
fluid
tool
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2002/002699
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Eamonn Mcgennis
Original Assignee
Coflexip Sa
Coflexip Stena Offshore Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Coflexip Sa, Coflexip Stena Offshore Limited filed Critical Coflexip Sa
Publication of WO2002100562A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002100562A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
    • B08B9/04—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
    • B08B9/04—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
    • B08B9/043—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
    • B08B9/04—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
    • B08B9/049—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes having self-contained propelling means for moving the cleaning devices along the pipes, i.e. self-propelled
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B2209/00—Details of machines or methods for cleaning hollow articles
    • B08B2209/02—Details of apparatuses or methods for cleaning pipes or tubes
    • B08B2209/027—Details of apparatuses or methods for cleaning pipes or tubes for cleaning the internal surfaces
    • B08B2209/04—Details of apparatuses or methods for cleaning pipes or tubes for cleaning the internal surfaces using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
    • B08B2209/045—Making cleaning devices buoyant within a pipeline to be cleaned

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for removing blockages from pipelines.
  • the invention is particularly concerned with the removal of blockages in long, relatively large bore pipelines where the blockage is located thousands of metres from an end of the pipeline, and most particularly in the case of subsea pipelines associated with offshore oil installations or the like.
  • Blockages in subsea pipelines (typically caused by wax and/or hydrate formation) cause substantial losses in terms of production downtime and are difficult or impossible to remedy by conventional methods, particularly where the blockage is located at a substantial distance from an accessible end of the pipeline. This can result in pipelines having to be abandoned and replaced, incurring further costs.
  • a conventional method of clearing a subsea pipeline blockage is to insert a blockage clearing tool into the pipeline, carried by a tractor unit trailing a length of tubing through which chemical agents and/or fluids and electrical power and/or control signals are supplied to the tractor unit and the blockage clearing tool.
  • the tool may be a drilling or reaming tool for mechanically removing the blockage with or without the assistance of chemical agents or a fluid jetting tool or combinations of these.
  • the tubing trailed by the tractor unit extends from the surface end of the pipeline and is pulled through the pipeline by the tractor. The tubing may also be pushed from the surface to assist movement of the tool to the blockage.
  • the tubing typically comprises "coiled tubing", generally formed from steel, plastic or composite materials, which is fed into the pipeline from a coil wound on a reel at the surface.
  • the present invention concerns improved pipeline blockage removal systems and methods whereby blockages can be removed at greater distances from the end of the pipeline than has hitherto been possible.
  • a method of removing a blockage in a fluid-filled pipeline comprising: connecting a length of tubing to a pipeline blockage removal assembly comprising a blockage removal tool; and transporting the tool along the interior of the pipeline from a first end thereof to engage the blockage, such that said tubing extends from said first end of said pipeline to said assembly; the method including: injecting fluid into the interior of the tubing such that the tubing is substantially neutrally buoyant in the fluid within the interior of the pipeline.
  • the tubing comprises an outer carrier tube and an inner tube extending along the interior of the carrier tube.
  • the outer and inner tubes may be either concentric or non-concentric with each other.
  • an electrical power and/or signal cable extends along the interior of the tubing.
  • one of the outer and inner tubes carries a first fluid to be supplied to the tool connected to a first, downstream end of the tubing from a second, upstream end thereof and the other of the outer and inner tubes contains a second fluid, the combined density of the tubes, fluids and cable (if any) being such that the tubing is substantially neutrally buoyant in the fluid within the pipeline.
  • the second fluid comprises pressurised gas.
  • the first end of said other of the outer and inner tubes is connected to a tractor unit of the assembly adapted to engage the interior surface of the pipeline for pulling the tubing through the interior of the pipeline.
  • said one of said outer and inner tubes extends through the interior of the tractor unit for connection to the tool.
  • said one of said outer and inner tubes is connected to a tractor unit adapted to engage the interior surface of the pipeline for pulling the tubing through the interior of the pipeline.
  • said first fluid may be supplied to the tool via an inner conduit in the tractor unit.
  • Connection to the tractor unit may be achieved via a junction unit.
  • a tubing assembly for use in removing blockages from pipelines comprising: an outer carrier tube and an inner tube extending along the interior of the carrier tube, wherein one of the outer and inner tubes has a first, downstream end adapted to be connected to a pipeline blockage removal tool and is adapted to carry a first fluid to be supplied to said tool from a second, upstream end thereof, and the other of the outer and inner tubes is adapted to contain a second fluid.
  • the pipeline blockage removal tool may form part of a pipeline blockage removal assembly which comprises the tool, a tractor unit and optionally a junction unit. Therefore with the present invention also provides a tubing assembly for use in removing blockages from pipelines comprising: an outer carrier tube and an inner tube extending along the interior of the carrier tube, wherein one of the outer and inner tubes has a first, downstream end adapted to be connected to a pipeline blockage removal assembly and is adapted to carry a first fluid to be supplied to said tool from a second, upstream end thereof, and the other of the outer and inner tubes is adapted to contain a second fluid.
