Method of installing an in-line structure in a pipeline
US10544881B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jan 28, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L2101/20
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of installing an In-Line Structure (ILS) to a flooding fluid-filled pipeline extending from a reel, over an aligner, and through a lay-tower during offshore reeling, the pipeline having an oblique part from the reel to the aligner, and a vertical part from the aligner through the lay-tower, including the steps of: (a) draining the flooding fluid from the vertical part of the pipeline to create a drained portion of the vertical part of the pipeline up to and around the aligner; (b) cutting the pipeline at or near the draining of step (a) to create upper and lower open ends of the pipeline; (c) installing a pig into the upper open end; (d) moving the pig through the pipeline to reach a flooding fluid-filled part of the pipeline; (e) adding flooding fluid into the flooding fluid-filled part of the pipeline to reverse the movement of the pig in step (d) and to wholly or substantially refill the drained portion of the pipeline; and (f) installing the In-Line Structure (ILS) to at least the upper open end of the pipeline.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.