Systems and methods for protecting subsea pipeline from excessive stress or fatigue loading
First Claim
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1. A system for protecting subsea pipeline from stress and/or fatigue loading, comprising:
- a plurality of lifting buoyancy modules capable of being attached to a subsea pipeline in a normally non-activated state and having an activation mechanism associated there with comprising an inflator located within each of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules capable of increasing the volume of the lifting buoyancy module; and
at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a gyroscope, a current meter, a sound detector, a vibration detector and combinations thereof in communication with the activation mechanism of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules for detecting an onset of a triggering event and upon detecting the onset of a triggering event, sending a signal to the activation mechanism to activate the associated lifting buoyancy module to lift the pipeline;
wherein the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules has sufficient buoyancy when at least a portion of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules is activated to lift the subsea pipeline off the seabed to a predetermined height over a predetermined length.
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Abstract
Disclosed are systems and methods for protecting subsea pipeline from damage caused by excessive stress or fatigue loading caused by geo-hazards, and environmental and operating loads. The systems and methods utilize lifting buoyancy modules capable of being attached to a section of subsea pipeline to lift the subsea pipeline off the seabed to a predetermined height over a predetermined length upon being activated by a planned or unplanned triggering event.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for protecting subsea pipeline from stress and/or fatigue loading, comprising:
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a plurality of lifting buoyancy modules capable of being attached to a subsea pipeline in a normally non-activated state and having an activation mechanism associated there with comprising an inflator located within each of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules capable of increasing the volume of the lifting buoyancy module; and at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a gyroscope, a current meter, a sound detector, a vibration detector and combinations thereof in communication with the activation mechanism of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules for detecting an onset of a triggering event and upon detecting the onset of a triggering event, sending a signal to the activation mechanism to activate the associated lifting buoyancy module to lift the pipeline; wherein the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules has sufficient buoyancy when at least a portion of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules is activated to lift the subsea pipeline off the seabed to a predetermined height over a predetermined length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for protecting subsea pipeline from stress and/or fatigue loading, comprising:
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attaching a plurality of lifting buoyancy modules having an activation mechanism associated there with to a subsea pipeline wherein the activation mechanism comprises an inflator located within each of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules capable of increasing the volume of the lifting buoyancy module wherein the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules has sufficient buoyancy when at least a portion of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules is activated to lift the subsea pipeline off the seabed to a predetermined height over a predetermined length; providing at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a gyroscope, a current meter, a sound detector, a vibration detector and combinations thereof in communication with the activation mechanism of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules; using the at least one sensor to detect an onset of a triggering event; and upon detecting the onset of a triggering event, sending a signal from the at least one sensor to the activation mechanism of at least one of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules to activate the lifting buoyancy module. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for protecting subsea pipeline from stress and/or fatigue loading, comprising:
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a plurality of lifting buoyancy modules capable of being attached to a subsea pipeline in a normally non-activated state and having an activation mechanism associated there with comprising an inflator located within each of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules capable of increasing the volume of the lifting buoyancy module; and at least one sensor located on the seabed remote from the subsea pipeline in communication with the activation mechanism of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules for detecting an onset of a triggering event and upon detecting the onset of a triggering event, sending a signal to the activation mechanism to activate the associated lifting buoyancy module to lift the pipeline; wherein the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules has sufficient buoyancy when at least a portion of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules is activated to lift the subsea pipeline off the seabed to a predetermined height over a predetermined length.
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16. A method for protecting subsea pipeline from stress and/or fatigue loading, comprising:
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attaching a plurality of lifting buoyancy modules having an activation mechanism associated there with to a subsea pipeline wherein the activation mechanism comprises an inflator located within each of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules capable of increasing the volume of the lifting buoyancy module wherein the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules has sufficient buoyancy when at least a portion of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules is activated to lift the subsea pipeline off the seabed to a predetermined height over a predetermined length; providing at least one sensor located on the seabed remote from the subsea pipeline in communication with the activation mechanism of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules; using the at least one sensor to detect an onset of a triggering event; and upon detecting the onset of a triggering event, sending a signal from the at least one sensor to the activation mechanism of at least one of the plurality of lifting buoyancy modules to activate the lifting buoyancy module.
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Specification