  • apparatus for removing a blockage from a pipeline comprising a tubing assembly in accordance with the second aspect having a first end thereof connected to a tractor unit adapted to engage the interior surface of a pipeline and to a pipeline blockage removal tool.
  • the invention substantially reduces or eliminates friction between the exterior surface of the tubing and the interior surface of the pipeline, so that the tubing may be inserted into the pipeline to a greater distance than would otherwise be possible.
  • Another advantage of the invention is that, in many cases, the need to utilise a surface injector for pushing the tubing into the pipeline as in conventional methods is avoided.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic, sectional side view of a tubing assembly, tractor unit and pipeline blockage removal tool within a pipeline, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic transverse cross section of a tubing assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
  • a tubing assembly embodying one aspect of the present invention comprises an outer, carrier tube 18 having a first, downstream end connected to an upstream end of the junction unit 16, an inner tube 20 extending along the interior of the outer tube 18, through the interior of the junction unit 16 and the tractor unit 12 to the blockage removal tool 14, and an electrical power and/or signal cable 22 extending along the interior of the inner tube 20 for connection to power supplies and/or control systems of the tractor unit 12 and blockage removal tool 1 .
  • the inner tube 20 can be connected through the junction unit 16 to an inner conduit of tractor unit 12.
  • the pipeline is filled with fluids, typically hydrocarbon products being transported via the pipeline from a subsea installation such as a wellhead, manifold or the like to a surface installation such as an offshore platform.
  • the tractor unit 12 and tool 14 may be of any of a variety of known types and will not be described in detail herein.
  • the tractor 12 is typically centralised in the pipeline 10 and driven therethrough by means of wheels 24 or other friction drive elements or the like.
  • the tool 14 has a working end 26, typically comprising a rotating bit, reaming blades, fluid jets or the like, or combinations thereof as appropriate for engaging various types of blockage, and is supplied with fluids and/or chemical agents via the inner tube 20 from an upstream end thereof.
  • the junction unit 16 is optional and simply serves to provide a mechanical connection between the outer tube 18 and the tractor 12.
  • the tractor unit 12 pulls the tubing through the interior of the pipeline until the tool 14 engages a blockage to be removed. Once the blockage has been removed by the action of the tool, the apparatus is withdrawn from the pipeline.
  • the inner tube carries fluids to be supplied to the tool 14, and the outer tube is filled with additional fluids, suitably pressurised gas such as nitrogen, such that the combined densities of the tubing components 18, 20 and 22 and the fluids contained therein make the tubing substantially neutrally buoyant in the fluid within the pipeline 10.
  • additional fluids suitably pressurised gas such as nitrogen
  • the effective density of the tubing assembly in use is in a range equal to the density of the fluid in the pipeline 10 plus or minus 10%, most preferably plus or minus 5%. In this way, the tubing is made to float in the middle of the pipeline 10 as it is pulled therethrough by the tractor 12.
  • the tractor may pull the tubing through the pipeline for distances much greater than would otherwise be possible, allowing the removal of blockages which could not otherwise be reached by conventional means.
  • the inner and outer tubes may be formed from any suitable materials, typically plastics or composite materials. Where pressurised gas is used in the outer tube 18, the pressure of the gas must be sufficient to prevent collapse of the outer tube under the fluid pressure in the pipeline and the tubing must be sufficiently strong to bea'r the gas pressure without inflation (plastic deformation) .
  • the tubes are preferably formed from thermoplastic materials compatible with the fluid (s) contacting the tubes and the temperatures encountered in the operating environment, such as polyethylene, polyamide and other materials commonly used in the oil industry. Where the tubing is required to resist inflation caused by high differential pressures, the thermoplastic material may be reinforced by any suitable means, such as a textile braid formed from ara id fibre or the like. ' The functions of the outer and inner tubes may be reversed. There may be more than one inner tube for carrying different fluids to the tool and there may be more than one cable. The more than one inner tube may be arranged so that each tube lies within another either concentrically or non-concentrically or the tubes may be arranged side by side or they may be arranged in a mixture of these arrangements. The cable (s) need not be contained within the inner tube (s) .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Cable Installation (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé d'élimination d'un blocage dans un pipe-line (10) rempli de fluide, consistant à connecter une longueur de tubage (18, 20) à un ensemble d'élimination de blocage de pipe-line comprenant un outil (14) d'élimination de blocage et destiné à transporter l'outil à l'intérieur du pipe-line à partir d'une première extrémité de celui-ci jusqu'à venir en contact avec le blocage, de manière que le tubage (18, 20) s'étende de la première extrémité du pipe-line (10) jusqu'à l'ensemble. Le procédé consiste à injecter un fluide à l'intérieur du tubage (18, 20) de façon que le tubage (18, 20) flotte sensiblement de manière neutre dans le fluide à l'intérieur du pipe-line (10). L'invention concerne également un ensemble (18, 20) de tubage et un appareil servant à éliminer les blocages dans les pipe-lines.
PCT/GB2002/002699 2001-06-09 2002-06-07 Elimination d'un blocage dans un pipe-line WO2002100562A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0114077A GB2377000A (en) 2001-06-09 2001-06-09 A method of removing a blockage in a fluid filled pipeline
GB0114077.1 2001-06-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002100562A1 true WO2002100562A1 (fr) 2002-12-19

