Method and apparatus for removing or reinstalling riser pipes of a riser bundle
AssigneeCoastal Cargo Company, L.L.C.
InventorDon M. Zemo, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of servicing a pipe bundle or riser bundle employs a specially configured hoist having a rail that supports multiple lifts. A selected satellite pipe/conduit of the pipe bundle is both lifted and pulled horizontally in order to remove it from a plurality of supports that hold the satellite pipes together in spaced apart positions. During removal of a satellite pipe, the lifts elevate, then travel with and hold the pipe as it moves horizontally away from the bundle.
Claims16
A method of removing a satellite pipe from a pipe bundle that includes multiple satellite pipes supported by a plurality of spaced apart supports that include end supports and intermediate supports, comprising the steps of;
- a) supporting the pipe bundle;
- b) providing a hoisting apparatus that includes an overhead rail, the overhead rail extending at least partially along the pipe bundle;
- c) attaching a plurality of lifts to a selected satellite pipe, each lift of the plurality of lifts being supported by a the overhead rail and enabled to travel along the overhead rail;
- d) separating the selected satellite pipe from the intermediate supports and at least one of the end supports;
- e) elevating the selected satellite pipe with the plurality of lifts of step “c”, each lift of the plurality of lifts being able to change the elevation of the selected satellite pipe;
- and
- f) moving the selected satellite pipe toward one of the end supports, wherein at least one of the plurality of lifts moves with the selected satellite pipe, and at least one of the plurality of lifts also moves with the selected satellite pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.