UNDER-PRESSURE TAPPING AND ACCESS ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURIZED PIPE

1 . An under-pressure tapping and access assembly for use with a pressurized pipe, the under-pressure tapping and access assembly comprising:

a multi-branch portion sealingly coupled to an outer surface of the pressurized pipe;

a tapping branch of the multi-branch portion extending along a tapping branch axis that is substantially perpendicular relative to a pipe axis of the pressurized pipe;

a first access branch of the multi-branch portion extending along a first access branch axis that is non-perpendicular relative to the pipe axis; and

a tool sized for insertion through the first access branch.

2 . The under-pressure tapping and access assembly of claim 1 , wherein the multi-branch portion is configured such that the first access branch axis intersects with the tapping branch axis at an apex of the pressurized pipe.

3 . The under-pressure tapping and access assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second access branch of the multi-branch portion extending along a second access branch axis that is non-perpendicular relative to the pipe axis.

4 . The under-pressure tapping and access assembly of claim 1 , in which the tool comprises an inspection probe configured to collect a set of inspection data from the pressurized pipe.

5 . The under-pressure tapping and access assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a tether coupled to the tool, and a tether guide assembly extending through the tapping branch and including a guide positioned adjacent an apex of the pressurized pipe and configured to engage the tether.

6 . The under-pressure tapping and access assembly of claim 5 , in which the tether guide assembly comprises an insertion rod extending through the tapping branch, and a yoke coupled to the insertion rod and sized for insertion through the tapping branch, wherein the yoke supports the guide and is at least partially disposed in the pressurized pipe.

7 . The under-pressure tapping and access assembly of claim 6 , in which the yoke comprises a base coupled to the insertion rod and two spaced tines extending away from the base, each of the tines defining a tine end configured to engage an inner surface of the pressurized pipe.

8 . The under-pressure tapping and access assembly of claim 7 , in which the guide comprises a roller rotatably supported on an axle extending between the tines of the yoke.

9 . A kit for accessing and monitoring a fluid within a pressurized pipe, the kit comprising:

an under-pressure tapping and access assembly including:

a multi-branch portion sealingly coupled to an outer surface of the pressurized pipe;

a tapping branch of the multi-branch portion extending along a tapping branch axis that is substantially perpendicular relative to a pipe axis of the pressurized pipe; and

a first access branch of the multi-branch portion extending along a first access branch axis that is non-perpendicular relative to the pipe axis;

a first valve coupled to the tapping branch;

a second valve coupled to the first access branch; and

a tool sized for insertion into the pressurized pipe via the second valve and the first access branch.

10 . The kit of claim 9 , wherein the multi-branch portion is configured such that the first access branch axis intersects with the tapping branch axis at an apex of the pressurized pipe.

11 . The kit of claim 9 , in which the multi-branch portion further includes a second access branch extending along a second access branch axis that is non-perpendicular relative to the pipe axis.

12 . The kit of claim 9 , in which the tool comprises an inspection probe configured to collect a set of inspection data from the pressurized pipe.

13 . The kit of claim 9 , further comprising a tether coupled to the tool, and a tether guide assembly extending through the tapping branch and including a totable guide positioned adjacent an apex of the pressurized pipe and configured to engage the tether.

14 . A method of tapping and accessing a pressurized pipe, the method comprising:

attaching a multi-branch fitting to a section of the pressurized pipe, the multi-branch fitting including a tapping branch extending along a tapping branch axis that is substantially perpendicular to a pipe axis of the pressurized pipe, and a first access branch extending along a first access branch axis that is non-perpendicular relative to the pipe axis;

hot-tapping the pressurized pipe via the tapping branch; and

inserting a tool into the pressurized pipe via the first access branch.

15 . The method of claim 14 , in which the multi-branch fitting further includes a second access branch extending along a second access branch axis that is non-perpendicular relative to the pipe axis, and in which the method further comprises inserting the tool into the pressurized pipe via the second access branch.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising, after hot-tapping the pressurized pipe, inserting a guide assembly at least partially into the pressurized pipe via the tapping branch.

17 . The method of claim 16 , in which inserting the guide assembly includes advancing the guide assembly into the pressurized pipe until tine ends provided on a tine of the guide assembly engage an inner surface of the pressurized pipe.

18 . The method of claim 17 , in which the guide assembly includes a guide positioned to engage a tether coupled to the tool.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising rotating the guide as the tether advances into or withdraws from the pressurized pipe.

20 . The method of claim 14 , in which the tool comprises an inspection probe configured to collect a set of inspection data, the method further comprising using the inspection probe collecting inspection data from the pressurized pipe.