Mechanisms to set a hollow device into and to retrieve said hollow device from a flow pipe
AssigneePetroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras
InventorAlcino Resende De Almeida
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method to set a hollow device into an undersea flow pipe uses a flexible pig driven by a flow flowing into said flow pipe to displace a hollow device to a point where a stop means halts a displacement of said hollow device, thereby setting said hollow device into position. A method to retrieve a hollow device into an undersea flow pipe uses a flexible pig driven by a flow flowing into said flow pipe to retrieve said hollow device from a location where said hollow device operates halted by a stopping means.
Claims26
A method of setting a hollow device into a flow pipe provided with a flow of fluids flowing in it, said method comprising the following steps:
- inserting at least one stop means into a position where said hollow device is to operate;
- first inserting said hollow device ahead of a driving means into an end of said flow pipe located upstream of a point where said hollow device should operate;
- allowing said driving means to be urged by said flow flowing in said flow pipe, thereby displacing said hollow device along said flow pipe;
- allowing said at least one stop means to halt the displacement of said hollow device, thereby setting said hollow device into its operating position;
- and
- allowing said driving means to pass through a passage into said hollow device, urged by a pressure exerted by said flow flowing in said flow pipe.
A method of retrieving a hollow device located in a flow pipe provided with a flow of fluids flowing into it by at least one stop means provided in said flow pipe, said method comprising the following steps:
- removing said at least one stop means from an interior of said flow pipe;
- inserting a driving means into a first end of said flow pipe located upstream of a point where said hollow device operates;
- allowing said driving means to be urged by said flow flowing in said flow pipe;
- and
- allowing said driving means to contact said hollow device, thereby displacing it towards a second end of said flow pipe where said driving means and said hollow device can both be retrieved.
A stop means for halting a displacement of a hollow device in a flow pipe, said stop means comprising:
- a flanged spool provided with a first flange, said first flange being welded over an orifice drilled in an outer wall of said flow pipe, at a point where said hollow device will operate, with an internal passage of said spool being substantially in registration with said orifice;
- a bonnet of a gate valve connected to a second flange of said flanged spool, said bonnet being provided with a stem and being also provided with a gate, said gate being connected to a first end of said stem, said bonnet being also provided with a packing set to seal said stem;
- and
- an actuating means connected to a second end of said stem, for driving said stem;
- whereby said actuating means is able to be driven in a first sense to turn said stem, provoking a movement of said gate in a direction from said second end towards said first end of said flanged spool, and in a second sense, contrary to said first sense, for provoking a return movement of said gate.
A stop means for halting a displacement of a hollow device in a flow pipe, said stop means comprising:
- a flanged spool provided with a first flange, said first flange being welded over an orifice drilled in an outer wall of said flow pipe, at a point where said hollow device will operate, with an internal passage of said spool being substantially in registration with said orifice;
- a first gate valve provided with a first flange, said first flange of said first gate valve being connected to a second flange of said flanged spool;
- a second gate valve provided with a bonnet, said bonnet being connected to a second flange of said first gate valve, said bonnet being provided with a stem and being also provided with a gate, said gate being connected to a first end of said stem, said bonnet being provided with a packing set to seal said stem;
- and
- an actuating means connected to a second end of said stem, for driving said stem;
- whereby said actuating means is able to be driven in a first sense, to displace said stem and to provoke a movement of said gate of said second gate valve in a direction from said second flange of said flanged spool towards said first flange thereof, and is able to be driven in a second sense, contrary to said first sense, provoking a return movement of said gate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.