Underwater connection operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016279727-A1
Application number	US-201315025133-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 27, 2013
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

There is described a method and associated apparatus for connecting a structure to equipment underwater, in particular for connecting a flange to a pipe under water. In particular embodiments, the pipe is provided under water, and a weld means is provided in a welding space provided through a section of the pipe, and used to weld the flange to the end of the pipe, for example by internal metal inert gas welding.

First claim

1 - 62 . (canceled)

63 . A method of connecting a flange to a pipe under water, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a pipe under water; providing a welding machine in a welding space, the welding space being provided through a section of the pipe; and using the welding machine in the welding space to weld the flange to an end of the pipe.

64 . The method as claimed in claim 63 , wherein said welding space comprises an inert gas atmosphere for performing welding.

65 . The method as claimed in claim 63 , further comprising the step of providing the flange adjacent the end of the pipe.

66 . The method as claimed in claim 63 , further comprising the step of providing an apparatus under water at or near the end of the pipe to facilitate connection of the flange to the pipe.

67 . The method as claimed in claim 66 , further comprising the step of moving a plugging mechanism from the apparatus into a bore of the pipe, to provide a sealed welding space between the plugging mechanism and the apparatus.

68 . The method as claimed in claim 66 , further comprising the steps of:
attaching the apparatus to the flange; and moving the attached apparatus and flange to a location at or near the end of the pipe, such that the flange is located adjacent the end of the pipe.

69 . The method as claimed in claim 66 , wherein the flange comprises a ring section and the apparatus has a tubular end section, and the method further comprises the step of arranging the ring section and the tubular end section apparatus coaxially with the end of the pipe.

70 . The method as claimed in claim 69 , wherein said welding space is further provided through either or both of the ring section and the tubular end section of the apparatus.

71 . The method as claimed in claim 69 , wherein the flange is arranged between the tubular end section of the apparatus and the end of the pipe.

72 . The method as claimed in claim 63 , wherein the step of using the welding machine further comprises the step of performing welding to produce a weld through a full thickness of a wall of the pipe to join the flange to the pipe.

73 . The method as claimed in claim 63 , wherein a wall of the pipe at the pipe end has a first layer formed of a first metal and a second layer formed of a second metal different from the first layer.

74 . The method as claimed in claim 66 , wherein the welding machine is provided in a use position in which the welding machine is operable to weld to join the flange to the pipe, and the method further comprises the step of removing the welding machine from said position using the apparatus.

75 . An apparatus for performing the method of claim 63 .

76 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 75 , further comprising a welding machine or components thereof.

77 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 76 , wherein the welding machine comprises a weld head for performing metal inert gas welding.

78 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 76 , wherein the welding machine comprises a movable mount for supporting and moving the weld head.

79 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 78 , wherein the movable mount is configured to move the weld head along or about an axis.

80 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 75 , having a body arranged to be attached to the flange.

81 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 75 , configured to be arranged end-on to the end of the pipe.

82 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 75 having a body configured to be coupled to the pipe in order to provide the welding machine in a use position in which the welding machine is used to weld to join the flange to the pipe.

Assignees

• Statoil Petroleum As

Inventors

• Apeland Kjell Edvard
• Berge Jan Olav
• Firth Greg
• Armstrong Michael

Classifications

• F16L1/26

  Repairing or joining pipes on or under water · CPC title

• B23K2101/10

  Pipe-lines · CPC title

• B23K9/0061 Primary

  Underwater arc welding · CPC title

• B23K2101/04

  Tubular or hollow articles · CPC title

• B23K9/326

  Purge gas rings, i.e. devices for supplying or evacuating shielding gas inside of hollow or tubular articles, e.g. pipes, vessels · CPC title