Hydraulic and earth engineering – Subterranean or submarine pipe or cable laying – retrieving,...
Reexamination Certificate
1996-03-26
2001-01-09
Bagnell, David (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Subterranean or submarine pipe or cable laying, retrieving,...
C073S04050R, C073S040700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171025
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for monitoring for leaks in subsea pipelines. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for monitoring for remote leaks in subsea offshore pipelines constructed as a pipe-in-pipe flowline with the product transported in the inner pipe.
Offshore hydrocarbon recovery operations are increasingly pressing into deeper water and more remote locations. Here it is very expensive to provide surface facilities and it is desirable to minimize these requirements. Often satellite wells are completed subsea and are tied to remote platforms through extended subsea pipelines as a means to reduce the production cost. Even these platforms serving as central hubs in the offshore infrastructure are provided only the minimal facilities required for collecting and partially treating the well fluids before exporting them toward onshore facilities through yet more subsea pipelines. The subsea pipelines, both to and from the platform hubs, are crucial to this infrastructure. Further, such pipelines are measured in miles and tens of miles and although it is infrequent, these pipelines are subject to failure.
Thus, there is a clear need for a dependable and economical means for remotely monitoring for leaks in the pipelines and, in the event that a leak is detected, to determine the location of the leak for evaluation and/or repairs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Toward providing these and other advantages, the present invention is a method for pipeline leak detection in which a vacuum is maintained in the annulus of a pipe-in-pipe flowline with a vacuum pump having a discharge reservoir which is monitored for the appearance of water and hydrocarbon vapors. In another aspect of the invention pipeline leak detection is accomplished through maintaining a gas at a nominally constant pressure in an annulus of a pipe-in-pipe flowline and monitoring the annulus for pressure increase indicative of water or product intrusion into the annulus.
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Bagnell David
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