U.S. patent application number 13/572907 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-13 for conduit displacement mitigation apparatus, methods and systems for use with subsea conduits.
This patent application is currently assigned to Chevron U.S.A. Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Daria Igorevna Bougai, Antonio Carlos Falcao Critsinelis, Dane Ryne Drew, Daniel Christopher Kefford, Sid Ahmed Mebarkia. Invention is credited to Daria Igorevna Bougai, Antonio Carlos Falcao Critsinelis, Dane Ryne Drew, Daniel Christopher Kefford, Sid Ahmed Mebarkia.
Application Number | 20140044489 13/572907 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48699272 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140044489 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Critsinelis; Antonio Carlos Falcao
; et al. |
February 13, 2014 |
CONDUIT DISPLACEMENT MITIGATION APPARATUS, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR
USE WITH SUBSEA CONDUITS
Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus, systems and methods for reducing
displacement of a subsea conduit such as offshore hydrocarbon
production pipeline, also referred to as pipeline walking or
buckling, thus reducing the need for expensive pipeline anchoring
or other mitigation solutions. A movement resistor adapted to be
installed on a subsea conduit is provided having an inner portion
adapted to receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit and at
least one resistor portion adapted to resist induced forces. At
least one movement resistor can be installed along the length of a
subsea conduit.
Inventors: |
Critsinelis; Antonio Carlos
Falcao; (Kingwood, TX) ; Mebarkia; Sid Ahmed;
(Sugar Land, TX) ; Kefford; Daniel Christopher;
(Kingsley, AU) ; Bougai; Daria Igorevna; (Cypress,
TX) ; Drew; Dane Ryne; (Houston, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Critsinelis; Antonio Carlos Falcao
Mebarkia; Sid Ahmed
Kefford; Daniel Christopher
Bougai; Daria Igorevna
Drew; Dane Ryne |
Kingwood
Sugar Land
Kingsley
Cypress
Houston |
TX
TX
TX
TX |
US
US
AU
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
San Ramon
CA
|
Family ID: |
48699272 |
Appl. No.: |
13/572907 |
Filed: |
August 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/184.4 ;
156/60 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 21/26 20130101;
F16L 1/20 20130101; B63B 2021/262 20130101; F16L 3/02 20130101;
Y10T 156/10 20150115; Y10T 29/49826 20150115; F16L 1/24 20130101;
F16L 1/123 20130101; F16L 1/16 20130101; F16L 55/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/184.4 ;
156/60 |
International
Class: |
F16L 3/02 20060101
F16L003/02 |
Claims
1. A system for conveying fluids on a seabed, the system
comprising: a. a conduit located on a seabed; and b. at least one
movement resistor installed on the conduit, the movement resistor
comprising: i. an inner portion having an inner surface adapted to
receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit; and ii. at least
one resistor portion extending outward from the inner portion
having a cross-sectional shape and an outer diameter of a
circumscribed circle intersecting the cross-sectional shape and
adapted to resist a force applied to the resistor portion.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein multiple movement resistors are
installed on the conduit at locations determined by engineering
analysis to resist movement.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one data
handling device located in at least one of the at least one
movement resistor for at least one of measuring data, storing data
and communicating data.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the data is selected from the
group consisting of displacement data, strain data, temperature
data, compression data, number of events data, time data, soil
property data, water current data, date data and location data.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an axial element in
contact with the conduit wherein the axial element is selected from
the group consisting of a direct electric heating cable, an
umbilical cable, a power cable and a secondary pipeline; wherein
the at least one movement resistor is installed on the conduit and
the axial element.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one movement
resistor is integral with the conduit.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one movement
resistor is bonded to the conduit.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one movement
resistor comprises at least two elements attachable to one another
using at least one of a clamp, a circumferential band, a hinge
mechanism, polymer material, and a bolt.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluids are from hydrocarbon
production at a temperature between about 80.degree. C. and about
200.degree. C.
