Mid-pipe pulling device systems and methods

A method of operating a pipe deployment system, comprising:

• disposing a pulling device of the pipe deployment system around a free section of a pipe segment that has been unspooled off of a pipe drum;
• securing a first cable branch of a pulling cable to a first body arm of the pulling device via a first pad eye on the first body arm;
• securing a second cable branch of the pulling cable to a second body arm of the pulling device via a second pad eye on the second body arm, wherein the second cable branch is connected to the first cable branch of the pulling cable;
• and
• exerting, using pulling equipment in the pipe deployment system, pulling force on the pulling cable in a direction away from the pulling device to cause the first body arm and the second body arm to move toward one another such that a first pipe grabber secured to the first body arm and a second pipe grabber secured to the second body arm engage an outer surface of the pipe segment as well as to cause more of the pipe segment to be unspooled off of the pipe drum.

A pulling device in a pipe deployment system, comprising:

• a device body, wherein the device body comprises:
• a body base configured to cover a section of a pipe segment to be operated on by the pipe deployment system;
• a first body arm pivotably connected to the body base, wherein the first body arm comprises a first pad eye configured to enable a first cable branch of a pulling cable to be secured to the first body arm;
• a second body arm pivotably connected to the body base, wherein the second body arm comprises a second pad eye configured to enable a second cable branch of the pulling cable to be secured to the second body arm;
• a first pipe grabber secured to the first body arm of the device body, wherein the first pipe grabber comprises a first semi-circular pad configured to engage an outer surface of the pipe segment when pulling force is exerted on the pulling cable to pivot the first body arm relative to the body base;
• and
• a second pipe grabber secured to the second body arm of the device body, wherein the second pipe grabber comprises a second semi-circular pad configured to engage the outer surface of the pipe segment when pulling force is exerted on the pulling cable to pivot the second body arm relative to the body base.