WO2024052812A2 - Repair system and method for repairing localized defects in a pipe for fluid transport - Google Patents

Repair system and method for repairing localized defects in a pipe for fluid transport Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2024052812A2
WO2024052812A2 PCT/IB2023/058772 IB2023058772W WO2024052812A2 WO 2024052812 A2 WO2024052812 A2 WO 2024052812A2 IB 2023058772 W IB2023058772 W IB 2023058772W WO 2024052812 A2 WO2024052812 A2 WO 2024052812A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pipe
seal plate
longitudinal axis
repair system
repaired
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2023/058772
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2024052812A3 (en
Inventor
Loris ZIERO
Diego Lazzarin
Diego Bruno
Original Assignee
Saipem S.P.A.
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 Saipem S.P.A. filed Critical Saipem S.P.A.
Publication of WO2024052812A2 publication Critical patent/WO2024052812A2/en
Publication of WO2024052812A3 publication Critical patent/WO2024052812A3/en

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
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B41/00—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B41/0007—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 for underwater installations
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
    • 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
    • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
    • F16J15/00—Sealings
    • F16J15/02—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces
    • F16J15/06—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces
    • F16J15/10—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces with non-metallic packing
    • F16J15/12—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces with non-metallic packing with metal reinforcement or covering
    • F16J15/121—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces with non-metallic packing with metal reinforcement or covering with metal reinforcement
    • F16J15/122—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces with non-metallic packing with metal reinforcement or covering with metal reinforcement generally parallel to the surfaces
    • 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
    • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
    • F16J15/00—Sealings
    • F16J15/16—Sealings between relatively-moving surfaces
    • F16J15/32—Sealings between relatively-moving surfaces with elastic sealings, e.g. O-rings
    • F16J15/3204—Sealings between relatively-moving surfaces with elastic sealings, e.g. O-rings with at least one lip
    • 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
    • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/16—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders
    • F16L55/168—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe
    • 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
    • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
    • F16J15/00—Sealings
    • 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
    • F16L17/00—Joints with packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure
    • 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
    • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/16—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders
    • F16L55/168—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe
    • F16L55/1683—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe by means of a patch which is fixed on the wall of the pipe by means of an adhesive, a weld or the like
    • 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
    • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/16—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders
    • F16L55/168—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe
    • F16L55/17—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe by means of rings, bands or sleeves pressed against the outside surface of the pipe or hose
    • F16L55/171—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe by means of rings, bands or sleeves pressed against the outside surface of the pipe or hose the ring or the sleeve being tightened by a wedge section
    • 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
    • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/18—Appliances for use in repairing pipes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a repair system and method for repairing locali zed defects in a pipe for fluid transport .
  • the present invention relates to an underwater intervention assembly comprising said repair system .
  • the metal materials used for the manufacture of pipes typically have great af finity with numerous chemical elements , including oxygen, sulphur, water, hydrogen and carbon dioxide . At least one of the aforementioned chemical elements is often contained in the fluid transported by the pipe and/or is present in the environment outside the pipe .
  • corrosion of the pipe results in a technological deterioration of the metal material it is made of and leads to both a macroscopic dissolution of the metal material , sometimes causing the perforation of the pipe , and a loss in thickness of the pipe .
  • corrosion can be general i zed and af fect the entire surface of the metal material , resulting in a reduction in the thickness of the metal walls of the pipe , or it can be locali zed and af fect limited parts of the metal surface of the pipe , resulting in the formation of defects or cavities in the metal surface that can run through the walls of the metal surface .
  • a further type of corrosion is selective corrosion, which results in the dissolution of speci fic portions of the metal material of the pipe which, for chemical or metallographic reasons , are more vulnerable to attack .
  • each repair device comprises a sealing assembly provided with a deformable elastomeric sheet to be applied to the crack, and a clamping mechanism equipped with two clip portions connected to each other by tie rods and arranged around the sealing assembly and the pipe to be repaired .
  • tie rods it i s possible to tighten the two clip portions around the pipe , whereby shear forces are applied to the sealing assembly so as to bring about the adherence and deformation of the elastomeric sheet over the crack to be repaired .
  • clamping mechanisms configured to exert high compression forces on the pipe are known .
  • said mechanisms are heavy and bulky and, as a result , limit the ease and speed of installation of the repair device in which they are incorporated .
  • An obj ect of the present invention is to provide a repair system for repairing locali zed defects of a pipe for fluid transport that is capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the known art .
  • an obj ect of the present invention is to provide a repair system which is capable of exerting high compression forces on sti f f sealing elements , which can be used at high pressures and temperatures , and which is easy and quick to install , in particular by means of an unmanned underwater vehicle .
  • a repair system for repairing locali zed defects of a pipe for fluid transport , the repair system extending along a first longitudinal axis and comprising :
  • seal plate which is configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe above the defect to be repaired
  • a compression frame which is configured to be fixed to the pipe and is arranged around the seal plate so as to delimit together with the seal plate a gap, which extends along the first longitudinal axis and has a variable si ze along the first longitudinal axis ;
  • At least one sliding element which is configured to slide within said gap along the first longitudinal axis and to wedge between the compression frame and the seal plate so as to push the seal plate against the outer surface of the pipe .
  • the present invention it is possible to use the repair system at high pressures and temperatures and to exert high compression forces on the seal plate in a simple and ef fective manner without the need to set up a heavy and cumbersome compression mechanism .
  • the repair system can be installed quickly on the pipe to be repaired by means of an unmanned underwater vehicle . It is thus possible to use the repair system in emergency circumstances .
  • the at least one sliding element is wedge-shaped .
  • the repair system comprises a pair of wedge-shaped sliding elements configured to slide oppositely along the first longitudinal axis .
  • the seal plate has a profile curved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis so as to follow the circumferential profile of the pipe to be repaired .
