WO2012134640A2 - Systèmes et procédés pour repositionner et réparer une section d'une canalisation sous-marine disposés sur un fond marin - Google Patents

Systèmes et procédés pour repositionner et réparer une section d'une canalisation sous-marine disposés sur un fond marin Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012134640A2
WO2012134640A2 PCT/US2012/024468 US2012024468W WO2012134640A2 WO 2012134640 A2 WO2012134640 A2 WO 2012134640A2 US 2012024468 W US2012024468 W US 2012024468W WO 2012134640 A2 WO2012134640 A2 WO 2012134640A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pipe
seabed
section
manipulator
arm
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2012/024468
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2012134640A3 (fr
Inventor
Stephen LISO
Eric HARDING
Thomas O'donnell
Original Assignee
Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
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 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. filed Critical Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Priority to GB1316525.3A priority Critical patent/GB2503160A/en
Priority to BR112013022012A priority patent/BR112013022012A2/pt
Priority to AU2012233153A priority patent/AU2012233153A1/en
Publication of WO2012134640A2 publication Critical patent/WO2012134640A2/fr
Publication of WO2012134640A3 publication Critical patent/WO2012134640A3/fr

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/26—Repairing or joining pipes on or under water

Definitions

  • the invention relates to systems and methods for repositioning and repairing a section of subsea pipe locaied on a seabed, such as pipe used in an oil and gas iransportaiion pipeline.
  • a method for repositioning a section of subsea pipe located on a seabed including the following steps: a. partially driving at least two manipulator support piles into the seabed adjacent a section of pipe to be repositioned such that each of the piles has an exposed pile top above the seabed;
  • a manipulator assembly haying a base for receiving the pile top, a hydraulically controlled manipulator arm including a proximal arm pivotally connected to the base, a distal arm pivotally connected to the proximal arm, a swivel joint connected to the distal arm and a grapple connected to the s wivel joint capable of grasping and repositioning a section of pipe;
  • a method for repairing a pinhole leak in a subsea pipe located on a seabed including the following steps: a. partially driving at least two manipulator support piles into the seabed adjacent a section of pipe having a pinhole leak therein such that each of the piles has an exposed pile top above the seabed;
  • a manipulator assembly having a base for receiving the pile top, a hydraulically controlled manipulator arm including a proximal arm pivotally connected to the base, a distal arm pivotally connected to the proximal arm, a swivel joint connected to the distal arm and a grapple connected to the swivel joint capable of grasping and repositioning a section of pipe;
  • a system for repositioning and/or repairing subsea pipe located on a seabed, the system including: a. a plurality of piles capable of being partially driven into a seabed adjacent a
  • each manipulator assembly having a base for receiving the pile top, a hydrauiically controlled manipulator arm including a proximal arm pivotally connected to the base, a distal arm pivotally connected to the proximal arm, a swivel joint connected to the distal arm and a grapple connected to the swivel joint capable of grasping and repositioning a section of pipe; and
  • Figure 1 illustrates the equipment components to be used in a pipe repair system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 illustrates the repositioning and/or repairing of a section of pipe according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • subsea pipe also referred to interchangeably as “pipe”
  • the pipeline can be used for transporting hydrocarbon products such as oil, water or gas between offshore production facilities or between a platform and a shore facility.
  • hydrocarbon products such as oil, water or gas between offshore production facilities or between a platform and a shore facility.
  • such pipe is made from steel or suitable alloy and has a diameter between about 2 in (5 cm) and about 50 in (127 cm).
  • the methods and systems disclosed herein have particular advantages when the pipe is located on an area of seabed having a slope up to about 30° with respect to the horizontal.
  • systems and methods disclosed herein can also be used to reposition and/ or repair other pieces of subsea equipment having dimensions susceptible to manipulation by the presently disclosed systems as would be apparent to one skilled in the art.
  • a system which utilizes certain equipment components to reposition and/or repair a section of subsea pipe or other subsea equipment.
  • Figure 1 illustrates the equipment components utilized by the system.
  • Surface vessel 12 delivers the system components to the vicinity of the location of the needed repositioning and/or repair at the surface of the ocean.
  • the vessel 12 is equipped with a crane/winch 14 for lifting and lowering equipment via deployment rigging 16.
  • the steps of the methods of the embodiments disclosed herein are carried out in conjunction with the surface vessel as described hereinafter.
  • Standard remotely operated vehicles (ROV's) 120 including known ROV tooling suites, hydraulic controls and interfaces and pipe preparation tooling can be used with the system components in order to carry out the methods disclosed herein.
  • ROV's are connected to the surface or a control module via tether 122.
  • Piles 1 18 are used to anchor load-bearing equipment into the seabed 1.
  • the piles can be suction-type piles.
  • the methods used for driving piles by suction are well known in the art and will not be described in detail. Examples of such piles and their operation are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,575,282 and 6,719,496. At least two piles are utilized, although more can be used depending on the objective and magnitude of a given situation.
  • Manipulator assemblies 100 are used to grasp, lift and hold a section of pipe during the repositioning and/or repairing methods. The number of manipulator assemblies utilized again depends on the specific objective. At least two manipulator assemblies are utilized for repositioning or repairing a pinhole leak.
  • each manipulator assembly 100 has an azimuthing base 1 10 and a manipulator arm controllable by hydraulics 1 14, the manipulator arm including a proximal arm 1 12 pivotaily connected to the base 1 10 and a distal arm 1 13 pivotaily connected to the proximal arm 1 12.
  • a swivel joint 1 16 and a grapple 1 1 1 capable of securely grasping a pipe located on the seabed, and lifting, maneuvering and holding the pipe.
  • the base 1 10 has up to 360° nominal rotation adapted to receive the top end of a pile.
  • the base is preferably keyed in order to lock the manipulator assembly in place.
