US 11,237,075 B2 · Reusable pipe integrity test head systems and methods

Abstract

Techniques for implementing and operating a system that includes a pipe segment, which has tubing that defines a bore and a fluid conduit implemented in an annulus of the tubing, and a test head. The test head includes a shell, which defines an annulus cavity, and an inflatable bladder implemented in the annulus cavity, in which the system maintains the inflatable securing bladder in a less inflated state while pipe segment tubing is not present in the annulus cavity and increases inflation of the inflatable bladder to a more inflated state when the tubing is present in the annulus cavity to facilitate securing and sealing an open end of the pipe segment in the test head to enable integrity of the tubing to be tested at least in part by flowing a test fluid into the annulus of the tubing via a testing port on the shell.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A test head comprising:

a shell that defines an annulus cavity in which an open end of pipe segment tubing is to be secured and sealed, wherein the shell comprises a testing port configured to enable fluid flow into the annulus cavity;
a reusable fastener mechanism disposed internal to the shell, wherein the reusable fastener mechanism is configured to facilitate securing and sealing the open end of the pipe segment tubing within the annulus cavity of the test head to enable integrity of the pipe segment tubing to be tested at least in part by flowing a test fluid into a fluid conduit defined in an annulus of the pipe segment tubing via the testing port on the shell of the test head;
and
a tubing engaging clamp configured to be secured to the shell such that the tubing engaging clamp is external to the shell, wherein the tubing engaging clamp is configured to be secured circumferentially around the pipe segment tubing to facilitate securing the open end of the pipe segment tubing within the annulus cavity of the test head.

1 more element

A method of deploying a test head, comprising:

inserting pipe segment tubing into an annulus cavity defined by a shell of the test head;
and
securing the pipe segment tubing within the annulus cavity at least in part by:
engaging a first reusable fastener mechanism internal to the shell of the test head with an inner surface of the pipe segment tubing that defines a pipe bore;
engaging a second reusable fastener mechanism internal to the shell of the test head with an outer surface of the pipe segment tubing;
tightening a tubing engaging clamp circumferentially around the pipe segment tubing such that the tubing engaging clamp engages the outer surface of the pipe segment tubing;
and
securing the tubing engaging clamp to the shell of the test head to facilitate securing and sealing the pipe segment tubing with the annulus cavity of the test head such that integrity of the pipe segment tubing is testable at least in part by flowing a test fluid into a fluid conduit defined in an annulus of the pipe segment tubing via a testing port on the shell of the test head.

5 more elements

A test head comprising:

a shell that defines an annulus cavity in which pipe segment tubing is to be secured and sealed, wherein the shell comprises a testing port configured to enable fluid flow into the annulus cavity;
a tubing engaging clamp configured to be secured to the shell of the test head and to be selectively tightened around the pipe segment tubing to facilitate securing the pipe segment tubing within the annulus cavity of the test head to enable integrity of the pipe segment tubing to be tested at least in part by flowing a test fluid into a fluid conduit defined in an annulus of the pipe segment tubing via the testing port on the shell of the test head, wherein the tubing engaging clamp comprises:
a first clamp flange having a first fastener opening;
and
a second clamp flange having a second fastener opening, wherein the second clamp flange opposes the first clamp flange;
a bolt, wherein the bolt comprises a threaded end configured to be inserted through the first fastener opening in the first clamp flange and the second fastener opening in the second clamp flange;
and
a nut configured to be tightened on the threaded end of the bolt to facilitate:
tightening the tubing engaging clamp around the pipe segment tubing;
and
securing the tubing engaging clamp to the shell of the test head.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reusable pipe integrity test head systems and methods

Life of this patent

Reusable pipe integrity test head systems and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20