  • the seal plate comprises a central section and a lateral end aligned along the first longitudinal axis ; the thickness of the seal plate being maximum at said central section and being minimum at said lateral end; preferably said thickness being linearly decreasing along the first longitudinal axis from said central section towards said lateral end .
  • the gap has a wedge-shaped longitudinal section corresponding to the wedge-shaped profile of the sliding element .
  • a retrograde sliding of the sliding element from the compression position to the release position is prevented by the static friction of the surfaces of the sliding element in contact with the compression frame and with the seal plate .
  • the contact surfaces of the sliding element find an acute angle relative to each other that is dimensioned to generate a static friction on the seal plate and on the compression frame in order to prevent a retrograde sliding of the sliding element when the sliding element is in the compression position .
  • the seal plate is provided with at least one seat for housing a seal gasket around the defect to be repaired .
  • the at least one seat is substantially annular in shape and is formed in a face of the seal plate configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe .
  • the seal plate comprises a first seat and a second seat , which is arranged concentrically around the first seat .
  • the first seat is configured to house a first seal gasket to prevent the leakage of fluid from the pipe and the second seat is configured to house a second seal gasket to prevent the entry of an external fluid into the pipe .
  • the repair system comprises at least one annular seal gasket , which is housed in the at least one seat and is made of a polymeric material ; preferably, the at least one seal gasket having a C-shaped section .
  • the pressure of the fluid pushing on the C-shaped seal gasket thereby causes the ends of said seal gasket to diverge , resulting in an optimal adherence between the seal gasket and the outer surface of the pipe and between the seal gasket and the seal plate .
  • the compression frame comprises a central portion arranged around the seal plate so as to delimit the gap together with the seal plate , and a pair of lateral portions fixed to the central portion so as to enclose the seal plate in a direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis .
  • the seal plate and the compression frame are made at least partially of a metal material .
  • the repair system comprises an actuating device , which is selectively couplable/decouplable to/ from the at least one sliding element and is configured to drive the sliding of the at least one sliding element along the first longitudinal axis .
  • a further obj ect of the present invention is to provide an underwater intervention assembly for repairing local i zed defects of an underwater pipe which is capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the known art .
  • an underwater intervention assembly for repairing locali zed defects of an underwater pipe for fluid transport, the intervention assembly comprising :
  • a further obj ect of the present invention is to provide a repair method for repairing local i zed defects of a pipe for fluid transport which is capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the known art .
  • a repair method for repairing locali zed defects of a pipe for fluid transport , the repair method comprising the steps of :
  • the present method it is possible to apply the seal plate in a pressuri zed manner over a defect of the pipe in a simple and quick manner, which ensures an optimal sealing of the pipe .
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity and parts schemati zed, of an underwater intervention assembly provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity and parts schemati zed, of the underwater intervention assembly of Figure 1 provided in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 are section views , with parts removed for clarity, of a repair system of the underwater intervention assembly of Figure 1 in respective operating configurations and installed on a pipe to be repaired;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of the repair system of Figure 3 ;
  • FIG. 6 is a section view, with parts removed for clarity, of the repair system of Figure 3 ;
  • FIG. 7 is an enlarged section view of a detail of the repair system of Figure 3 ;
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a further detail of the repair system of Figure 3 .
  • the reference number 1 indicates , as a whole , an underwater intervention assembly for repairing locali zed defects of an underwater pipe 2 for fluid transport .
  • the pipe 2 extends along a longitudinal axis Al in a body of water 3 , is made at least partially of a metal material , and has locali zed defects 4 .
  • locali zed defect denotes a confined damaged portion of the metal material of the pipe 2 caused, for example , by corrosion .
  • said locali zed defects 4 comprise cavities or cracks or dents or gashes in the wal ls of the pipe 2 that can run through the thickness of the walls of the pipe 2 .
  • the intervention assembly 1 comprises a repair system
  • the underwater vehicle 6 is a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) .
  • ROV remotely operated vehicle
  • the underwater vehicle 6 is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) .
  • the intervention assembly 1 further comprises a machine 7 for applying a fastening assembly 8 around the repair system 5 and the pipe 2 in order to fix the repair system 5 on the pipe 2 .
  • the fastening assembly 8 comprises a composite material band to be wrapped around the repair system 5 and the pipe 2 .
  • the machine 7 is configured to be clamped to the pipe 2 and is designed to be connected to the underwater vehicle 6 , which is configured to transport and operate the machine 7 in the body of water 3 and to potentially assist in the execution of the operations of the machine 7 .
  • the underwater vehicle 6 is configured to transmit electrical and/or hydraulic power to the machine 7 and to control the machine 7 .
  • the intervention assembly 1 comprises a machine 9 configured to apply a fastening assembly 10 around the repair system 5 and the pipe 2 in order to fix the repair system 5 on the pipe 2 .
  • the fastening assembly 10 comprises at least one metal band, such as a strap, to be tied around the repair system 5 and the pipe 2 .
  • intervention assembly 1 comprises an articulated arm 11 , which is connected to the underwater vehicle 6 and to the machine 9 in order to control the position of the machine 9 in the body of water 3 .
  • the repair system 5 extends along a longitudinal axis A2 and comprises a seal plate 12 , which i s configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe 2 above the defect 4 to be repaired and is provided with at least one seat 13 , 14 for housing a seal gasket 15 ( Figure 7 ) around the defect 4 to be repaired; a compression frame 16 , which is configured to be fixed to the pipe 2 and is arranged around the seal plate 12 so as to delimit together with the seal plate 12 a gap 17 , which extends along the longitudinal axis A2 and has a variable si ze along the longitudinal axis A2 ; and at least one sliding element 18 , which is configured to slide within the gap 17 along the longitudinal axis A2 and to wedge between the compression frame 16 and the seal plate 12 so as to push the seal plate 12 against the outer surface of the pipe 2 .