  • the base encapsulates the top end of a pile, also referred to herein as a "pile top,” and allows the grapple loads to react against the partially driven pile.
  • the manipulator assembly could alternatively be fixed to the pile top by the use of other suitable means, including the use of bolts and the like.
  • the proximal and distal arms of the manipulator arm can extend the grapple up to the full length of the manipulator arm, for instance up to about 20 feet (6 m), even up to about 14 feet (4 m) from the base 1 10.
  • Each manipulator arm has a hydraulic tool receptacle (not shown) for receiving hydraulic control, for instance from a remotely operated vehicle via a tool for establishing a hydraulic connection commonly referred to as a "hot stab.”
  • a split sleeve clamp 170 can be used to repair a pinhole leak, local wall thinning or small crack in a pipe. The clamp can be bolted onto a section of pipe, sealed and pressure tested using an ROV.
  • a method for repositioning a section of pipe or other equipment located on a seabed can be an integral part of a greater subsea pipeline, also referred to interchangeably as pipe.
  • a section of pipe to be repositioned is first identified. With the assistance of an ROV, marker buoys can be placed to identify the location of the pipe section or other equipment to be repositioned. Once the location is identified, the location of the pipe section or other equipment can be marked using marker buoys.
  • At least two piles are then partially driven into the seabed adjacent the section of pipe or other equipment to be repositioned such that each of the piles has an exposed pile top above the seabed.
  • a manipulator assembly Onto each of the exposed pile tops is then installed a manipulator assembly.
  • Each manipulator assembly can be operated as previously described to grasp the section of pipe or other equipment to be repositioned, lift the pipe from the seabed and adjust the position as desired, and finally return the pipe or other equipment to the seabed in the desired position.
  • Each manipulator assembly then releases the pipe or other equipment, and the manipulator assemblies and piles can be removed from the seabed and returned to the surface vessel, At least two piles i 18 are inserted in the seabed for supporting manipulator assemblies, also referred to herein as "manipulator support piles.”
  • the piles are lowered from the surface using rigging 16.
  • the manipulator support piles are partially driven into the seabed I adjacent the pipeline 2, preferably with at least one pile on one side and at least one pile on the other side of the section of pipe 2b to be repositioned.
  • adjacent is meant within 10 feet (3 m) of the axis of the pipe.
  • partially driven is meant inserted substantially vertically into the seabed by any known means such that one end of the pile is exposed above the seabed. The exposed pile end is also referred to as a "pile top.”
  • manipulator assemblies 100 are lo wered into place on the manipulator support piles I i 8.
  • the ROV will then rotate the base into alignment for the orientation key to allow seating of the manipulator assembly onto the pile. This process is repeated for any remaining manipulator assemblies.
  • Each manipulator assembly can be lowered using rigging cable 16 attached to a hook or loop on the manipulator assembly, which is raised and lo wered by the crane/winch 14 aboard surface vessel 12.
  • the hydraulic controls of the manipulator arms can be engaged by the ROV to securely grasp the pipe or other equipment.
  • the manipulator arms can be controlled to lift the pipe or other equipment off the seabed into the desired position.
  • a method for making a repair such as repairing a pinhole leak in a section of pipe located on a seabed.
  • This may be, for example, a weld fracture in a circumferential weld.
  • the location of the pipe section to be repaired can be marked using marker buoys.
  • At least two piles are then partially driven into the seabed adjacent the section of pipe to be repaired such that each of the piles has an exposed pile top above the seabed.
  • Onto each of the exposed pile tops is then installed a manipulator assembly.
  • Each manipulator assembly can be operated as previously described to grasp the section of pipe to be repaired and/or lift the pipe from the seabed to a necessary clearance for the repair.
  • the repair can be made using any suitable repair method, such as, for example the installation of a split sleeve clamp 170 around the circumference of the pipe, shown as installed in Figure 2.
  • the repaired pipe can then be released and/or returned to the seabed.
  • Each manipulator assembly then releases the pipe, and the manipulator assemblies and piles can be removed from the seabed and returned to the surface vessel.
  • the surface vessel will then lower the rigging 16, and the ROV will commence operations to attach the rigging to the manipulator assemblies and piles and recover the equipment to the surface vessel 12. Once recovered to the surface vessel, the piles and manipulator assemblies can be reused repeatedly.
  • the system can optionally be equipped with mechanical lock systems in order to maintain precision load holding while holding equipment in place over prolonged periods of time.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Robotics (AREA)
  • Placing Or Removing Of Piles Or Sheet Piles, Or Accessories Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur des procédés et sur des systèmes pour le repositionnement et/ou la réparation d'une section de tuyau à l'intérieur d'une canalisation ou d'un autre équipement disposé sur un fond marin. Les composants du système sont fournis par un navire de surface au voisinage de la section de tuyau ou d'autre équipement. Des pieux sont partiellement enfoncés dans le fond marin au voisinage de la section de tuyau ou d'un autre équipement de sorte que chacun des pieux présente un dessus de pieu exposé au-dessus du fond marin. Les dessus de pieu sont utilisés pour supporter des ensembles manipulateurs de support de charge ayant chacun un bras de manipulateur commandé hydrauliquement ayant un élément de saisie apte à saisir et à repositionner une section de tuyau ou d'un autre équipement. Les ensembles manipulateurs sont actionnés pour repositionner le tuyau ou un autre équipement dans un mode de réalisation, et pour maintenir le tuyau de sorte qu'une pince de réparation puisse être installée.
PCT/US2012/024468 2011-03-30 2012-02-09 Systèmes et procédés pour repositionner et réparer une section d'une canalisation sous-marine disposés sur un fond marin WO2012134640A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1316525.3A GB2503160A (en) 2011-03-30 2012-02-09 Systems and methods for repositioning and repairing a section of subsea pipe located on a seabed
BR112013022012A BR112013022012A2 (pt) 2011-03-30 2012-02-09 sistemas e métodos para o reposicionamento e reparação de uma seção de tubagem submarina localizada no leito do mar
AU2012233153A AU2012233153A1 (en) 2011-03-30 2012-02-09 Systems and methods for repositioning and repairing a section of subsea pipe located on a seabed

