Method for remotely launching subsea pigs in response to wellhead pressure change
AssigneeSonsub International Ltd.
InventorsWilliam R. Bath, Charles R. Yemington
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for sensing and launching pipeline pigs into a pipeline. The method includes pressurizing a pressure accumulator in a pig launching system that includes a pig chamber, a plurality of pigs, a launch tube, and the pressure accumulator. The method further includes sensing a pressure within the pipeline and applying pressure from the pressure accumulator to force a pig through the launch tube and into the pipeline.
Claims16
A method for launching an individual pig in a pipeline from a pig launcher having a pig chamber, a plurality of pigs, a launch tube, and a pressure accumulator, the method comprising the steps of:
- pressurizing the pressure accumulator;
- sensing a pipeline pressure within the pipeline at the pig launcher prior to launching a pig;
- initiating a control sequence for launching the pig upon sensing a predetermined pipeline pressure setpoint;
- and
- applying pressure from the pressure accumulator to force the pig through the launch tube and into the pipeline.
A method for launching a pig in a pipeline from a subsea pig launcher having a pig chamber, a plurality of pigs, a launch tube, and a pressure accumulator, the method comprising the steps of:
- charging the pressure accumulator with a wellhead pressure from the pipeline;
- sensing the wellhead pressure at the pig launcher prior to launching a pig;
- and
- altering the wellhead pressure to launch a pig into the pipeline.
A method for installing a subsea pig launcher to a pipeline connected to a subsea well head with a pipeline jumper, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a pipeline jumper adapted to connect the pipeline to the subsea well head and also providing the pipeline jumper with a tee adapted to connect to the subsea pig launcher;
- connecting the pipeline jumper between the pipeline and the subsea well head;
- and
- connecting the subsea pig launcher to the pipeline jumper tee.
A method for pigging a pipeline connected to a subsea well head with a pipeline jumper, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a pipeline jumper adapted to connect the pipeline to the subsea well head and also providing the pipeline jumper with a tee adapted to connect to a subsea pig launcher;
- connecting the pipeline jumper between the pipeline and the subsea well head;
- connecting the subsea pig launcher to the pipeline jumper tee;
- altering a first pressure in the subsea well head to launch a pig from the subsea pig launcher into the pipeline jumper;
- and
- forcing the pig through the pipeline with a second pressure in the pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.