External Pipe Testing Tool and Testing Method Using Same

1 . An apparatus for testing the integrity of a pipe weld comprising:

a sleeve adapted to circumferentially surround said pipe when said apparatus is in use;

the sleeve having a body with an inner diameter greater than the pipe outer diameter;

the sleeve having opposed first and second end walls, said end walls being radially inwardly directed and located at opposed ends of said sleeve body;

first and second sealing means for sealing interfaces between the first and second end walls and the pipe outer surface, whereby, when said apparatus is in use, a sealed space is formed between the pipe outer surface, the sleeve body and the sleeve end walls; and,

a means for filling and pressurizing the sealed space.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further including a means for monitoring the pressure within said sealed space.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises resilient sealing members.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said apparatus further comprises first and second sealing rings positioned against opposing faces of the sleeve end walls and wherein said resilient sealing members are provided between respective pairs of end walls and sealing rings.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a means for urging said sealing rings towards the respective sleeve end wall.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein at least one of the sealing rings or end walls includes a bevel or groove to contain a respective resilient sealing member.

7 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first and second sealing means comprises a pair of resilient bladders contained within respective housings provided on said sleeve.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said bladders are inflated to form seals.

9 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first and second sealing members are contained within respective housings provided on said sleeve.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said housings are provided with actuators for deforming said sealing members against the pipe when said apparatus is in use.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said actuators comprise hydraulic, mechanical, or pneumatic actuators.

12 . The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said sleeve is curved to accommodate a curved pipe.

13 . The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said sleeve is provided in two or more joinable sections.

14 . The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein said sealing rings are provided in two or more joinable sections.

15 . A method of testing the integrity of a pipe weld comprising:

providing a sleeve coaxial with said pipe and circumferentially overlapping said pipe, the sleeve having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of said pipe;

locating the sleeve over a region of the pipe including said weld;

forming a sealed annular space between the sleeve and the pipe;

filling and pressurizing the sealed annular space; and,

monitoring the pressure within said space.