Protection of pipeline joint connections

A method for protecting exposed joint connection portions on an underwater weight coated pipeline used in offshore applications, comprising the steps of:

• installing a synthetic resin cover material around the exposed joint connection on the lay barge by forming the resin cover material into a cylindrical sheet which overlaps the weight coating on either side of the exposed joint connection forming an annular pocket about the exposed joint connection:
• sealing the cover material together forming a sleeve;
• forming an opening into the cover material;
• injecting a mixture of unreacted polyurethane chemicals on the lay barge through the opening into the annular void;
• allowing the polyurethane chemicals to react and form an open-celled foam and fill the void;
• and
• allowing the open-celled foam to absorb moisture and increase ballast of the pipeline.

A method for installing a protection system for exposed joint connection portions of a weight coated underwater pipeline as the pipeline is being laid from a vessel in offshore applications, comprising the steps of:

• wrapping a cover material around the exposed joint connection portions such that the cover material overlaps end portions of the weight coating on either side of the exposed joint connection portions and forms a sleeve about the joint connection portions of the pipeline;
• forming an opening into the cover materials;
• sealing the cover material together along its side portions to form an annular void between the joint connection portions and the sleeve of cover material;
• injecting components of a fluid, rapid setting, open cell foam joint filler system through the opening into the annular void;
• allowing the joint filler system components to solidify into an open cell foam and fill the void;
• and
• allowing the open cell foam to absorb moisture and increase ballast of the pipeline.

A method for protecting exposed joint connection portions of a weight coated underwater pipeline as the pipeline is being laid from a vessel comprising the steps of:

• wrapping a cover material around the exposed joint connection portions such that the cover material overlaps end portions of the weight coating on either side of the exposed joint connection portions and forms a sleeve about the joint connection portions of the pipeline;
• forming an opening into the cover material;
• sealing the cover material together along its side portions to form an annular void between the joint connection portions and the sleeve of cover material;
• injecting components of a rapid setting, open cell foam joint filler system on the vessel through the opening into the annular void in the cover material;
• allowing the joint filler system components to solidify into an open cell foam and fill the void;
• and
• allowing the open cell foam to absorb moisture and increase ballast of the pipeline.