Subsea pipeline service skid
AssigneeValkyrie Commissioning Services, Inc.
InventorAlan J. Sweeney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described for subsea pipeline servicing, including line-pack testing, physical integrity testing, recovery of damaged sections of pipelines, and product removal from subsea structures. In one embodiment of the invention, a subsea pipeline service skid is provided including at least one sample collection bladder affixed to the skid and in fluid communication with a skid mounted pump dimensioned to pull a sample from the subsea pipeline. In another embodiment, a product removal bladder is provided for removal of the hydrocarbons from a subsea structure.
Claims20
A subsea pipeline service skid comprising:
- a frame adapted for transporting the skid to a subsea pipeline;
- at least one sample collection bladder affixed to the frame and in fluid communication with a pump mounted in the frame and dimensioned to pull a sample from the subsea pipeline, the pump operated by a hydraulic motor powered by a Submersible Vehicle (SV), a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), or an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV);
- and
- a fluid conduit adapted to connect between the subsea pipeline and the frame mounted pump.
A subsea pipeline service skid comprising:
- a frame adapted for transporting the skid to a subsea flowline/pipeline;
- at least one high pressure pump mounted to the frame and dimensioned to deliver over 4,000 p.s.i. of pressure;
- and
- at least one hand pump in fluid communication with the at least one high pressure pump and operable by a Submersible Vehicle (SV), a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), or an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to equalize the pressure between the at least one high pressure pump and the subsea flowline/pipeline prior to initiating fluid communication between the at least one high pressure pump and the subsea flowline/pipeline.
A method of testing a status of a line-pack in a subsea pipeline, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one elastomeric sample collection bladder in fluid communication with a subsea pump, wherein the pump is dimensioned to pull a sample of line-pack from the subsea pipeline;
- utilizing a Submersible Vehicle (SV), a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), or an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to move the at least one elastomeric bladder and the pump to a pipeline termination head affixed to one end of the subsea pipeline;
- collecting a sample of the line-pack by pumping a portion into the at least one elastomeric sample collection bladder;
- and
- returning the at least one elastomeric sample collection bladder to a surface vessel for testing of the line-pack solution.
A method of removing a fluid content from a subsea structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one product removal bladder to the subsea structure, wherein the at least one product removal bladder is fitted with at least one valve closure and wherein the at least one product removal bladder is dimensioned to drain a quantity of the fluid content from the subsea structure;
- providing a subsea pipeline service skid (SPSS) including at least one high pressure pump dimensioned to deliver over 400 p.s.i. of pressure and a fluid conduit that terminates in an SPSS fluid connector dimensioned to connect with the at least one valve closure of the at least one product removal bladder;
- utilizing a Submersible Vehicle (SV), a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), or an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to connect the at least one product removal bladder and SPSS to the subsea structure;
- utilizing the at least one pump to move fluid content from the subsea structure into the at least one product removal bladder, and
- returning the at least one product removal bladder to a surface vessel for disposal.
A method of removing a fluid content from a subsea structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one product removal bladder to the subsea structure, wherein the at least one product removal bladder is fitted with at least one valve closure and wherein the at least one product removal bladder is dimensioned to drain a quantity of the fluid content from the subsea structure;
- providing a subsea pipeline service skid (SPSS) including at least one pump and a fluid conduit that terminates in an SPSS fluid connector dimensioned to connect with the at least one valve closure of the at least one product removal bladder;
- utilizing a Submersible Vehicle (SV), a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), or an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to connect the at least one product removal bladder and SPSS to the subsea structure;
- utilizing the at least one pump to move fluid content from the subsea structure into the at least one product removal bladder, wherein the SPSS includes intake filters and the at least one pump is utilized to pump filtered seawater into the subsea structure and thereby push a fluid from the subsea structure into the at least one product removal bladder;
- and
- returning the at least one product removal bladder to a surface vessel for disposal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.