Subsea pig reloader
AssigneeKellogg Brown & Root LLC
InventorsJason McCanna, J.S. Mandke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for supplying pigs to a subsea pig launcher using a system carried and controlled by a remotely operated vehicle. The pigs are carried in racks that hold multiple pigs. The racks are extended and the pigs are allowed to drop into the barrel of the subsea pig launcher. The system is also equipped with a system that retracts the racks if hydraulic and electrical power is lost during the reloading process so that the remotely operated vehicle can be retrieved to the surface safely. The reloading process can be carried out by a remotely operated vehicle support vessel without the need for heavy lifting equipment or a large deck area.
Claims16
A pig loader, for use with a remotely operated subsea vehicle, comprising:
- at least one rack, said rack being slidable with respect to the vehicle and supporting at least one canister for containing a pig, and
- a drive mechanism engaging said rack, said drive mechanism advancing said rack such that the pig is released from its canister.
A method for pigging a pipeline, comprising:
- (a) providing a pig launcher at a first end of the pipeline, said pig launcher including a pig storage barrel capable of storing a plurality of pigs;
- (b) transporting a plurality of pigs to the barrel in a pig loader;
- and
- (c) discharging the pigs from the loader into the barrel while the barrel and launcher remain connected to the pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.