Insulated pipe
OwnerF. Glenn Livelyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Pipes or pipelines insulated and optionally coated on their interior surface or surfaces are described. Pipes or pipelines insulated and optionally coated on their exterior surface or surfaces are also contemplated, The pipes or pipelines may be for submerged service, below the surface of water. The insulation chosen may be an epoxy substantially free of phenolics and one or more of glass or ceramics. The coating may be an abrasion resistant coating. Such pipes or pipelines are generally intended for the transport of fluids, which can include natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined products, chemicals, combinations thereof, and the like.
Claims52
A submerged pipeline insulated on its interior for retaining all or part of the naturally occurring temperature of oil, where the pipeline is submerged in water at least 20° F. lower in temperature than an initial temperature of said oil, comprising,
- a) a pipe;
- b) at least three insulation layers formed on an inside circumference of a pipe portion of said pipeline, said insulation layers having an R value of one of ≧14 or ≧60 per inch, as determined by ASTM C-177-85, wherein the compressive strength of said insulation is ≧3500 psi, as determined by ASTM D-1621, and wherein said insulation layers are present on said inside circumference of said pipe at a total thickness of one of ≧25 or ≦60 mils, said insulation layers including an epoxy, substantially free of phenolics and said insulation layers including one of ceramics, glass and combinations thereof, said layers being one of the same thickness or different thickness,
- c) optionally at least one abrasion resistant layer formed on the inside circumference of said insulation, said abrasion resistant layer, if present, is present at one of ≧10 or ≦15 mils, and said abrasion resistant layer including abrasion resistant particles, an epoxy resin, a hardener, and a diluent.
Crude oil contained in a pipe comprising:
- a) crude oil;
- b) optionally an abrasion resistant layer contiguous to said crude oil, said abrasion resistant layer including a hardened epoxy and ceramic particles;
- c) an insulation contiguous to said abrasion resistant coating and proximate a pipe interior surface, where said insulation is positioned between said abrasion resistant coating and said pipe;
- d) an optional primer spaced between said insulation and said pipe;
- e) a pipe;
- wherein said insulation has a compressive strength of ≧100 psi, as determined by ASTM D-1621, and an R value of ≧10 per inch as determined by ASTM C 177-85.
An abrasion resistant, corrosion resistant, insulated pipe comprising:
- a) optionally at least one abrasion resistant layer;
- b) ≧2 insulation layers include one of acrylics, epoxies, ceramics, glass or combinations thereof, wherein said layers are the same thickness or different;
- said layers having a total thickness or ≧2 mils;
- and
- c) a pipe;
- wherein said insulation layers are proximate one of an inside circumference of said pipe, an outside circumference of said pipe, or combinations thereof wherein said optional abrasion resistant layer is proximate said insulation layers;
- wherein said insulation has a compressive strength of ≧100 psi as determined by ASTM D-621;
- and wherein said insulation has an R value ≧10 per inch, as determined by ASTM C 177-85.
A method of insulating a pipe and making the pipe abrasion resistant, comprising:
- a) insulating a pipe in the interior or exterior portion of said pipe with an insulation, said insulation having an R value per inch of ≧10, as determined by ASTM C 177-85;
- said insulation being ≧2 layers at a total thickness of ≧5 mils;
- and a compressive strength of ≧100 psi, as determined by ASTM D-1621;
- and
- b) optionally coating the insulation of a) with an abrasion resistant layer.
A submerged pipeline comprising:
- a) a pipe;
- b) insulation, said insulation having an R value ≧10 per inch, as determined by ASTM C-177-85;
- c) an abrasion resistant coating;
- wherein said insulation is formed on the interior surface of said pipe in at least three layers, and wherein said abrasion resistant coating is formed on said insulation, wherein said insulation is present on the interior surface of said pipe at ≧5 mils, wherein said abrasion resistant coating is present on said insulation at ≧1 or ≦40 mils.
A pipeline insulated on its interior circumference comprising:
- a) a pipe forming a portion of said pipeline;
- b) at least three layers of an insulation, said insulation placed on an interior surface of said pipe, said insulation having an R value of ≧25 per inch, as determined by ASTM C-177-85, wherein said insulation includes one of an acrylic, an epoxy substantially free of phenolics, or combinations thereof and one of ceramics, glass, or combinations thereof, said insulation having a total thickness of ≧5 mils;
- and
- c) optionally at least one layer of an abrasion resistant coating, said abrasion resistant coating having a total thickness of ≧5 mils thick.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.