  • a seal plate 12 which i s configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe 2 above the defect 4 to be repaired and is provided with at least one
  • the repair system 5 is configured to be arranged on the pipe 2 so that the longitudinal axis A2 of the repair system 5 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis Al of the pipe 2 .
  • the sliding element 18 is configured to slide in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis Al .
  • the repair system 5 comprises a pair of wedge- shaped sliding elements 18 configured to slide oppositely along the longitudinal axis A2 .
  • each sliding element 18 is configured to slide within the gap 17 along the longitudinal axis A2 between a release position ( Figure 3 ) , in which the sliding element 18 exerts a minimal compression force on the seal plate 12 , and a compression position ( Figure 4 ) , in which the sliding element 18 is wedged under pressure within the gap 17 .
  • the distance between the two sliding elements 18 measured along the longitudinal axis A2 in the release position ( Figure 3 ) is greater than the distance between the two sliding elements 18 measured along the longitudinal axis A2 in the compression position ( Figure 4 ) .
  • each sliding element 18 compri ses a flattened body 19 provided with a wedge-shaped end portion 20 , which is at least partially inserted within the gap 17 and is configured to wedge itsel f between the seal plate 12 and the compression frame 16 .
  • the seal plate 12 comprises a central section 21 and a lateral end 22 aligned along the longitudinal axis A2 .
  • the seal plate 12 comprises two lateral ends 22 arranged on opposite sides along the longitudinal axis A2 with respect to the central section 21 .
  • the thickness of the seal plate 12 is maximum at the central section 21 and minimum at each lateral end 22 .
  • said thickness is linearly decreasing along the longitudinal axis A2 from the central section 21 towards the lateral ends 22 .
  • the seal plate 12 thereby delimits together with the compression frame 16 a gap 17 having a wedge-shaped longitudinal section corresponding to the wedge-shaped section of the end portion 20 of the sliding element 18 .
  • the seal plate 12 and the compression frame 16 are made at least partially of a metal material .
  • the seal plate 12 is made partly of stainless steel and partly of an elastomeric material .
  • the compression frame 16 is made of stainless steel .
  • the repair system 5 also comprises an actuating device 23 , which is selectively couplable/decouplable to/ from each sliding element 18 and is configured to drive the s liding of each sliding element 18 along the longitudinal axis A2 .
  • the actuating device 23 comprises two thrust pins 24 , a sliding clamping mechanism 25 configured to selectively increase/decrease the distance between the thrust pins 24 , and two control members 26 for driving the clamping mechanism 25 .
  • the clamping mechanism 25 is of a screw type and each control member 26 is configured to drive the screwing movement of the clamping mechanism 25 .
  • clamping mechanism 25 can comprise actuators of di f ferent types , such as hydraulic or electromagnetic actuators , without departing from the scope of application of the present invention as a result .
  • Each sliding element 18 comprises a respective housing seat 27 configured to house the respective thrust pin 24 of the actuating device 23 , which is configured to reduce the distance between the thrust pins 24 so as to bring about the sliding of each sliding element 18 within the gap 17 until each sliding element 18 is wedged between the seal plate 12 and the compression frame 16 .
  • the compression frame 16 comprises a central portion 28 arranged around the seal plate 12 so as to delimit the gap 17 together with the seal plate 12 , and a pair of lateral portions 29 fixed to the central portion 28 so as to enclose the seal plate 12 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A2 .
  • the central portion 28 and the lateral portions 29 determine the position of the seal plate 12 on the pipe 2 .
  • the seal plate 12 has a profile curved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2 so as to follow the circumferential profile of the pipe 2 to be repaired .
  • the seal plate 12 comprises two seats 13 , 14 , each of which is configured to house a respective seal gasket 15 ( Figure 7 ) .
  • each seat 13 , 14 is substantially annular in shape and is formed in a face 30 of the seal plate 12 configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe 2 .
  • the repair system 5 comprises two seal gaskets 15 , each of which is housed in its respective seat 13 , 14 .
  • Each seal gasket 15 is made of a polymer material and has a C-shaped cross-section .
  • the seal plate 12 comprises two sliding guides 31 , each of which faces the central portion 28 of the compression frame 16 , extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A2 and is configured to guide the sliding of the respective sliding element 18 along the longitudinal axis A2 .
  • each sliding guide 31 is a rail extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A2 .
  • the seal plate 12 comprises a stop 32 , which is arranged at the central section 21 and is configured to block the sliding of each sliding element 18 in the direction of the central section 21 of the seal plate 12 .
  • the underwater vehicle 6 transports the repair system 5 in the body of water 3 to the pipe 2 and applies the repair system 5 to the pipe 2 .
  • the machine 7 wraps the fastening assembly 8 in the form of a composite material band around the compression frame 16 and the pipe 2 so as to fix the repair system 5 on the pipe 2 .
  • the underwater vehicle 6 couples the actuating device 23 to each sliding element 18 , so as to house each thrust pin 24 in the respective housing seat 27 .
  • the underwater vehicle 6 operates the clamping mechanism 25 via the two control members 26 by driving the sliding of the sliding elements 18 along the longitudinal axis A2 towards the central section 21 of the seal plate 12 .
  • each s liding element 18 is held under pressure between the central portion 28 of the compression frame 16 and the seal plate 12 .
  • each sliding element 18 against the seal plate 12 pushes the seal plate 12 onto the outer surface of the pipe 2 .
