Pipes and tubular conduits – Flexible – Spirally wound material
Patent
1997-05-23
2000-02-15
Brinson, Patrick
Pipes and tubular conduits
Flexible
Spirally wound material
138135, 138127, 138122, F16L 1116
Patent
active
060241357
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to flexible pipes for conveying fluids at high pressure, and in particular to those used for subsea oil and gas drilling and production.
1. Background Art
In subsea well production and drilling operations, flexible pipes are used for various purposes such as underwater flowlines. A flexible pipe is herein considered to be a pipe having, at least during installation, sufficient flexibility along its longitudinal axis to accept a minimum radius of curvature in the order of five to twenty times the diameter of the pipe, without weakening the structure.
These pipes must resist combined hoop and longitudinal end loads from the high pressure conveyed fluids as well tensile loading during installation and operation. These pipes must also withstand crushing due to external pressures with or without internal pressure inside. Once in place, the internal pressure makes the pipe stiffer, and flexibility is no longer needed. A flexible pipe is easier to transport and install than a rigid pipe.
A typical flexible pipe structure comprises at least one fluid containing tube made of polymer material. A reinforcing armor of metal wires is wound spirally around the fluid containing tube. In some instances, a third structure consisting of a helical winding of interlocking strips is located inside the containing tube. This last structure prevents the fluid containing tube from collapsing under flexible pipe annular pressure and provides radial support to the reinforcing armor while the flexible pipe is under tensile loads without internal pressure. Improvements in strength, manufacturing ease, and cost are desirable.
2. Disclosure of Invention
In general terms the present invention comprises a flexible pipe for transporting fluids under high pressure within a tubular friction reinforcement structure. In three embodiments shown, part of the friction reinforcement structure comprises helical curved metal strips forming overlapping layers. In a fourth embodiment, the reinforcement layer comprises overlapping conical metal sleeves. The internal fluid pressure causes the overlapping layers to press one against the other. The internal pressure generates friction forces between the overlapping layers sufficient to resist some or all of the loads induced on the flexible pipe by the internal fluid pressure. Preferably, the friction reinforcement layer locates over a fluid containing tube made of an impermeable material, such as a polymer, which provides a corrosion resistant conduit for conveying the high pressure fluids.
Preferably, the overlapping helical strip friction reinforcement structure has transverse slits. In two of the embodiments, the transverse slits provide a curvature to the strip by making, the exposed or outer edge a greater length than the enclosed or inner edge when the strip is laid flat. The curvature provides the generally conical configuration for the turns of two of the embodiments of the friction reinforcement structure.
Also, preferably the slits do not extend completely to either edge. A linkage strip provides flexible links and encloses one of the ends of the slit. In one embodiment, links are located on the inner edge of the strip. The slits are laser cut in a widened triangular configuration when the strip is laid flat in a straight line configuration. When wound around the fluid containing tube, the links close or fold over, narrowing the slits to provide the curvature for the strip. In another embodiment, the links are located on the outer edge of the strip, enclosing the ends of the slits adjacent the outer edge. In this instance, the links fold out to widen the slit at the outer edge to provide the greater length for the outer edge. Additionally, to provide a larger manufacturing tolerance, the inner edge of the strip is preferably made into a wavy sinuous shape to decrease the stiffness of the inner edge.
In another embodiment, a plurality of strips are helically wrapped in layers to provide a cylindrical configuration. Each strip does not overlap it
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Bradley James E.
Brinson Patrick
LandOfFree
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