Method and system for sealing and handling pipe

1. A friction-pin unit for engagement with a pipe comprising:

a sleeve;

a guide cone formed at a first end of the sleeve;

a shaft disposed coaxially within the sleeve;

a plurality of friction pins extending radially outward from the shaft, the plurality of friction pins being adapted for interference-fit engagement with an inner surface of the pipe; and

a ring seal circumferentially disposed around an inner surface of the sleeve, the ring seal adapted to circumferentially seal an outer surface of the pipe.

2. The friction-pin unit of claim 1 , comprising a valve disposed at a second end of the sleeve.

3. The friction-pin unit of claim 2 , wherein the valve relieves pressure from fluid in an interior region bounded by the sleeve.

4. The friction-pin unit of claim 1 , comprising an insertion guide comprising a portion of the shaft that extends beyond the guide cone.

5. The friction-pin unit of claim 1 , comprising a stop ring circumferentially disposed about the inner surface of the sleeve, the stop ring engaging a top surface of the pipe to prevent further downward movement of the friction-pin unit relative to the pipe.

6. The friction-pin unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of friction pins are disposed at an angle of approximately 34.5 degrees from the shaft.

7. The friction-pin unit of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of handling flanges disposed on an exterior surface of the sleeve and arranged generally parallel to the shaft.

8. A method of sealing a pipe, the method comprising:

positioning a friction-pin unit above the pipe, the friction-pin unit comprising:

a sleeve;

a guide cone formed at a first end of the sleeve;

a shaft disposed coaxially within the sleeve;

a plurality of friction pins extending radially outward from the shaft; and

a ring seal circumferentially disposed around an inner surface of the sleeve;

engaging the pipe with the guide cone;

lowering the friction-pin unit such that the sleeve surrounds the pipe and the shaft extends into an interior of the pipe;

interferingly engaging the plurality of friction pins with the inner surface of the pipe; and

engaging the ring seal with an outer surface of the pipe.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the positioning comprises utilizing a plurality of handling flanges disposed on an exterior surface of the sleeve.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the lowering comprises engaging a stop ring circumferentially disposed about the interior surface of the sleeve with a top surface of the pipe.

11. The method of claim 8 , comprising relieving, via a valve fluidly coupled to the sleeve, pressure from within the sleeve.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising closing the valve to seal the pipe.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of friction pins are disposed at an angle of approximately 34.5 degrees from the shaft.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein two of the steps are performed simultaneously at least in part.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the steps are performed in the order listed.

16. A method of handling a pipe, the method comprising:

positioning a friction-pin unit proximate the pipe, the friction-pin unit comprising:

a sleeve;

a shaft disposed coaxially within the sleeve;

a plurality of friction pins extending radially outward from the shaft; and

a ring seal circumferentially disposed around an inner surface of the sleeve;

an insertion guide formed at a first end of the sleeve, the insertion guide comprising a portion of the shaft that extends beyond the sleeve;

engaging the pipe with the insertion guide such that the sleeve surrounds the pipe and the shaft extends into an interior space of the pipe;

interferingly engaging the plurality of friction pins with the inner surface of the pipe; and

handling the pipe in a desired manner.

17. The method of claim 16 , comprising relieving, via a valve fluidly connected to the sleeve, pressure from within the sleeve.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the positioning comprises utilizing a plurality of handling flanges disposed on an outer surface of the friction-pin unit.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the lowering comprises engaging a stop ring circumferentially disposed about the interior surface of the sleeve with a top surface of the pipe.

20. The method of claim 16 , comprising decoupling the shaft from the sleeve to facilitate removal of the shaft from the pipe.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein two of the steps are performed simultaneously at least in part.

22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the steps are performed in the order listed.