Sealing member for repairing a pipeline and method of use

A method of applying a seal assembly to an uncontrolled surface, the seal assembly comprising a controlled surface which comprises a housing comprising a fluid inlet and an interior, a separate stopper non-integrally disposed about the interior of the housing and comprising an interior end exposed to the interior of the housing, and an end flange disposed at a first end of the housing and fixed to the housing, the end flange comprising a flange tapered edge tapered towards the interior of the housing, a fluid outlet, an interior end, and an exterior end disposed distally from the interior end;

• a housing seal disposed intermediate the housing and the end flange;
• and a seal disposed within the housing, the seal comprising a seal tapered edge configured to cooperatively match a geometry of the flange tapered edge and form a substantially contiguous boundary with the flange tapered edge, the seal configured to selectively block fluid flow between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet at a first predetermined subset of fluid leakage paths of a predefined set of fluid leakage paths and allow fluid flow between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet at a second predetermined subset of fluid leakage paths of the predefined set of fluid leakage paths, the method comprising:
• a. disposing the seal assembly about an outer surface of the uncontrolled surface such that the controlled surface is disposed proximate the outer surface of the uncontrolled surface;
• b. securing the seal to the uncontrolled surface;
• c. activating the seal assembly between the controlled surface and the uncontrolled surface;
• and
• d. blocking the first predetermined subset of the predefined set of fluid leakage paths from fluid flow between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet using the activated seal assembly.