Family

ID=9916255

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2002/002699 WO2002100562A1 (fr) 2001-06-09 2002-06-07 Elimination d'un blocage dans un pipe-line

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2377000A (fr)
WO (1) WO2002100562A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2886560A1 (fr) * 2005-06-03 2006-12-08 Commissariat Energie Atomique Dispositif de debouchage d'un tuyau

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104197148B (zh) * 2014-09-10 2016-05-25 苏少中 用于工业的管道疏通方法
BR102018072062B1 (pt) * 2018-10-26 2023-12-12 Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul - Ufrgs Sistema tracionador de intervenção compreendendo um umbilical

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2694022A (en) * 1952-08-18 1954-11-09 Edward B Schreiner Method of cleaning sewers and the like
US3426803A (en) * 1963-02-13 1969-02-11 Bridgestone Tire Co Ltd Submerged floatable hoses for transporting oil and other liquids on the sea
FR2550968A1 (fr) * 1983-08-30 1985-03-01 Thome Jean Dispositif d'intervention dans des canalisations
DE3614046A1 (de) * 1985-05-09 1986-11-20 EAB Electronic-Apparate-Bau GmbH, 8984 Riezlern Vorrichtung zum reinigen von verlegten rohren
US5814162A (en) * 1996-09-25 1998-09-29 Collom International, Inc. Air and spray nozzle

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2064703A (en) * 1979-11-22 1981-06-17 Madden P J Unblocking and repairing conduits
US5987683A (en) * 1996-09-27 1999-11-23 Leiman; Basil C. Flexible pipe cleaning device and system
NL1010131C1 (nl) * 1998-03-27 1999-10-05 Beugen Beheer B V Van Inrichting voor het reinigen van een vloeistofleiding.

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2694022A (en) * 1952-08-18 1954-11-09 Edward B Schreiner Method of cleaning sewers and the like
US3426803A (en) * 1963-02-13 1969-02-11 Bridgestone Tire Co Ltd Submerged floatable hoses for transporting oil and other liquids on the sea
FR2550968A1 (fr) * 1983-08-30 1985-03-01 Thome Jean Dispositif d'intervention dans des canalisations
DE3614046A1 (de) * 1985-05-09 1986-11-20 EAB Electronic-Apparate-Bau GmbH, 8984 Riezlern Vorrichtung zum reinigen von verlegten rohren
US5814162A (en) * 1996-09-25 1998-09-29 Collom International, Inc. Air and spray nozzle

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2886560A1 (fr) * 2005-06-03 2006-12-08 Commissariat Energie Atomique Dispositif de debouchage d'un tuyau

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2377000A (en) 2002-12-31
GB0114077D0 (en) 2001-08-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10981201B2 (en) Method and apparatus for cleaning fluid conduits
US7487802B2 (en) Systems and methods for pipeline rehabilitation
US20030056954A1 (en) Methods and apparatus for a subsea tie back
US20030170077A1 (en) Riser with retrievable internal services
US6615848B2 (en) Electronically controlled pipeline monitoring and cleaning device
US6176523B1 (en) Joint for variable wall thickness conduit
US6536539B2 (en) Shallow depth, coiled tubing horizontal drilling system
EP0961682B1 (fr) Procede et dispositif pour installer un revetement dans une conduite
US20030070841A1 (en) Shallow depth, coiled tubing horizontal drilling system
US10400916B2 (en) T-piece preformer
US11060380B2 (en) Systems and methods for accessing subsea conduits
US11872607B2 (en) Method and apparatus for cleaning fluid conduits
WO2002100562A1 (fr) Elimination d'un blocage dans un pipe-line
CA2119018A1 (fr) Ameliorations concernant la disposition de tuyaux dans le sol
NO20210347A1 (en) Cleaning Head, System And Method For Use In Cleaning A Fluid Conduit
GB2581959A (en) Systems and methods for conveying coiled tubing into a fluid conduit
CA2501315A1 (fr) Procedes et dispositif pour raccordement sous-marin
JPH06341165A (ja) 管の敷設工法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ OM PH PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: JP