11. A method for controlling displacement of a subsea conduit
located on a seabed, the method comprising: a. installing at least
one movement resistor on a subsea conduit, the movement resistor
comprising: i. an inner portion having an inner surface adapted to
receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit; and ii. at least
one resistor portion extending outward from the inner portion
having a cross-sectional shape and an outer diameter of a
circumscribed circle intersecting the cross-sectional shape and
adapted to resist a force applied to the resistor portion.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the displacement of the subsea
conduit is controlled in the axial direction.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one movement
resistor is installed in at least one location determined by
engineering analysis.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one movement
resistor comprises at least two elements attachable to one another;
and the at least one movement resistor is installed by attaching
the at least two elements to one another using at least one of a
clamp, a circumferential band, polymer material, a hinge mechanism,
and a bolt.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one movement
resistor is installed by bonding the inner surface of the at least
one movement resistor to the conduit.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing an axial
element in contact with the conduit wherein the axial element is
selected from the group consisting of a direct electric heating
cable, an umbilical cable, a power cable and a secondary pipeline;
wherein the at least one movement resistor is installed on the
conduit and the axial element.
17. A method for installing a subsea conduit on the seabed
comprising: a. installing at least one movement resistor on a
conduit; and b. laying down the conduit on the seabed; wherein the
movement resistor comprises: i. an inner portion having an inner
surface adapted to receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit;
and ii. at least one resistor portion extending outward from the
inner portion having a cross-sectional shape and an outer diameter
of a circumscribed circle intersecting the cross-sectional shape
and adapted to resist a force applied to the resistor portion.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for
reducing or modifying displacement in subsea conduit such as
offshore hydrocarbon production pipeline. The present disclosure
further relates to displacement mitigation apparatus for
installation on subsea conduits.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Pipeline in offshore hydrocarbon production is installed on
the seabed, often extending great distances. Hydrocarbon fluids
carried by such pipelines can occur over a wide range of
temperatures, e.g., between about 4.degree. C. and about
200.degree. C. Pipeline carrying such hydrocarbon fluids can
experience thermal gradients across the pipeline during multiple
production shut down and start up cycles resulting in expansion,
contraction, and thermal cycling of the pipeline or conduit. This
can result in pipeline buckling and movement, also referred to as
"walking," which may induce overstrain and fatigue failures along
the length of the pipeline at locations which are relatively
vulnerable and prone to these failure mechanisms. Walking is a very
costly problem, as the junction of the pipeline with elements of
the production facility infrastructure, such as for example, the
pipeline end termination (PLET) or other subsea equipment, can be
overstressed, resulting in damage and even parting of the pipeline
from the equipment. Such incidents often require that hydrocarbon
production be shut down so that the pipeline system can be
repaired. In order to prevent walking, expensive anchoring
mitigation using large suction or driven piles and the like is
often employed to hold the pipeline in place.
[0003] It would be desirable to have an economical solution to the
aforementioned problems which would reduce the incidence of
pipeline walking and buckling, and thus reduce the need for
expensive pipeline anchoring or other mitigation solutions.
SUMMARY
[0004] Systems and methods are provided utilizing at least one
movement resistor installed along the length of a subsea conduit.
The movement resistor has an inner portion having an inner surface
adapted to receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit and at
least one resistor portion adapted to extend outward from the inner
portion. The at least one resistor portion has a cross-sectional
shape and an outer diameter of a circumscribed circle intersecting
the cross-sectional shape of the at least one resistor portion. The
at least one resistor portion is adapted to resist a force applied
to the subsea conduit, such as a force applied to the resistor
portion in a direction axial to the subsea conduit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description, appended claims and accompanying
drawings where:
[0006] FIG. 1 is an illustration of one exemplary movement
resistor.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0008] FIG. 3 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0009] FIG. 4 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0010] FIG. 5 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0011] FIG. 6 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0012] FIG. 7 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0013] FIG. 8 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0014] FIG. 9 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0015] FIG. 10 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0016] FIG. 11 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0017] FIG. 12 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0018] FIG. 13 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0019] FIG. 14 is an illustration of an exemplary pipeline system
including sections of movement resistors along the length
thereof.
[0020] FIG. 15 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0021] FIG. 16 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0022] FIGS. 17A-C are perspective, end and side views,
respectively, illustrating another exemplary movement resistor.
[0023] FIGS. 18A-C are perspective, end and side views,
respectively, illustrating another exemplary movement resistor.
[0024] FIG. 19 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
[0025] FIG. 20 is an illustration of another exemplary movement
resistor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The present disclosure provides apparatus, systems and
methods to be described in detail hereinafter for reducing
displacement, such as displacement in the axial and/or lateral
direction of a subsea pipeline, by which is meant a conduit located
on a seabed. The terms "conduit," "pipeline" and "pipe" are used
herein interchangeably.
