Real time integrity monitoring of on-shore pipes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11680685-B2
Application number	US-202217581959-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2022
Priority date	Nov 2, 2015
Publication date	Jun 20, 2023
Grant date	Jun 20, 2023

Abstract

A method includes providing a length of pipeline that has a housing defining a central bore extending the length of the pipe and a space formed within the housing and extending the length of the pipe. At least one condition within the space is continuously monitored within the space to detect in real time if a change in the housing occurs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
providing a length of pipe, the pipe comprising:
an inner layer having an inner surface defining a central bore,
an outer layer having an outer surface, and
one or more intermediate layers disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer, wherein a space is formed within a section of the one or more intermediate layers and extends the length of the pipe, a first intermediate layer comprises a wound strip helically disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer, and the space is formed between the wound strips;

filling the space with gas; and
monitoring a pressure within the space to detect in real time a condition of the pipe.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pipe comprises:
a plurality of pipe segments; and
at least one pipe joint connecting adjacent pipe segments together in an end-to-end configuration, wherein the space continuously extends through the pipe segments and the at least one pipe joint.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising filling the space with gas to a preset pressure and comparing the monitored pressure with the preset pressure to detect in real time the condition of the pipe.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising monitoring the pressure using at least one pressure transducer.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising monitoring the pressure using a plurality of pressure transducers disposed along the length of the space.

6. The method of claim 5 , comprising:
generating pressure signals from the plurality of pressure transducers; and
transmitting the pressure signals to a receiver.

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising generating an alert by the receiver when a preselected pressure condition is detected.

8. A system, comprising:
a pipe, the pipe comprising:
an inner layer having an inner surface defining a central bore,
an outer layer having an outer surface, and
one or more intermediate layers disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer, wherein a space is formed within a section of the one or more intermediate layers and extends the length of the pipe, a first intermediate layer comprises a first wound strip helically disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer, and the space is formed between the wound strips; and

a pressure monitor configured to monitor a pressure within the space to detect in real time a condition of the pipe.

9. The system of claim 8 ,
a plurality of pipe segments; and
at least one pipe joint connecting adjacent pipe segments together in an end-to-end configuration, wherein the space continuously extends through the pipe segments and the at least one pipe joint.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein a second intermediate layer comprises a second wound strip helically disposed around the first wound strip such that gaps formed between adjacent strips of the first intermediate layer are at least partially enclosed by the second intermediate layer to form the space between the wound strips.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the space extends along the length of the pipe in a helical path.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one pipe joint comprises:
a first annular space at a first end of the pipe joint;
a second annular space at a second end of the pipe joint; and
one or more spaces extending longitudinally from the first annular space to the second annular space.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the pressure monitor comprises a plurality of pressure transducers disposed along the length of the space.

14. A system, comprising:
a pressure monitoring system configured to detect in real time a condition of a pipe having a central bore extending a length of the pipe, wherein the pressure monitoring system comprises:
a pressure monitor configured to monitor a pressure within a space formed within the pipe and extending the length of the pipe, wherein the pipe comprises a wound strip helically disposed between an inner layer of the pipe and an outer layer of the pipe, and the space is formed between the wound strips;
a gas source configured to fill the space with gas to a preset pressure; and
a device configured to compare the monitored pressure with the preset pressure to detect in real time the condition of the pipe.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the pipe comprises:
a plurality of pipe segments; and
at least one pipe joint connecting adjacent pipe segments together in an end-to-end configuration, wherein the space continuously extends through the pipe segments and the at least one pipe joint.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the pressure monitor comprises at least one pressure transducer.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one pressure transducer is disposed within the space or along the length of the pipe.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the pressure monitor comprises a plurality of pressure transducers disposed along the length of the space.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the device is configured to generate an alert when a preselected pressure condition is detected.

Assignees

• Trinity Bay Equipment Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Ethridge Andrew David
• Winn Alexander Lee

Classifications

• F17D1/05

  Preventing freezing (by heating F16L53/30) · CPC title

• F17D5/04

  by means of a signalling fluid enclosed in a double wall · CPC title

• G01M3/002

  by using thermal means · CPC title

• F17D3/01

  for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product · CPC title

• F17D1/08

  for liquids or viscous products (water-main or service pipe systems E03B7/04; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D17/00) · CPC title