High power laser pipeline tool and methods of use

• US 9,138,786 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: McKay, Ryan P., Rinzler, Charles C., Moxley, Joel F., Deutch, Paul D., Zediker, Mark S., DeWitt, Ronald A., Faircloth, Brian O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Tina
• Application Number:
  US13/366,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20120255933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0042 by laser
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/02 Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes apparatus for cleaning metal pipes by chemical methods C23G3/04 ; removing obstructions in waste pipes or sinks E03C1/30; cleaning sewer pipes E03F9/00; cleaning boreholes or wells E21B37/00; cleaning furnace tubes, flues, chimneys F23J3/02; cleaning heat-transfer conduits, e.g. water tubes of boilers F28G
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/055 the cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the same cross-section of the pipes, e.g. pigs or moles pigs or moles per se F16L55/26; their launching and detection F16L55/46; separating pigs in pipelines F17D3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/004 Joining to walls at other than 90 degrees F16L41/002, F16L41/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/46 Launching or retrieval of pigs or moles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/502 Installation methods in fluid conducts, e.g. pipelines

Abstract

There is provided a high power laser tool system for transmitting and delivering high power laser energy within the interior of pipes, which includes a high power laser-pig and long distance high power optical tether. The high power laser system performs high power laser pigging operations and other operations, such as, cleaning, assembling, maintaining and monitoring of pipelines.

Claims

1. A launcher system for a high power laser pipeline pig system, comprising a laser source having a power of at least about 15 kW and a wavelength in the range of from about 800 nm to about 1600 nm, comprising:

a. a pig holder section containing a laser pig;

b. a launch section;

c. a feed through section comprising a packer; and

,

d. an optical capable section comprising a high power optical cable having a length of greater than about 1 mile, a means for winding and unwinding the optical cable, and a high power optical fiber having a core having a diameter of at least about 200 μ

m;

wherein the launch section comprises a valve and is in fluid communication with the holder section.

2. A launcher system for a high power laser pipeline pig system, comprising a laser source having a power of at least about 10 kW, comprising:

a. a pig holder section containing a laser pig;

b. a launch section;

c. a feed through section comprising a means for managing pressure between the launching section and the optical cable section; and

,

d. an optical capable section comprising a high power optical cable having a length of greater than about 1 mile and a high power optical fiber having a core having a diameter of at least about 500 μ

m;

wherein the launch section comprises a valve and is in fluid communication with the holder section.

3. A high power laser hot tap assembly comprising:

a top section, a bottom section, a laser delivery assembly, and a first and a second valve in fluid communication with the bottom section;

the top section comprising a high power optical cable, a feed through assembly, wherein the high power optical cable passes through the feed through assembly and is in optical communication with the laser delivery assembly, and an assembly for moving the laser delivery assembly relative to an outer surface of a pipeline;

the bottom section comprising a body defining a cavity, a flange for engaging the outer surface of the pipeline.

4. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 3, comprising a laser source having a power of at least about 5 kW, wherein the laser source is in optical communication with the high power optical cable.

5. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 3, comprising an assembly that is configured to permit the movement of the laser delivery assembly in the cavity relative to the outer surface of the pipeline.

6. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 3, wherein the top and bottom sections comprise respective engaging flanges.

7. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 3, wherein the top and bottom sections are integral.

8. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 3, wherein the laser delivery assembly comprises two high power laser cutters.

9. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 4, comprising an assembly that is configured to permit the movement of the laser delivery assembly in the cavity relative to the outer surface of the pipeline.

10. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 4, wherein the top and bottom sections comprise respective engaging flanges.

11. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 4, wherein the top and bottom sections are integral.

12. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 4, wherein the laser delivery assembly comprises two high power laser cutters.

13. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 3, comprising a laser source having a power of at least about 10 kW, wherein the laser source is in optical communication with the high power optical cable.

14. The high power laser hot tap assembly of claim 3, comprising a laser source having a power of at least about 20 kW, wherein the laser source is in optical communication with the high power optical cable.

15. A system for performing high power laser hot-tapping operations on a pipeline, the system comprising:

a. a high power laser;

b. the high power laser in optical association with a laser hot-tapping assembly, comprising;

i. a first and a second section;

ii. a first and a second valve;

iii. a high power laser delivery assembly, having at least one laser cutter;

iv. wherein the high power laser cutters are movable between a first position in the first section and a second position in the second section, and;

c. a means for attaching the hot-tapping assembly to the outer surface of an active pipeline.