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a movement resistor 100
installed on a conduit 1 located on the seabed 3. In this
embodiment, the movement resistor 100 includes two sleeve portions
118A and 118B which attach to one another to form an inner portion
118 also referred to as a sleeve 118 having an inner surface to
receive and securely attach to the conduit 1. In the embodiment
illustrated, the sleeve portions attach to one another using bolts
116. The sleeve 118 generally acts as a means for attaching the
movement resistor 100 to the conduit 1. The embodiment shown merely
illustrates one means of attaching the movement resistor 100 to the
conduit 1. In some embodiments, the movement resistor includes at
least two elements attachable to one another using at least one of
a clamp, a circumferential band, a hinge mechanism, polymer
material, and a bolt. In some embodiments, the movement resistor is
installed by bonding the inner surface of the movement resistor to
the conduit. In yet other embodiments, the movement resistor is
welded to or forged with the conduit. In yet other embodiments, the
movement resistor is integral to the field joint coating of the
conduit. The movement resistor can be attached to a previously
existing element attached or integral to the pipeline such as a
collar, J-lay collar, or buckle arrestor. Other attachment means
will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0028] Two resistor portions 110 extend outward from the sleeve 118
and are attached to each of the two ends of the sleeve. The
resistor portions 110 have a diameter larger than the diameter of
the sleeve. The resistor portions 110 of the movement resistor 100
are adapted to resist forces applied to the resistor portions of
the conduit 1. Force applied on the conduit is also referred to as
"induced force." The resistor portions 110 are securely attached so
that they remain in place when loaded with the induced force. The
resistor portions 110 are formed of a rigid material capable of
withstanding the induced force without deformation. For example,
the rigid material can include steel, alloys, engineered polymers
and the like.
[0029] The cross-sectional shape of the resistor portions 110 is
illustrated as circular, but other cross-sectional shapes can also
be used. Suitable cross-sectional shapes of the resistor portion
110 include ellipses including circles, polygons, partial ellipses,
partial polygons and combinations thereof. By "ellipse" is meant a
closed shape defined by the intersection of a theoretical plane
with a theoretical cone. By "polygon" is meant a closed shape
defined by a finite number of intersecting edges or sides.
[0030] The effective diameter of the resistor portions 110 is
greater than the diameter of the sleeve 118, in other words, an
outer diameter of a circumscribed circle intersecting the
cross-sectional shape of the resistor portion 110 is greater than
the diameter of the sleeve 118.
[0031] In some embodiments, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1,
optional fins 114 may be provided on the sleeve. In the embodiment
shown, the fins 114 protrude radially from the sleeve. In one
embodiment, the effective diameter of the resistor portions 110 is
at least as great as the fin length. The fins can function to
engage with the adjacent soil and assist with resistance of the
device to induced force. The number and shape of the fins are
engineered, so that the particular number and shape of the fins as
illustrated are merely one of many design choices. The fins could
further be oriented at different angles relative to the axis of the
pipeline.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a movement resistor
100 installed on a conduit 1 in which the resistor portions 110 are
designed to allow water to pass there through, thus draining and
consolidating the soil in the seabed 3 adjacent a face of the
resistor portion 110 when a generally axial force is applied, thus
increasing the amount of resistance to axial displacement that the
soil can provide. This can have the effect of resisting axial
and/or lateral movement of the resistor portions 110 and therefore
also of the conduit 1.
[0033] The resistor portions 110 shown in FIG. 2 include a
structural frame 202 and at least one mesh layer 204. The mesh
layer can be a mesh, screen or other device allowing water passage
for soil drainage upon movement of the device through the
surrounding soil.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a movement resistor
100 installed on a conduit 1 in which the resistor portions 110
include a porous synthetic resilient material 206 attached to and
sandwiched between rigid end pieces 205a and 205b. The porous
synthetic resilient material 206 can be a sponge or foam material
made from a highly resilient, highly durable polymer. When a force
is applied to one of the outer end pieces 205, e.g., 205a, the
resilient material 206 acts like a spring to absorb the force and
reduce movement. In order for the resilient material 206 to absorb
the force applied to the end piece 205a without transmitting the
force to the conduit 1, the end piece 205a and the resilient
material 206 are not fixedly attached to the conduit 1, allowing
205a and 206 to move with respect to the conduit. The other end
piece 205b (attached to the resilient material 206) and the sleeve
118 are fixed to the conduit 1, so that they cannot move with
respect to the conduit. The skilled artisan will appreciate that
there may be several alternative ways of accomplishing this. For
example, end piece 205b can be bolted to or integral to sleeve
118.
