IP Library Granted Patent US 11,226,057
Granted Patent B1
US 11,226,057 · App. 17/199,885 · Granted Jan 18, 2022

Multiple tubing annuli pipeline systems and methods

Inventors: Kaci Michelle Callahan (Houston, TX); Juan Alfredo Erni (Fulshear, TX); Kirk Spencer Francis (Richmond, TX)
Assignee: Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings, LLC
F16L11/082F16L11/12F16L2011/047
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,226,057
App. No.
17/199,885
Granted
Jan 18, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

Techniques for implementing a pipe segment that includes a tubing inner barrier layer that defines a pipe bore through the pipe segment, a venting tubing annulus implemented around the tubing inner barrier layer, in which the venting tubing annulus includes a first solid material implemented to define a venting fluid conduit, a tubing intermediate barrier layer implemented around the venting tubing annulus, a reinforcement tubing annulus implemented around the tubing intermediate barrier layer, and a tubing outer barrier layer implemented around the reinforcement tubing annulus. The reinforcement tubing annulus includes a second solid material that is different from the first solid material and is implemented to define a reinforcement fluid conduit. Additionally, the venting fluid conduit facilitates venting fluid that permeates from the pipe bore through the tubing inner barrier layer out from the pipe segment before the fluid contacts the second solid material in the reinforcement tubing annulus.

Claims (60)

1. A pipe segment comprising:

a tubing inner barrier layer that defines a pipe bore through the pipe segment;

a reinforcement tubing annulus implemented around the tubing inner barrier layer, wherein the reinforcement tubing annulus comprises a first solid material implemented to define a reinforcement fluid conduit;

a tubing intermediate barrier layer implemented around the reinforcement tubing annulus;

a venting tubing annulus implemented around the tubing intermediate barrier layer, wherein the venting tubing annulus comprises a second solid material that is different from the first solid material in the reinforcement tubing annulus and implemented to define a venting fluid conduit; and

a tubing outer barrier layer implemented around the venting tubing annulus, wherein the venting fluid conduit defined in the venting tubing annulus is configured to facilitate venting fluid that permeates from external environmental conditions through the tubing outer barrier layer out from the pipe segment before the fluid contacts the first solid material in the reinforcement tubing annulus.

2. The pipe segment of claim 1 , comprising scavenger material disposed within the venting fluid conduit defined in the venting tubing annulus to facilitate consuming at least a portion of the fluid that permeates through the tubing outer barrier layer into the venting tubing annulus.

3. The pipe segment of claim 1 , comprising barrier tape implemented between the reinforcement tubing annulus and the tubing intermediate barrier layer, wherein the barrier tape comprises:

an adhesive layer oriented outwardly toward the tubing intermediate barrier layer; and

a barrier layer oriented inwardly toward the reinforcement tubing annulus.

4. The pipe segment of claim 1 , comprising barrier tape implemented between the venting tubing annulus and the tubing outer barrier layer, wherein the barrier tape comprises:

an adhesive layer oriented outwardly toward the tubing outer barrier layer; and

a barrier layer oriented inwardly toward the venting tubing annulus.

5. The pipe segment of claim 1 , comprising barrier tape disposed directly adjacent to the venting tubing annulus, wherein the barrier tape comprises:

an adhesive layer oriented away from the venting tubing annulus; and

a barrier layer oriented toward the venting tubing annulus.

6. The pipe segment of claim 1 , wherein:

the tubing inner barrier layer comprises high-density polyethylene;

the first solid material in the reinforcement tubing annulus comprises steel;

the second solid material in the venting tubing annulus comprises aluminum; and

the tubing outer barrier layer comprises high-density polyethylene.

7. The pipe segment of claim 4 , wherein the tubing intermediate barrier layer comprises a solid material that has slower fluid permeation than high-density polyethylene.

8. The pipe segment of claim 1 , comprising:

another tubing intermediate barrier layer implemented between the tubing inner barrier layer and the reinforcement tubing annulus; and

another venting tubing annulus implemented between the tubing inner barrier layer and the other tubing intermediate barrier layer to define another venting fluid conduit, wherein the other venting fluid conduit is configured to facilitate venting fluid that permeates from the pipe bore through the tubing inner barrier layer out from the pipe segment before the fluid contacts the first solid material in the reinforcement tubing annulus.

9. The pipe segment of claim 8 , comprising barrier tape implemented between the other venting tubing annulus and the other tubing intermediate barrier layer, wherein the barrier tape comprises:

an adhesive layer oriented outwardly toward the other tubing intermediate barrier layer; and

a barrier layer oriented inwardly toward the other venting tubing annulus.

