IP Library Granted Patent US 10,619,781
Granted Patent B2
US 10,619,781 · App. 15/625,078 · Granted Apr 14, 2020

Method of subsea pipeline blockage remediation

Inventor: Benton Frederick Baugh (Houston, TX)
F16L53/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,619,781
App. No.
15/625,078
Granted
Apr 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

The method of remediating a blockage with a subsea pipeline by engaging two or more remediating sections with the pipeline while the remediating sections are in an open position, closing the two or more remediating sections around the pipeline, flowing a warmed fluid into the first of the one or more remediating sections, and allowing the warmed fluid to flow from the first of the remediating sections into a second of the two or more remediating sections.

Claims (32)

1. A method of preventing or remediating a blockage within a subsea pipeline, comprising

engaging two or more remediating sections with said pipeline while said remediating sections are in an open position,

closing each of said two or more remediating sections around said pipeline,

flowing a warmed fluid into and through a first of said two or more remediating sections, and

allowing said warmed fluid to flow from said first of said remediating sections into and through a second of said two or more remediating sections.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing said flow of said warmed fluid with a hose from the surface of the sea or ocean.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing said flow of said warmed fluid from a source which is subsea.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising said flow of said warmed fluid is coming from a source which is subsea is a remotely operated vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising holding said two or more remediating sections in the open position by a latch.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising pulling on a handle to said latch and allow said remediating sections to move to a closed position.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising pulling on a handle will release said latch and cause said remediating sections to move to a closed position.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising a gripper retaining said remediation sections in a closed position.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing, said gripper to retain said remediation sections in said closed position which grips on a flexible cable connected between a handle and a latch.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the first of said two or more remediating sections with a bulkhead on a first end to encourage said flow of warmed fluid towards the opposite end.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing the first of said two or more remediating sections with one or more grooves on the outer surface of the opposite and providing the second of said two or more remediating sections with one or more lips on an inner surface on a first end,

such that when said second of said two or more remediating sections is closed around the first of said two or more remediating sections, said one or more lips engage said one or more grooves to connect said second of said two or more sections to said first of said two or more sections.

12. A method of preventing or remediating a blockage within a subsea pipeline, comprising

engaging two or more remediating sections with said pipeline while said remediating sections are in an open position,

closing each of said two or more remediating sections around said pipeline,

flowing a warmed fluid into and through a first of said two or more remediating sections, and

allowing said warmed fluid to flow from said first of said remediating sections into a second of said two or more remediating sections and out of the distal end of said second of said two or more remediating sections.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing said flow of said warmed fluid with a hose from the surface of the sea or ocean.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing said flow of said warmed fluid from a source which is subsea.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising said flow of said warmed fluid is coming from a source which is subsea is a remotely operated vehicle.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising holding said two or more remediating sections in the open position by a latch.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising pulling on a handle to said latch and allow said remediating sections to move to a closed position.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising pulling on a handle will release said latch and cause said remediating sections to move to a closed position.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising a gripper retaining said remediation sections in a closed position.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing said gripper to retain said remediation sections in said closed position which grips on a flexible cable connected between a handle and a latch.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing the first of said two or more remediating sections with a bulkhead on a first end to encourage said flow of warmed fluid towards the opposite end.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising providing the first of said two or more remediating sections with one or more grooves on the outer surface of the opposite end and providing the second of said two or more remediating sections with one or more lips on an inner surface on a first end,

such that when said second of said two or more remediating sections is closed around the first of said two or more remediating sections, said one or more lips engage said one or more grooves to connect said second of said two or more sections to said first of said two or more sections.

Continuity (1)
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