[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a movement resistor
100 installed on a conduit 1 in which the resistor portions 110
include axial fins 120 protruding axially from the face of the
resistor portions 110. In the embodiment shown, optional fins 114
do not protrude from the sleeve 118. In various embodiments, the
axial fins 120 can protrude from either or both faces of the
resistor portions 110. In this embodiment, when force is applied to
a resistor portion 110, the axial fins 120 engage with the adjacent
soil in the seabed to increase the axial and/or lateral resistance
of the device.
[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a movement resistor
100 installed on a conduit 1 in which the resistor portions 110 are
planar elements including perforations 122. Similar to the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the perforated planar element
allows water to pass there through, thus draining and consolidating
the soil adjacent the resistor portions 110 when force is applied
and increasing the resistance of the device to the force.
[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a movement resistor
100 installed on a conduit 1 in which each of the resistor portions
110 includes a spring 208 attached to and sandwiched between rigid
end pieces 205. Similar to the sponge material 206 in the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the spring 208 acts to absorb
induced force applied to a face of 205. The spring allows for the
loading and unloading of the forces acting on the pipeline during
heating and cooling cycles during operations. The stiffness of the
spring can be selected depending on the anticipated forces in a
particular application. Engineering analysis can be used to predict
the induced forces that may be encountered at certain locations
along a pipeline, taking into account various factors including
anticipated fluid temperature, pressure, soil characteristics,
seabed slope, pipeline lengths and diameters, and the like. This in
turn limits the tendency of the force to cause the conduit 1 to
displace, e.g. in the axial and/or lateral direction. As previously
described, end piece 205 and spring 208 are free to move with
respect to the conduit 1, while end piece 205 is not. In one
embodiment, the springs 208 can be made of a material that responds
to temperature, so that the stiffness varies with temperature.
[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a movement resistor
100 installed on a conduit 1 in which each of the resistor portions
110 includes multiple springs 210 attached to and sandwiched
between rigid end pieces 205. The embodiment illustrated also
includes optional data handling devices 212. Data handling devices
212 can be located in the locations indicated, or in any other
suitable location on the device as would be apparent to one skilled
in the art. The data handling devices can be used for measuring
data, storing data and communicating data. In exemplary
embodiments, the data handling device 212 can be a sensor, a chip
or a transmitter. The data can include displacement data, strain
data, temperature data, compression data, number of events data,
soil property data, water current data, time data, date data,
location data and the like. The data handling device 212 can be
included in any of the movement resistor embodiments disclosed
herein.
[0039] FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a movement resistor
100 installed on a conduit 1 in which each of the resistor portions
110 includes a Belleville spring 214 attached to and sandwiched
between rigid end pieces 205, and fins 114 protrude from the sleeve
118.
[0040] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a movement resistor
100 installed on a conduit 1 in which at least one of the resistor
portions 110 is oriented at an angle other than normal
(perpendicular) to the axis of the conduit 1 so that the resistor
portions 110 are not parallel to one another. In the embodiment
shown, the cross-sectional shape of the resistor portions 110 is
not circular, but rather elliptical.
[0041] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate embodiments of a movement
resistor 100 installed on a conduit 1 in which at least one of the
resistor portions 110 has a noncircular cross-sectional shape,
i.e., a square and a triangle, respectively.
[0042] In some embodiments, a secondary axial element 10, also
referred to herein as an "axial element," can be placed adjacent
the conduit 1 and held in place by the movement resistor 100. In
the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the movement resistor 100
includes two resistor portions 110 attached at each end of a sleeve
118. The resistor portions 110 can be integral to the sleeve 118.
In the embodiments shown, the movement resistor 100 is made up of
two sleeve portions 118a and 118b with integral resistor portions
110, attached to one another using bands 112 and optional bolts
116. Again, the fins 114 protruding from the sleeve 118 are
optional. The shape of the fins 114 illustrated in FIG. 13 differs
from that shown in the other figures. The shape of the fins 114 can
be determined by the skilled artisan as would be convenient and
appropriate for a given application. The shapes illustrated herein
are merely illustrative and not meant to be limiting.
