THERMAL INSULATION OF FLEXIBLE PIPES

• US 20090084459A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Wellstream International Limited (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Williams, Peter Raoul
• Granted Patent: US 9,016,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/133
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/083 three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/153 for flexible pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49879 Spaced wall tube or receptacle

Abstract

A flexible pipe body and a method for manufacturing flexible pipe body is disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes an internal pressure sheath, at least one insulating layer comprising a mesh layer comprising a plurality of pockets and an outer sheath.

Claims

1. Flexible pipe body for a flexible pipe, said pipe body comprising:

an internal pressure sheath;

at least one insulating layer comprising a mesh layer comprising a plurality of pockets; and

an outer sheath.

2. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said mesh layer comprises woven filaments, a plurality of holes between the filaments defining respective locations of said pockets.

3. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 2, wherein said filaments comprise metal wires.

4. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mesh layer comprises a web layer comprising a plurality of blind or through holes preformed in the web.

5. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 4, wherein the holes are preformed in a predetermined pattern.

6. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 4, wherein said web is a metal sheet.

7. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insulating layer comprises a mesh tape helically wrapped over the internal pressure sheath.

8. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 7 wherein said tape is wrapped directly onto an outer surface of at least one intermediate layer located radially between the internal pressure sheath and the outer sheath.

9. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insulating layer further comprises an inner extruded layer and an outer extruded layer, said mesh layer being disposed between the inner and outer extruded layers.

10. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a metal layer between said mesh layer and the inner and/or outer extruded layer.

11. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 10, wherein said metal layer comprises a thin layer of metal tape helically wrapped around the barrier layer.

12. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

aerogel material disposed in a plurality of said pockets.

13. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an insulating fluid disposed in a plurality of pockets of the mesh layer.

14. The flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid retaining layer comprises a barrier layer or liner.

15. A flexible pipe comprising the flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

two end fittings each located at a respective one of two ends of the pipe body wherein said insulating layer comprises a continuous layer extending between the end fittings.

16. A riser, flowline or jumper comprising the flexible pipe as claimed in claim 15.

17. A method of manufacturing flexible pipe body, comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular internal pressure sheath;

forming an insulating layer comprising a mesh layer comprising a plurality of pockets over the internal pressure sheath; and

forming an outer sheath layer over the insulating layer.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said step of forming an insulating layer comprises the steps of:

winding a tape of woven filaments over the internal pressure sheath.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said step of forming an insulating layer further comprises the steps of:

winding a tape of web comprising a plurality of preformed holes over the internal pressure sheath.

20. The method as claimed in claim 17, farther comprising the steps of:

extruding an inner layer over the internal pressure sheath;

winding the mesh layer over the extruded inner layer; and

extruding an outer layer over the mesh layer.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

winding the mesh layer whilst the inner extruded layer remains at least partially fluid prior to setting thereby bedding at least a portion of the mesh into the inner extruded layer.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

extruding the outer extruded layer over the mesh layer so that at least a further portion of the mesh is bedded into the outer extruded layer.

23. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

helically wrapping a metal tape over and/or under the mesh layer.

24. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

providing aerogel in a plurality of pockets in said mesh layer.

25. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the fluid retaining layer is a barrier layer or liner.

26. A method of transporting a fluid comprising:

providing a flexible pipe comprising an internal pressure sheath, at least one insulating layer comprising a mesh layer comprising a plurality of pockets, and an outer sheath; and

transporting a fluid through the flexible pipe.