  • the seal gaskets 15 are compressed between the seal plate 12 and the outer surface of the pipe 2 and adhere to the seal plate 12 and to the outer surface of the pipe 2 so as to prevent the leakage of fluid from the pipe 2 and/or the entry of an external fluid into the pipe 2 through the defect 4 .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Pipe Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

A repair system for repairing localized defects of a pipe extends along a first longitudinal axis (A2) and has a seal plate (12), which is configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe (2) above the defect (4) to be repaired; a compression frame (16), which is configured to be fixed to the pipe (2) and is arranged around the seal plate (12) so as to delimit together with the seal plate (12) a gap (17), which has a variable size along the first longitudinal axis (A1); and at least one sliding element (18), which is configured to slide within said gap (17) along the first longitudinal axis (A2) and to wedge between the compression frame (16) and the seal plate (12) so as to push the seal plate (12) against the outer surface of the pipe (2).

Description

REPAIR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPAIRING LOCALIZED DEFECTS IN A PIPE FOR FLUID TRANSPORT
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No . 102022000018195 filed on September 6 , 2022 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a repair system and method for repairing locali zed defects in a pipe for fluid transport .
In addition, the present invention relates to an underwater intervention assembly comprising said repair system .
State of the Art
As is known, it is necessary in the oil and gas industry to transport fluids , such as hydrocarbons or process liquids , over long distances via pipes . Typically, said pipes extend in a body of water, in particular over a bed of the body of water or in intermediate positions , and are made of metal materials .
It sometimes occurs that corrosion phenomena can lead to a degradation of the pipe and to a loss of tightness of the pipe . In particular, the metal materials used for the manufacture of pipes typically have great af finity with numerous chemical elements , including oxygen, sulphur, water, hydrogen and carbon dioxide . At least one of the aforementioned chemical elements is often contained in the fluid transported by the pipe and/or is present in the environment outside the pipe . In practice , corrosion of the pipe results in a technological deterioration of the metal material it is made of and leads to both a macroscopic dissolution of the metal material , sometimes causing the perforation of the pipe , and a loss in thickness of the pipe .
More speci fically, corrosion can be general i zed and af fect the entire surface of the metal material , resulting in a reduction in the thickness of the metal walls of the pipe , or it can be locali zed and af fect limited parts of the metal surface of the pipe , resulting in the formation of defects or cavities in the metal surface that can run through the walls of the metal surface . A further type of corrosion is selective corrosion, which results in the dissolution of speci fic portions of the metal material of the pipe which, for chemical or metallographic reasons , are more vulnerable to attack .
In cases where the pipe is subj ect to locali zed corrosion, it is known to repair the defects resulting from this type of corrosion by means of lightweight , easy-to- handle repair devices which employ external clamps that can be installed by divers . These devices are commonly referred to as " lightweight clamps" or " lightweight clamping devices" .
For instance , documents US 6 , 334 , 465 and US 8 , 978 , 709 describe respective repair devices for stopping a leak from a crack in a pipe . Each repair device comprises a sealing assembly provided with a deformable elastomeric sheet to be applied to the crack, and a clamping mechanism equipped with two clip portions connected to each other by tie rods and arranged around the sealing assembly and the pipe to be repaired . In practice , thanks to the tie rods , it i s possible to tighten the two clip portions around the pipe , whereby shear forces are applied to the sealing assembly so as to bring about the adherence and deformation of the elastomeric sheet over the crack to be repaired .
However, in known repair devices , the considerable flexibility of the elastomeric sheet results in an uncontrolled deformation of the elastomeric material when the elastomeric sheet is subj ected to high pressures and/or high temperatures . This drawback l imits the range of use of known repair devices at low pressures and temperatures .
Furthermore , since the elastomeric sheet is easily deformed, the compression force that can be exerted on the sealing assembly by the clamping mechanisms described in US 6 , 334 , 465 and US 8 , 978 , 709 is limited and is not adapted to compress sheets o f sti f fer material on the outer surface of the pipe to be repaired .
In cases where the repair device requires greater compression forces , clamping mechanisms configured to exert high compression forces on the pipe are known . However, said mechanisms are heavy and bulky and, as a result , limit the ease and speed of installation of the repair device in which they are incorporated .
Moreover, currently known repair devices are only designed to be installed by divers .
Summary of the Invention
An obj ect of the present invention is to provide a repair system for repairing locali zed defects of a pipe for fluid transport that is capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the known art . In particular, an obj ect of the present invention is to provide a repair system which is capable of exerting high compression forces on sti f f sealing elements , which can be used at high pressures and temperatures , and which is easy and quick to install , in particular by means of an unmanned underwater vehicle .
In accordance with the present invention, a repair system is provided for repairing locali zed defects of a pipe for fluid transport , the repair system extending along a first longitudinal axis and comprising :
- a seal plate , which is configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe above the defect to be repaired;
- a compression frame , which is configured to be fixed to the pipe and is arranged around the seal plate so as to delimit together with the seal plate a gap, which extends along the first longitudinal axis and has a variable si ze along the first longitudinal axis ; and
- at least one sliding element , which is configured to slide within said gap along the first longitudinal axis and to wedge between the compression frame and the seal plate so as to push the seal plate against the outer surface of the pipe .
Thanks to the present invention, it is possible to use the repair system at high pressures and temperatures and to exert high compression forces on the seal plate in a simple and ef fective manner without the need to set up a heavy and cumbersome compression mechanism .
Due to its simplicity, the repair system can be installed quickly on the pipe to be repaired by means of an unmanned underwater vehicle . It is thus possible to use the repair system in emergency circumstances .
In particular, the at least one sliding element is wedge-shaped .
It is thereby possible to wedge the sliding element in a pressuri zed manner into the gap between the compression frame and the seal plate in a simple and ef fective manner .
More speci fically, the repair system comprises a pair of wedge-shaped sliding elements configured to slide oppositely along the first longitudinal axis .
It is thereby possible to distribute the compres sion thrust exerted by the two sliding elements evenly over the seal plate .
In particular, the seal plate has a profile curved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis so as to follow the circumferential profile of the pipe to be repaired .
