Method of inspecting pipe joints for use in a subsea pipeline
AssigneeVerdergpipe Technology LTD
InventorsPeter Roberts, Alastair Walker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of inspecting a pipe joint for use in a subsea pipeline and a method of manufacturing a pipe joint for use in a subsea pipeline employing said inspection method are disclosed, the inspection method comprising the steps of: receiving a pipe joint; measuring the ovality of the pipe joint to obtain ovality data; determining that the ovality data does not exceed a predetermined maximum pipe joint ovality value; and carrying out external pressure collapse tests on a ring cut from one end of the received pipe joint, resulting in data representative of the hydrostatic collapse pressure of said pipe joint for use in confirming that the pipe joint is suitable for its intended use.
Claims22
A method of inspecting a pipe joint for use in a subsea pipeline, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a pipe joint;
- measuring the ovality of the pipe joint to obtain ovality data;
- determining that the ovality data does not exceed a predetermined maximum pipe joint ovality value;
- and
- carrying out external pressure collapse tests on a ring cut from one end of the received pipe joint, resulting in data representative of the hydrostatic collapse pressure of said pipe joint for use in confirming that the pipe joint is suitable for its intended use, wherein the pipe joint received has an internal diameter and a wall thickness based on:
- required fluid flow through the pipeline;
- the hydrostatic pressure corresponding to a depth at which the pipe joint is to be used safely;
- and the predetermined maximum pipe joint ovality, and wherein the method further comprises a step of determining a new depth at which the pipe joint may be used safely if the pipe joint ovality is above the maximum pipe joint ovality.
A method of manufacturing a pipe joint for use in a subsea pipeline, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) manufacturing a pipe joint;
- and
- (b) inspecting the pipe joint using a method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a pipe joint;
- measuring the ovality of the pipe joint to obtain ovality data;
- determining that the ovality data does not exceed a predetermined maximum pipe joint ovality value;
- and
- carrying out external pressure collapse tests on a ring cut from one end of the received pipe joint, resulting in data representative of the hydrostatic collapse pressure of said pipe joint for use in confirming that the pipe joint is suitable for its intended use, wherein the pipe joint manufactured has an internal diameter and a wall thickness based on:
- required fluid flow through the pipeline;
- the hydrostatic pressure corresponding to a depth at which the pipe joint is to be used safely;
- and, the predetermined maximum pipe joint ovality, and wherein the method further comprises a step of determining a new depth at which the pipe joint may be used safely if the pipe joint ovality is above the maximum pipe joint ovality.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.