Insulated marine pipe apparatus and method of installation
OwnerJerry G. Bakerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A piping system for conveying one or more product flow lines within an outer casing includes insulation members on the product flowline(s) to prevent heat lost and an improved spacer arrangement forming an interface between the product flow lines and the casing to prevent damage to the casing and flow lines as well as reduce friction when the flow lines are pulled through the casing. The insulation members includes a plurality of halves that can be assembled together circumferentially and end-to-end. In one embodiment, a frame carries a U-shaped insulation member that is polymeric and foam filled. The frame is ballasted so that it can be towed to a job site underwater yet buoyant and above the seabed, then lowered onto the pipeline by flooding the ballast tanks.
Claims30
A pipe and insulation apparatus comprising:
- a) an elongated pipeline having a flow bore;
- b) a plurality of insulation members that substantially cover the pipeline, each insulation member comprised of a polymeric shell having an internally sealed hollow chamber;
- c) at least a plurality of the sealed chambers being filled with foam;
- d) a ballast member connected to the shell for lowering the shell to the pipeline.
A pipe and insulation apparatus comprising:
- a) an elongated pipeline having a flow bore;
- b) a plurality of insulation members that cover the pipeline, each insulation member comprised of a polymeric shell having an internal sealed hollow chamber, the shell having an open bottom that enables the shell to be lowered on to a pipeline resting on a marine seabed
- c) at least a plurality of the sealed chambers being filled with foam;
- d) a ballast member connected to the shell for lowering the shell to the pipeline.
A pipe and insulation apparatus comprising:
- a) an elongated pipeline having a flow bore;
- b) a plurality of insulation members that cover the pipeline, each insulation member comprised of a frame and a polymeric shell having an internal sealed hollow chamber, the assembly of frame and shell having an open bottom that enables the shell to be lowered on to a pipeline resting on a marine seabed;
- c) the sealed chamber being filled with foam;
- d) the member connected to the shell for lowering the shell to the pipeline;
- e) the frame and shell having an attached ballast member that enables a user to ballast the shell;
- and
- f) wherein the frame includes appendages on opposing sides of the shell that can engage the seabed on opposing sides of the pipeline.
A method of insulating an underwater pipeline that rests on a seabed comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a plurality of insulation members, each comprised of a polymeric hollow shell filled with insulation material;
- b) connecting the insulation members end to end;
- c) ballasting the insulation members;
- and
- d) lowering the insulation members onto the pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.