10. A method of implementing tubing of a pipe segment, comprising:

implementing an inner barrier layer of the tubing to define a pipe bore through the pipe segment;

implementing an outer barrier layer of the tubing circumferentially around the inner barrier layer of the tubing;

implementing a reinforcement tubing annulus circumferentially around the inner barrier layer at least in part by helically disposing a steel strip to define a helical reinforcement fluid conduit;

implementing a venting tubing annulus circumferentially around the inner barrier layer at least in part by helically disposing a polymer strip or an aluminum strip to define a helical venting fluid conduit that facilitates venting fluid that permeates into the tubing of the pipe segment out from the tubing before the fluid contacts the steel strip in the reinforcement tubing annulus; and

implementing an intermediate barrier layer such that the intermediate barrier layer is disposed between the reinforcement tubing annulus and the venting tubing annulus.

11. The method of claim 10 , comprising disposing scavenger material in the helical venting fluid conduit to facilitate consuming at least a portion of the fluid that permeates into the tubing of the pipe segment.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

implementing the inner barrier layer comprises implementing the inner barrier layer using high-density polyethylene;

implementing the outer barrier layer comprises implementing the outer barrier layer using high-density polyethylene; and

implementing the intermediate barrier layer comprises implementing the intermediate barrier layer using a solid material that has slower fluid permeation than high-density polyethylene.

13. The method of claim 10 , comprising implementing barrier tape, wherein:

implementing the intermediate barrier layer comprises implementing the intermediate barrier layer circumferentially around the venting tubing annulus; and

implementing the barrier tape comprises:

orienting an adhesive layer of the barrier tape outwardly away from the venting tubing annulus; and

orienting a barrier layer of the barrier tape inwardly toward the venting tubing annulus.

14. The method of claim 10 , comprising implementing barrier tape directly adjacent to the venting tubing annulus at least in part by:

orienting an adhesive layer of the barrier tape away from the venting tubing annulus; and

orienting a barrier layer of the barrier tape toward the venting tubing annulus.

15. Pipe segment tubing comprising:

an inner barrier layer configured to define a pipe bore, wherein the inner barrier layer is implemented using high-density polyethylene;

an outer barrier layer implemented around the inner barrier layer of the pipe segment tubing, wherein the outer barrier layer is implemented using high-density polyethylene;

a reinforcement layer implemented between the inner barrier layer and the outer barrier layer, wherein the reinforcement layer comprises a steel strip that is helically disposed to facilitate defining a helical reinforcement fluid conduit;

a venting layer implemented between the inner barrier layer and the outer barrier layer, wherein the venting layer comprises a polymer strip or an aluminum strip that is helically disposed to facilitate defining a helical venting fluid conduit that is configured to facilitate venting fluid that permeates into the pipe segment tubing out from the pipe segment tubing before the fluid contacts the steel strip in the reinforcement layer of the pipe segment tubing; and

an intermediate barrier layer implemented between the reinforcement layer and the venting layer.

16. The pipe segment tubing of claim 15 , wherein the intermediate barrier layer is implemented using a solid material other than high-density polyethylene.

17. The pipe segment tubing of claim 15 , wherein the intermediate barrier layer is implemented using a solid material that has slower fluid permeation than high-density polyethylene.

18. The pipe segment tubing of claim 15 , comprising scavenger material disposed within the helical venting fluid conduit to facilitate consuming at least a portion of the fluid that permeates into the pipe segment tubing.

19. The pipe segment tubing of claim 15 , comprising barrier tape disposed between the venting layer and the intermediate barrier layer, wherein:

the venting layer is internal to the intermediate barrier layer while the reinforcement layer is external to the intermediate barrier layer; and

the barrier tape comprises an adhesive layer oriented outwardly toward the intermediate barrier layer and a barrier layer oriented inwardly toward the venting layer.

20. The pipe segment tubing of claim 15 , comprising barrier tape disposed directly adjacent to the venting layer, wherein the barrier tape comprises an adhesive layer oriented away from the venting layer and a barrier layer oriented toward the venting layer.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2025
From: CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC; FLEXSTEEL USA, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073804/0497 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2025
From: FLEXSTEEL PIPELINE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: FLEXSTEEL USA, LLC
Reel/Frame 069964/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2024
From: TRINITY BAY EQUIPMENT HOLDINGS, LLC
To: FLEXSTEEL PIPELINE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 068326/0846 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2024
From: TRINITY BAY EQUIPMENT HOLDINGS, LLC
To: FLEXSTEEL PIPELINE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 068327/0863 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2023
From: TRINITY BAY EQUIPMENT HOLDINGS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 062926/0460 →