It is thereby possible to ensure an optimal adherence between the sealing plate and the outer surface of the pipe .
In particular, the seal plate comprises a central section and a lateral end aligned along the first longitudinal axis ; the thickness of the seal plate being maximum at said central section and being minimum at said lateral end; preferably said thickness being linearly decreasing along the first longitudinal axis from said central section towards said lateral end .
In practice , the gap has a wedge-shaped longitudinal section corresponding to the wedge-shaped profile of the sliding element .
It is thereby possible to allow the sliding element to slide within the gap between a release position, in which the sliding element exerts a minimal compression force on the seal plate , and a compression position, in which the sliding element is wedged under pressure inside the gap .
A retrograde sliding of the sliding element from the compression position to the release position is prevented by the static friction of the surfaces of the sliding element in contact with the compression frame and with the seal plate . In practice , the contact surfaces of the sliding element find an acute angle relative to each other that is dimensioned to generate a static friction on the seal plate and on the compression frame in order to prevent a retrograde sliding of the sliding element when the sliding element is in the compression position .
In particular, the seal plate is provided with at least one seat for housing a seal gasket around the defect to be repaired .
More speci fically, the at least one seat is substantially annular in shape and is formed in a face of the seal plate configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe .
It is thereby possible , in cases where the defect to be repaired comprises an opening that runs through a wall of the pipe , to guarantee the hydraulic tightness of the pipe .
More speci fically, the seal plate comprises a first seat and a second seat , which is arranged concentrically around the first seat .
In practice , the first seat is configured to house a first seal gasket to prevent the leakage of fluid from the pipe and the second seat is configured to house a second seal gasket to prevent the entry of an external fluid into the pipe .
In particular, the repair system comprises at least one annular seal gasket , which is housed in the at least one seat and is made of a polymeric material ; preferably, the at least one seal gasket having a C-shaped section .
The pressure of the fluid pushing on the C-shaped seal gasket thereby causes the ends of said seal gasket to diverge , resulting in an optimal adherence between the seal gasket and the outer surface of the pipe and between the seal gasket and the seal plate .
In particular, the compression frame comprises a central portion arranged around the seal plate so as to delimit the gap together with the seal plate , and a pair of lateral portions fixed to the central portion so as to enclose the seal plate in a direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis .
It is thereby possible to fix the longitudinal position of the seal plate in relation to the compression frame .
In particular, the seal plate and the compression frame are made at least partially of a metal material .
It is thereby possible to ensure that the repair system possesses an adequate rigidity .
In particular, the repair system comprises an actuating device , which is selectively couplable/decouplable to/ from the at least one sliding element and is configured to drive the sliding of the at least one sliding element along the first longitudinal axis .
It is thereby possible to couple the actuating device to the sliding element of a given repair system, to drive the sliding of the sliding element into the gap so as to wedge the sliding element between the compression frame and the seal plate , and subsequently to decouple the actuating device from the sliding element in order to reuse the actuating device in a further repair system .
A further obj ect of the present invention is to provide an underwater intervention assembly for repairing local i zed defects of an underwater pipe which is capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the known art .
According to the present invention, an underwater intervention assembly for repairing locali zed defects of an underwater pipe for fluid transport is provided, the intervention assembly comprising :
- the repair system as previously described; and
- an unmanned underwater vehicle for transporting and installing the repair system on the pipe to be repaired .
It is thereby possible to install the repair system without the need to use divers . Consequently, it is also possible to install the repair system on pipes that are located at great depths in a body of water .
A further obj ect of the present invention is to provide a repair method for repairing local i zed defects of a pipe for fluid transport which is capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the known art .
According to the present invention, a repair method is provided for repairing locali zed defects of a pipe for fluid transport , the repair method comprising the steps of :
- arranging a seal plate in contact with the outer surface of the pipe above the defect to be repaired;
- arranging a compression frame around the seal plate so as to delimit together with the seal plate a gap, which extends along a first longitudinal axis and has a variable si ze along the first longitudinal axis ; fixing the compression frame to the pipe to be repaired by means of a fastening assembly; and
- driving the sliding of at least one sliding element within said gap along the first longitudinal axis to wedge the sliding element between the compression frame and the seal plate so as to push the seal plate against the outer surface of the pipe to be repaired .
Thanks to the present method, it is possible to apply the seal plate in a pressuri zed manner over a defect of the pipe in a simple and quick manner, which ensures an optimal sealing of the pipe .
Brief Description of the Drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a non-limiting example embodiment with reference to the accompanying Figures , wherein :
- Figure 1 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity and parts schemati zed, of an underwater intervention assembly provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity and parts schemati zed, of the underwater intervention assembly of Figure 1 provided in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;
- Figures 3 and 4 are section views , with parts removed for clarity, of a repair system of the underwater intervention assembly of Figure 1 in respective operating configurations and installed on a pipe to be repaired;
- Figure 5 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of the repair system of Figure 3 ;
- Figure 6 is a section view, with parts removed for clarity, of the repair system of Figure 3 ;
- Figure 7 is an enlarged section view of a detail of the repair system of Figure 3 ; and
- Figure 8 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a further detail of the repair system of Figure 3 .
Detailed Description of the Invention
With reference to Figure 1 , the reference number 1 indicates , as a whole , an underwater intervention assembly for repairing locali zed defects of an underwater pipe 2 for fluid transport .
In the particular case described and illustrated here , the pipe 2 extends along a longitudinal axis Al in a body of water 3 , is made at least partially of a metal material , and has locali zed defects 4 .
In the context of the present invention, the term " locali zed defect" denotes a confined damaged portion of the metal material of the pipe 2 caused, for example , by corrosion . In particular, said locali zed defects 4 comprise cavities or cracks or dents or gashes in the wal ls of the pipe 2 that can run through the thickness of the walls of the pipe 2 .
