Systems and methods for protecting a tether line disposed in a pressurized pipe

1. A system for protecting a tether line attached to an inspection probe for use in a pipe containing fluid at an elevated pressure above an ambient pressure, the pipe including an interior surface defining a sharp edge, the system comprising:

a launch housing defining an interior chamber sized to receive the inspection probe, the launch housing including a first end fluidly communicating with the pipe, thereby to place the interior chamber at the elevated pressure;

a tether line drive coupled to the tether line and configured to advance and retract the inspection probe within the pipe; and

a protective structure disposed within the pipe and positioned proximate the sharp edge, the protective structure configured maintain a space between an intermediate portion of the tether line and the sharp edge.

2. The system of claim 1 , in which the sharp edge comprises prominent edges of a cut line formed in the pipe and located where the launch housing joins the pipe.

3. The system of claim 2 , in which the protective structure comprises a liner coupled to an interior surface of the launch housing and having a lower edge projecting into the pipe, so that the liner extends over the prominent edges of the cut line.

4. The system of claim 2 , in which the protective structure comprises a flexible sheathing extending around at least a portion of the tether line located adjacent the prominent edges of the cut line.

5. The system of claim 2 , in which the protective structure comprises vertically extending support guides extending over the prominent edges of the cut line.

6. The system of claim 2 , in which the protective structure comprises a horizontally extending support guide defining an inner sleeve sized to slidably receive the tether line, wherein the inner sleeve is supported at a central location within the pipe that is spaced from the prominent edges of the cut line.

7. The system of claim 2 , in which the protective structure comprises a rigid sheath extending over at least a portion of the tether line positioned adjacent the prominent edges of the cut line.

8. The system of claim 2 , in which the protective structure comprises a guide disposed in the pressurized pipe and positioned to engage the tether line at a central location within the pipe that is spaced from the prominent edges of the cut line.

9. The system of claim 2 , in which the protective structure comprises a reel disposed within the pressurized pipe.

10. The system of claim 2 , in which the protective structure comprises a guard coupled to a lever configured to slide the guard between a retracted position to an extended position, in which the guard engages the tether line at a central portion of the launch housing 40 , thereby to space the tether line from the prominent edges of the cut line.

11. The system of claim 2 , in which the protective structure includes a pivot arm pivotably coupled to an interior surface of the launch housing and configured to move between a retracted position, in which the pivot arm is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the launch housing, and a deployed position, in which a guide end of the pivot arm is positioned at a central portion of the launch housing.

12. A system for protecting a tether line attached to an inspection probe for use in a pipe containing fluid at an elevated pressure above an ambient pressure, the system comprising:

a launch housing defining an interior chamber sized to receive the inspection probe, the launch housing including a first end fluidly communicating with the pipe, thereby to place the interior chamber at the elevated pressure, the launch housing joining the pipe at a cut line formed in the pipe that defines prominent edges;

a reel for winding and unwinding the tether line;

a tether line drive coupled to the tether line and configured to advance and retract the inspection probe within the pipe; and

a protective structure disposed within the pipe and positioned proximate the prominent edges of the cut line, the protective structure configured maintain a space between an intermediate portion of the tether line and the prominent edges of the cut line.

13. The system of claim 12 , in which the protective structure comprises a liner coupled to an interior surface of the launch housing and having a lower edge projecting into the pipe, so that the liner extends over the prominent edges of the cut line.

14. The system of claim 12 , in which the protective structure comprises a flexible sheathing extending around at least a portion of the tether line located adjacent the prominent edges of the cut line.

15. The system of claim 12 , in which the protective structure comprises a guard coupled to a lever configured to slide the guard between a retracted position to an extended position, in which the guard engages the tether line at a central portion of the launch housing 40 , thereby to space the tether line from the prominent edges of the cut line.

16. The system of claim 12 , in which the protective structure includes a pivot arm pivotably coupled to an interior surface of the launch housing and configured to move between a retracted position, in which the pivot arm is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the launch housing, and a deployed position, in which a guide end of the pivot arm is positioned at a central portion of the launch housing.

17. A method of protecting a tether line attached to an inspection probe for use in a pipe containing fluid at an elevated pressure above an ambient pressure, the method comprising:

hot-tapping the pipe including forming a cut line in the pipe that defines prominent edges at an interior surface of the pipe;

attaching a launch housing to the pipe, the launch housing defining an interior chamber sized to receive the inspection probe and fluidly communicating with the pipe, thereby to place the interior chamber at the elevated pressure;

securing an uphole end of the tether line to a reel;

mechanically engaging the tether line with a tether line drive, wherein the tether line drive is operable in a forward direction, to advance the tether line into the pipe, and a reverse direction, to retract the tether line from the pipe; and

engaging an intermediate portion of the tether line with a protective structure disposed inside one of the pipe and the launch housing, thereby to maintain a space between the intermediate portion of the tether line and the prominent edges of the cut line.

18. The method of claim 17 , in which the protective structure comprises a flexible sheathing extending around at least a portion of the tether line located adjacent the prominent edges of the cut line.

19. The method of claim 17 , in which the protective structure comprises a guard coupled to a lever configured to slide the guard between a retracted position to an extended position, in which the guard engages the tether line at a central portion of the launch housing 40 , thereby to space the tether line from the prominent edges of the cut line.

20. The method of claim 17 , in which the protective structure includes a pivot arm pivotably coupled to an interior surface of the launch housing and configured to move between a retracted position, in which the pivot arm is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the launch housing, and a deployed position, in which a guide end of the pivot arm is positioned at a central portion of the launch housing.