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201113075964A 2011-03-30 2011-03-30
US13/075,964 2011-03-30

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2012134640A2 true WO2012134640A2 (fr) 2012-10-04
WO2012134640A3 WO2012134640A3 (fr) 2013-01-31

Family

ID=46932217

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2012/024468 WO2012134640A2 (fr) 2011-03-30 2012-02-09 Systèmes et procédés pour repositionner et réparer une section d'une canalisation sous-marine disposés sur un fond marin

Country Status (4)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2012233153A1 (fr)
BR (1) BR112013022012A2 (fr)
GB (1) GB2503160A (fr)
WO (1) WO2012134640A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104132219A (zh) * 2014-07-29 2014-11-05 中国石油天然气集团公司 一种机械手

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4218158A (en) * 1977-10-14 1980-08-19 Tesson Prosper A Pipe handling method and apparatus
US4705331A (en) * 1985-01-11 1987-11-10 Wayne Graham & Associates International, Inc. Subsea clamping apparatus
US6719496B1 (en) * 1997-11-01 2004-04-13 Shell Oil Company ROV installed suction piles
US7635239B2 (en) * 2007-08-24 2009-12-22 Oceaneering International, Inc. Subsea suction pile crane system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4218158A (en) * 1977-10-14 1980-08-19 Tesson Prosper A Pipe handling method and apparatus
US4705331A (en) * 1985-01-11 1987-11-10 Wayne Graham & Associates International, Inc. Subsea clamping apparatus
US6719496B1 (en) * 1997-11-01 2004-04-13 Shell Oil Company ROV installed suction piles
US7635239B2 (en) * 2007-08-24 2009-12-22 Oceaneering International, Inc. Subsea suction pile crane system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104132219A (zh) * 2014-07-29 2014-11-05 中国石油天然气集团公司 一种机械手

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2012233153A1 (en) 2013-09-19
GB201316525D0 (en) 2013-10-30
BR112013022012A2 (pt) 2016-11-29
WO2012134640A3 (fr) 2013-01-31
GB2503160A (en) 2013-12-18

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