The intervention assembly 1 comprises a repair system
5 that can be installed on the pipe 2 to repair local i zed defects 4 of the pipe 2 , and an unmanned underwater vehicle
6 to transport and install the repair system 5 on the pipe 2 to be repaired .
In accordance with an embodiment described and illustrated here , which does not limit the present invention, the underwater vehicle 6 is a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) .
In accordance with a further embodiment , not shown in the accompanying figures , the underwater vehicle 6 is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) .
The intervention assembly 1 further comprises a machine 7 for applying a fastening assembly 8 around the repair system 5 and the pipe 2 in order to fix the repair system 5 on the pipe 2 .
In the particular case described and illustrated in Figure 1 , which does not limit the present invention, the fastening assembly 8 comprises a composite material band to be wrapped around the repair system 5 and the pipe 2 .
In particular, the machine 7 is configured to be clamped to the pipe 2 and is designed to be connected to the underwater vehicle 6 , which is configured to transport and operate the machine 7 in the body of water 3 and to potentially assist in the execution of the operations of the machine 7 .
According to a variant of the present invention, not shown in the accompanying figures , the underwater vehicle 6 is configured to transmit electrical and/or hydraulic power to the machine 7 and to control the machine 7 .
With reference to Figure 2 , a further embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which the intervention assembly 1 comprises a machine 9 configured to apply a fastening assembly 10 around the repair system 5 and the pipe 2 in order to fix the repair system 5 on the pipe 2 .
In the particular case described and illustrated in Figure 2 , which does not limit the present invention, the fastening assembly 10 comprises at least one metal band, such as a strap, to be tied around the repair system 5 and the pipe 2 .
In addition, the intervention assembly 1 comprises an articulated arm 11 , which is connected to the underwater vehicle 6 and to the machine 9 in order to control the position of the machine 9 in the body of water 3 .
With reference to Figures 3 and 4 , the repair system 5 extends along a longitudinal axis A2 and comprises a seal plate 12 , which i s configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe 2 above the defect 4 to be repaired and is provided with at least one seat 13 , 14 for housing a seal gasket 15 ( Figure 7 ) around the defect 4 to be repaired; a compression frame 16 , which is configured to be fixed to the pipe 2 and is arranged around the seal plate 12 so as to delimit together with the seal plate 12 a gap 17 , which extends along the longitudinal axis A2 and has a variable si ze along the longitudinal axis A2 ; and at least one sliding element 18 , which is configured to slide within the gap 17 along the longitudinal axis A2 and to wedge between the compression frame 16 and the seal plate 12 so as to push the seal plate 12 against the outer surface of the pipe 2 .
In particular, the repair system 5 is configured to be arranged on the pipe 2 so that the longitudinal axis A2 of the repair system 5 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis Al of the pipe 2 . In such a configuration, the sliding element 18 is configured to slide in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis Al .
According to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the repair system 5 comprises a pair of wedge- shaped sliding elements 18 configured to slide oppositely along the longitudinal axis A2 .
In practice , each sliding element 18 is configured to slide within the gap 17 along the longitudinal axis A2 between a release position ( Figure 3 ) , in which the sliding element 18 exerts a minimal compression force on the seal plate 12 , and a compression position ( Figure 4 ) , in which the sliding element 18 is wedged under pressure within the gap 17 . The distance between the two sliding elements 18 measured along the longitudinal axis A2 in the release position ( Figure 3 ) is greater than the distance between the two sliding elements 18 measured along the longitudinal axis A2 in the compression position ( Figure 4 ) .
In particular, each sliding element 18 compri ses a flattened body 19 provided with a wedge-shaped end portion 20 , which is at least partially inserted within the gap 17 and is configured to wedge itsel f between the seal plate 12 and the compression frame 16 .
The seal plate 12 comprises a central section 21 and a lateral end 22 aligned along the longitudinal axis A2 . In particular, the seal plate 12 comprises two lateral ends 22 arranged on opposite sides along the longitudinal axis A2 with respect to the central section 21 .
The thickness of the seal plate 12 is maximum at the central section 21 and minimum at each lateral end 22 . In particular, said thickness is linearly decreasing along the longitudinal axis A2 from the central section 21 towards the lateral ends 22 .
The seal plate 12 thereby delimits together with the compression frame 16 a gap 17 having a wedge-shaped longitudinal section corresponding to the wedge-shaped section of the end portion 20 of the sliding element 18 .
According to one embodiment , the seal plate 12 and the compression frame 16 are made at least partially of a metal material . In particular, the seal plate 12 is made partly of stainless steel and partly of an elastomeric material . The compression frame 16 is made of stainless steel .
The repair system 5 also comprises an actuating device 23 , which is selectively couplable/decouplable to/ from each sliding element 18 and is configured to drive the s liding of each sliding element 18 along the longitudinal axis A2 .
In particular, the actuating device 23 comprises two thrust pins 24 , a sliding clamping mechanism 25 configured to selectively increase/decrease the distance between the thrust pins 24 , and two control members 26 for driving the clamping mechanism 25 .
In the particular case described and illustrated here , which does not limit the present invention, the clamping mechanism 25 is of a screw type and each control member 26 is configured to drive the screwing movement of the clamping mechanism 25 .
It is understood that the clamping mechanism 25 can comprise actuators of di f ferent types , such as hydraulic or electromagnetic actuators , without departing from the scope of application of the present invention as a result .
Each sliding element 18 comprises a respective housing seat 27 configured to house the respective thrust pin 24 of the actuating device 23 , which is configured to reduce the distance between the thrust pins 24 so as to bring about the sliding of each sliding element 18 within the gap 17 until each sliding element 18 is wedged between the seal plate 12 and the compression frame 16 .
