Wells – Submerged well – Means removably connected to permanent well structure
Patent
1992-05-27
1994-01-18
Britts, Ramon S.
Wells
Submerged well
Means removably connected to permanent well structure
166367, 138143, 138144, E21B 1701
Patent
active
052793680
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a covering to protect tubular members of sub-sea structures particularly offshore structures from fouling by marine organisms or growths and also to a process for applying the covering. The present invention also relates to a tubular composite including an anti-fouling covering.
The fouling of marine structures by marine growths involving marine organisms is well known. Since these growths can adversely affect the wellbeing of the structure, it is necessary from time-to-time to carry out cleaning operations to remove the growths but there is the disadvantage that these cleaning operations are invariably costly. This problem can be particularly severe with tubular structures as these are generally immersed at considerable depths where marine growths such as mussel formation is especially prevalent.
To avoid or minimise the above problem it is known to cover or clad appropriate parts of the structure with copper or copper nickel plating, with insulating material located between the sheeting and the structure. Particular examples of such covering comprise (a) half-shells (for fitting around tubular members) and (b) copper-nickel wire mesh embedded in an elastomer or epoxy matrix. However a particularly advantageous for of anti-fouling sheet covering is described in the present applicants' International application PCT/GB88/00403 (published as W088/09460) which sheet covering comprises anti-fouling metal which is corrugated. In the preferred form of application of the corrugated sheeting to a tubular member, a corrugated metal strip of anti fouling material is wound onto an insulating layer, for example of elastomers or epoxies, on the tubular member such that the metal strip covers the tubular member.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved anti-fouling covering relative to the-covering of International application W088/09460.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a covering to protect a tubular sub-sea structure from fouling by marine organisms, said covering comprising metal sheeting (13) wrapping the sub-sea structure (11) and serving to prevent or mitigate the build-up of fouling growths on the sub-sea structure (11), said metal sheeting (13) comprising corrugated sheeting whereby valley-form sheeting deformation (14) extend in the axial direction on the sub-sea structure characterized in that only a limited number of circumferentially spaced valley-form deformations (14) are present on the metal sheeting (13), the sheeting portion (13A) between the spaced deformations (14) comprising substantially plain metal.
The present invention is also a covering to protect sub-sea structures from fouling by marine growths comprising metal sheeting (13) wrapping the sub-sea structure (11) and serving to prevent or mitigate the build-up of fouling growths on the sub-sea structure (11), said metal sheeting (13) comprising corrugated sheeting whereby valley-form sheeting deformation (14) extend in the axial direction on the sub-sea structure characterized in that the metal sheeting (13) has at least one valley-form deformation (14, FIG. 3) which extends inwardly relative to the sub-sea structure (11), the sheeting portions (13A) on either side of said one valley-form deformation (14) being substantially plain.
Preferably the metal sheeting is in strip form with the deformation extending transversely on the strip, and preferably the deformation extends to opposed edges of the strip, i.e. each ridge or trough is defined by a corrugation. The metal sheeting is preferably of copper or copper nickel material.
Preferably the ridges or troughs are spaced by non-deformed areas on the sheeting such that the total area of the deformations is not greater than 70% of the total area of the sheeting, and preferably no greater than 40% of the total area: in a preferred embodiment the deformation area is less than 20% of the total sheeting area.
The present invention is also a tubular composite for use in a sub-sea structure; said tubular composite comprisin
REFERENCES:
patent: 3091262 (1963-05-01), Donaldson
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patent: 3553970 (1971-01-01), Wiswell, Jr.
patent: 3740958 (1973-06-01), Cadwell
patent: 4246057 (1981-01-01), Janowski et al.
patent: 4306821 (1981-12-01), Moore
patent: 4764054 (1988-08-01), Sutton
WO, A, 88/09460, Arnott et al, "Anti-fouling Covering for Sub Sea Structure", Dec. 1988.
British Pipe Coaters Limited
Britts Ramon S.
Tsay Frank S.
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