Bore pressurized pipe handling systems and methods

A method of handling flexible pipe that is formed into a pipe coil, comprising:

• plugging an inboard end of a pipe bore of the flexible pipe using an inboard bore plug assembly at least in part by:
• supplying inflation fluid to a first inflatable bladder in a first inflatable plug of the inboard bore plug assembly to transition the first inflatable bladder from a first less inflated state to a first more inflated state such that a first outer surface of the first inflatable bladder is circumferentially compressed against an inner surface of tubing of the flexible pipe;
• and
• securing a first threaded fastener in a first fastener opening formed through tubing of the flexible pipe such that the first threaded fastener extends into the pipe bore of the flexible pipe behind the first inflatable plug;
• plugging an outboard end of the pipe bore of the flexible pipe using an outboard bore plug assembly at least in part by:
• supplying inflation fluid to a second inflatable bladder in a second inflatable plug of the outboard bore plug assembly to transition the second inflatable bladder from a second less inflated state to a second more inflated state such that a second outer surface of the second inflatable bladder is circumferentially compressed against the inner surface of the tubing of the flexible pipe, wherein the second inflatable bladder defines a bore port opening and the outboard bore plug assembly comprises a bore fluid port secured in the bore port opening such that the bore port opening extends through the second inflatable bladder;
• and
• securing a second threaded fastener in a second fastener opening formed through the tubing of the flexible pipe such that the second threaded fastener extends into the pipe bore of the flexible pipe behind the second inflatable plug;
• and
• supplying bore fluid to the pipe bore of the flexible pipe via the bore fluid port that extends through the second inflatable bladder of the outboard bore plug assembly to facilitate maintaining fluid pressure within the pipe bore elevated at least while the flexible pipe is being unwound from the pipe coil.

A bore plug assembly, comprising:

• an inflatable plug, wherein the inflatable plug comprises:
• an inflatable bladder that defines a fluid cavity and an inflation port opening that opens to the fluid cavity;
• and
• an inflation fluid port secured within the inflation port opening in the inflatable bladder such that the inflation fluid port opens to the fluid cavity to enable the inflatable bladder to be inflated to facilitate plugging an end of a pipe bore in a flexible pipe;
• and
• a plug securement mechanism, wherein the plug securement mechanism comprises:
• a threaded fastener configured to be secured in a fastener opening that is formed through tubing of the flexible pipe such that the threaded fastener extends into the pipe bore of the flexible pipe behind the inflatable plug to facilitate blocking the inflatable plug from inadvertently being pushed out of the end of the pipe bore when fluid pressure within the pipe bore is elevate;
• and
• a shackle configured to be secured to the flexible pipe via the threaded fastener such the shackle at least partially extends into the pipe bore of the flexible pipe behind the inflatable plug.