With reference to Figures 5 and 6 , the compression frame 16 comprises a central portion 28 arranged around the seal plate 12 so as to delimit the gap 17 together with the seal plate 12 , and a pair of lateral portions 29 fixed to the central portion 28 so as to enclose the seal plate 12 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A2 . In other words , the central portion 28 and the lateral portions 29 determine the position of the seal plate 12 on the pipe 2 .
With reference to Figure 6 , the seal plate 12 has a profile curved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2 so as to follow the circumferential profile of the pipe 2 to be repaired .
Furthermore , the seal plate 12 comprises two seats 13 , 14 , each of which is configured to house a respective seal gasket 15 ( Figure 7 ) .
In particular, the seat 14 is arranged concentrically around the seat 13 . More speci fically, each seat 13 , 14 is substantially annular in shape and is formed in a face 30 of the seal plate 12 configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe 2 .
With reference to Figure 7 , the repair system 5 comprises two seal gaskets 15 , each of which is housed in its respective seat 13 , 14 . Each seal gasket 15 is made of a polymer material and has a C-shaped cross-section .
With reference to Figure 8 , the seal plate 12 comprises two sliding guides 31 , each of which faces the central portion 28 of the compression frame 16 , extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A2 and is configured to guide the sliding of the respective sliding element 18 along the longitudinal axis A2 . In particular, each sliding guide 31 is a rail extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A2 .
Furthermore , the seal plate 12 comprises a stop 32 , which is arranged at the central section 21 and is configured to block the sliding of each sliding element 18 in the direction of the central section 21 of the seal plate 12 .
In use and with reference to Figure 1 , the underwater vehicle 6 transports the repair system 5 in the body of water 3 to the pipe 2 and applies the repair system 5 to the pipe 2 .
At this point , the machine 7 wraps the fastening assembly 8 in the form of a composite material band around the compression frame 16 and the pipe 2 so as to fix the repair system 5 on the pipe 2 .
With reference to Figure 3 , the underwater vehicle 6 couples the actuating device 23 to each sliding element 18 , so as to house each thrust pin 24 in the respective housing seat 27 .
With reference to Figure 4 , the underwater vehicle 6 operates the clamping mechanism 25 via the two control members 26 by driving the sliding of the sliding elements 18 along the longitudinal axis A2 towards the central section 21 of the seal plate 12 .
Once the two sliding elements 18 have been wedged between the central portion 28 of the compression frame 16 and the seal plate 12 , the underwater vehicle 6 blocks the screwing motion of the clamping mechanism 25 and removes the actuating device 23 from the sliding elements 18 . A retrograde movement of the sliding elements 18 is prevented by the friction exerted by the central portion 28 of the compression frame 16 and by the seal plate 12 on each sliding element 18 . In other words , each s liding element 18 is held under pressure between the central portion 28 of the compression frame 16 and the seal plate 12 .
The pressure exerted by each sliding element 18 against the seal plate 12 pushes the seal plate 12 onto the outer surface of the pipe 2 . The seal gaskets 15 are compressed between the seal plate 12 and the outer surface of the pipe 2 and adhere to the seal plate 12 and to the outer surface of the pipe 2 so as to prevent the leakage of fluid from the pipe 2 and/or the entry of an external fluid into the pipe 2 through the defect 4 .
Finally, it is evident that that variations can be made to the present invention with respect to the described embodiments without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the appended claims .

Claims

1. A repair system for repairing localized defects of a pipe for fluid transport, the repair system (5) extending along a first longitudinal axis (A2) and comprising:
- a seal plate (12) , which is configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe (2) above the defect (4) to be repaired;
- a compression frame (16) , which is configured to be fixed to the pipe (2) and is arranged around the seal plate (12) so as to delimit together with the seal plate (12) a gap (17) , which extends along the first longitudinal axis (A2) and has a variable size along the first longitudinal axis (A2 ) ; and
- at least one sliding element (18) , which is configured to slide within said gap (17) along the first longitudinal axis (A2) and to wedge between the compression frame (16) and the seal plate (12) so as to push the seal plate (12) against the outer surface of the pipe (2) .
2. The repair system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the pipe (2) to be repaired extends along a second longitudinal axis (Al) ; the repair system (5) being configured to be arranged on the pipe (2) to be repaired such that the first longitudinal axis (A2) is substantially parallel to the second longitudinal axis (Al) .
3. The repair system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one sliding element (18) is wedge- shaped .
4. The repair system as claimed in Claim 3, and comprising a pair of wedge-shaped sliding elements (18) configured to slide oppositely along the first longitudinal axis (A2 ) .
5. The repair system as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the seal plate (12) has a profile curved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis (A2) so as to follow the circumferential profile of the pipe (2) to be repaired.
6. The repair system as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the seal plate (12) comprises a central section (21) and a lateral end (22) aligned along the first longitudinal axis (A2) ; the thickness of the seal plate (12) being maximum at said central section (21) and being minimum at said lateral end (22) ; preferably said thickness being linearly decreasing along the first longitudinal axis (A2 ) from said central section (21) towards said lateral end (22) .
7. The repair system as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the seal plate (12) comprises at least one sliding guide (31) , which faces the compression frame (16) , extends in a direction substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis (A2) and is configured to guide the sliding of the at least one sliding element (18) along the first longitudinal axis (A2) .
8. The repair system as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the seal plate (12) is provided with at least one seat (13; 14) for housing a seal gasket (15) around the defect (4) to be repaired.
9. The repair system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the at least one seat (13; 14) is substantially annular in shape and is formed in a face (30) of the seal plate (12) configured to be arranged in contact with the outer surface of the pipe ( 2 ) .
10. The repair system as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the seal plate (12) comprises a first seat (13) and a second seat (14) , which is arranged concentrically around the first seat ( 13 ) .
11. The repair system as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, and comprising at least one annular seal gasket
(15) , which is housed in the at least one seat (13; 14) and is made of a polymeric material; preferably, the at least one seal gasket (15) having a C-shaped section.
