Monitoring of lined pipeline
AssigneePioneer Lining Technology Limited
InventorStephen Barnes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrity monitoring system for a lined pipeline is provided for monitoring the integrity of a polymer liner in a host pipe. Methods and apparatus are described by which a lined pipeline is provided with such an integrity monitoring system. Sensor cable is able to bridge a joint between sections at lined pipe, for example by routing the sensor cable across the joint via a channel in an electrofusion fitting or by connecting successive lengths of sensor cable via pass-throughs in an electrofusion fitting. Advantageously, the sensor cable is disposed within a continuous annulus between linings and host pipes, and the continuous annulus is maintained across pipe joints using electrofusion fittings.
Claims41
A method of producing a lined pipeline with an integrity monitoring system, comprising:
- providing a first section of lined pipe with a first sensor cable portion disposed in a continuous annulus between a first host pipe and a first pipe lining, the first host pipe being of metal;
- providing a second section of lined pipe with a second sensor cable portion disposed in a continuous annulus between a second host pipe and a second pipe lining, the second host pipe being of metal;
- and
- joining the first pipe lining to the second pipe lining using an electrofusion fitting configured to enable the first sensor cable portion to communicate with the second sensor cable portion.
A method of monitoring the integrity of a lined pipeline, the method comprising
- providing the lined pipeline with an integrity monitoring system by providing a first section of lined pipe with a first sensor cable portion disposed in a continuous annulus between a first host pipe and a first pipe lining, providing a second section of lined pipe with a second sensor cable portion disposed in a continuous annulus between a second host pipe and a second pipe lining, and joining the first pipe lining to the second pipe lining using an electrofusion fitting configured to enable the first sensor cable portion to communicate with the second sensor cable portion, the first and second host pipes each being of metal;
- and
- monitoring data and/or signals from one or more sensors comprised in, and/or communicated by, the first sensor cable portion and/or the second sensor cable portion.
A lined pipeline comprising an integrity monitoring system, wherein the lined pipeline comprises a first section of lined pipe comprising a first host pipe and a first pipe lining, the first host pipe being of metal;
- a second section of lined pipe comprising a second host pipe and a second pipe lining, the second host pipe being of metal;
- and wherein the integrity monitoring system comprises a first sensor cable portion disposed in a continuous annulus between the first host pipe and the first pipe lining and a second sensor cable portion disposed in a continuous annulus between the second host pipe and the second pipe lining, and at least one electrofusion fitting configured to enable the first sensor cable portion to communicate with the second sensor cable portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.