[0043] The secondary axial element 10 can be any convenient axial
element such as a cable or conduit that for practical purposes can
be co-located along the length of the conduit 1. For example, the
axial element can be at least one of a direct electric heating
cable, an umbilical cable, a power cable and a secondary
pipeline.
[0044] FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of a movement
resistor 100 installed on a conduit 1 in which the movement
resistor 100 includes a single resistor portion 302 having internal
grooves 304 for mounting on sleeve 308 by means of bearings 306.
The resistor portion 302 has a cross-sectional shape including some
fraction of a circle or other polygon. The bearings allow the
resistor portion 302 to rotate about the sleeve 308. The device is
seated on bearings to ensure rotation and thus properly landing of
the movement resistor in the soil. The weight of the resistor
portion is acted on by gravity so that the resistor portion 302 is
pulled downward such that it is embedded in the soil in the seabed
when placed in a desired location. Similarly, the weight of the
resistor portion 314 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 18 is
asymmetrically distributed about the circumference of the conduit
1.
[0045] FIG. 16 illustrates another embodiment of a movement
resistor 100 installed on a conduit 1 in which the movement
resistor 100 includes an engineered material 312 sandwiched and
attached between two rigid end pieces 310. The sleeve 308 is
securely attached to the conduit 1. One or more springs or a
spring-like resilient material could be included in place of the
engineered material 312.
[0046] FIGS. 17A-C are perspective, end and side views,
respectively, illustrating another embodiment of a movement
resistor 100 installed on a conduit 1 in which the movement
resistor 100 can be a single resistor portion 314 integral to a
sleeve 308 fixed on the conduit 1. In one embodiment, the device is
forged into the shape illustrated. In another embodiment, the
resistor portion 314 is welded to sleeve 308, resulting in bead
316.
[0047] FIGS. 18A-C are perspective, end and side views,
respectively, illustrating another embodiment of a movement
resistor 100 installed on a conduit 1 in which the movement
resistor 100 can be a single resistor portion 314 integral to a
sleeve 308 fixed on the conduit 1. As can be seen, the resistor
portion 314 can be eccentric relative to the conduit 1.
[0048] Various alternative cross-sectional shapes for the resistor
portion 314 may be suitable. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19
has two bars 318 radially protruding from the sleeve 308. More than
two bars 318 can optionally be included.
[0049] The resistor portion 110 of the movement resistor 100 can
include an engineered material 322 reinforced with an internal
structural reinforcement 320, also referred to as structural
stiffening elements, as illustrated in FIG. 20. The internal
structural reinforcement can be steel rebar, as shown, or internal
gussets, for example. In some embodiments, the movement resistor
100 can include external structural reinforcement or stiffening
elements. For example, external rigid surfaces of the resistor
section can be steel plated.
[0050] FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of a system 200 including
a subsea conduit 1 located on the seabed 3 and having movement
resistor sections 300 along the length thereof. The system may
include a pipeline end termination (PLET) 201 as well as other
pipeline system components as would be apparent to one skilled in
the art. Each movement resistor section 300 can include at least
one movement resistor 100, and may include multiple movement
resistors, installed on the conduit 1. The number of movement
resistors as well as the location of the movement resistor sections
300 can be determined by engineering analysis of the pipeline
system. In one embodiment, the fluids conveyed within the conduit 1
are from hydrocarbon production at a temperature between about
80.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. The location of the movement
resistors with respect to each other can be in clusters, isolated,
occurring at regular or irregular intervals, or a combination
thereof. These movement resistors can be installed onto the conduit
system prior to or after the conduit system goes into
operation.
[0051] Unless otherwise specified, the recitation of a genus of
elements, materials or other components, from which an individual
component or mixture of components can be selected, is intended to
include all possible sub-generic combinations of the listed
components thereof. Also, "comprise," "include" and its variants,
are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a
list is not to the exclusion of other like items that may also be
useful in the materials, compositions, methods and systems of this
invention.
[0052] From the above description, those skilled in the art will
perceive improvements, changes and modifications, which are
intended to be covered by the appended claims.
* * * * *