12. The repair system as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the compression frame (16) comprises a central portion (28) arranged around the seal plate (12) so as to delimit the gap (17) together with the seal plate (12) , and a pair of lateral portions (29) fixed to the central portion (28) so as to enclose the seal plate (12) in a direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis (A2) .
13. The repair system as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the seal plate (12) and the compression frame (16) are made at least partially of a metal material .
14. The repair system as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, and comprising a fastening assembly (8; 10) configured to be arranged around the compression frame
(16) and the pipe (2) to be repaired so as to secure the compression frame (16) to the pipe (2) to be repaired; preferably the fastening assembly (8; 10) comprising at least one metal band and/or at least one composite material band.
15. The repair system as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, and comprising an actuating device (23) , which is selectively couplable/decouplable to/from the at least one sliding element (18) and is configured to drive the sliding of the at least one sliding element (18) along the first longitudinal axis (A2) .
16. An underwater intervention assembly for repairing localized defects of an underwater pipe for fluid transport, the intervention assembly (1) comprising:
- the repair system (5) as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims; and
- an unmanned underwater vehicle (6) for transporting and installing the repair system (5) on the pipe (2) to be repaired .
17. The intervention assembly as claimed in Claim 16, and comprising a machine (7; 9) for applying the fastening assembly (8; 10) around the compression frame (16) and the pipe (2) to be repaired.
18. A repair method for repairing localized defects of a pipe for fluid transport, the repair method comprising the steps of:
- arranging a seal plate (12) in contact with the outer surface of the pipe (2) above the defect (4) to be repaired;
- arranging a compression frame (16) around the seal plate (12) so as to delimit together with the seal plate (12) a gap (17) , which extends along a first longitudinal axis (A2) and has a variable size along the first longitudinal axis (A2) ;
- fixing the compression frame (16) to the pipe (2) to be repaired by means of a fastening assembly (8; 10) ; and
- driving the sliding of at least one sliding element (18) within said gap (17) along the first longitudinal axis
(A2) to wedge the sliding element (18) between the compression frame (16) and the seal plate (12) so as to push the seal plate (12) against the outer surface of the pipe (2) to be repaired.
PCT/IB2023/058772 2022-09-06 2023-09-05 Repair system and method for repairing localized defects in a pipe for fluid transport WO2024052812A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102022000018195 2022-09-06
IT102022000018195A IT202200018195A1 (en) 2022-09-06 2022-09-06 REPAIR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPAIRING LOCALIZED DEFECTS IN A FLUID TRANSPORT PIPELINE

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2024052812A2 true WO2024052812A2 (en) 2024-03-14
WO2024052812A3 WO2024052812A3 (en) 2024-04-18

Family

ID=84053455

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2023/058772 WO2024052812A2 (en) 2022-09-06 2023-09-05 Repair system and method for repairing localized defects in a pipe for fluid transport

Country Status (2)

Country Link
IT (1) IT202200018195A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2024052812A2 (en)

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US436574A (en) * 1890-09-16 Pipe-coupling
GB308941A (en) * 1928-07-24 1929-04-04 Henry Taylforth Improvements in and relating to pipe fittings
US1819169A (en) * 1930-03-18 1931-08-18 Fred D Hildreth Leak stop
US5433482A (en) * 1993-08-16 1995-07-18 Oceaneering International, Inc. Weldless pipe repair apparatus and method
FR2782367B1 (en) 1998-08-12 2000-09-22 3X Engineering DEVICE FOR SEALING A LEAK IN A PIPELINE
FR2968381B1 (en) 2010-12-07 2012-12-28 3X Engineering LEAK COLLAPSE DEVICE IN A FLUID TRANSPORT PIPE.
CN108180345A (en) * 2018-02-28 2018-06-19 中国海洋大学 The lock sealing device of non-stop plugging pipe clamp
NO345352B1 (en) * 2019-02-05 2020-12-21 Ik Norway As Clamp device and method for repairing a damaged part of a pipe section, and use of such clamp device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2024052812A3 (en) 2024-04-18
IT202200018195A1 (en) 2024-03-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5722463A (en) External pipe reinforcing sleeve
US4133351A (en) Method and apparatus for sealing a pipeline leak
US9476522B2 (en) Pipe sealing
US3945604A (en) Packingless gate valve and actuator assemblies
US20100186484A1 (en) Apparatus and Method for Isolating or Testing a Pipe Segment with Axial Reinforcement
US10677361B2 (en) Shut-off device
NO20161399A1 (en) Bolt, bolt tensioning assembly and method for tensioning of a bolt
JP2013032802A (en) Method and jig for repairing flange joint
US6990718B2 (en) Tee connection to a pipeline
WO2024052812A2 (en) Repair system and method for repairing localized defects in a pipe for fluid transport
GB2584729A (en) Clamping system
AU2002321600A1 (en) Tee connection to a pipeline
EP1472484B1 (en) Flange member comprising a first flanged end designed with a, in a radial direction, concave endsurface and a flange joint comprising flange members
US4569539A (en) Pipe joint
GB2027513A (en) Method and apparatus for sealing a pipeline leak
US20170276269A1 (en) Pipe connector
US12060956B2 (en) Connector for pipelines and method to connect the connector to a pipeline
JP4992448B2 (en) Piping leak prevention device
WO2018064176A1 (en) Apparatus and method for sealing a leak from a tubular member
CN105042273A (en) Pipeline maintenance and first-aid repair pipe clamp
US20220034441A1 (en) Pipe repair and the methods for operational fixing and definitive welding thereof
FI12173U1 (en) A pinch valve
CN220647234U (en) Clamp for pipeline pressurized plugging
JP2001221706A (en) Airtight test jig
US20220341531A1 (en) Pipeline spool piece seal assembly and method of use