Pipeline leak sealing system and method
First Claim
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1. A method for sealing a leak in a pipeline used to transport fluid, the method comprising:
- positioning a sealing device within the pipeline, the sealing device comprising an inflatable bag and an adhesive;
moving the sealing device through the pipeline to a leak location; and
limiting the release of fluid from the pipeline at the leak location by;
internally generating an inflation pressure to inflate the inflatable bag to substantially cover a leak opening at the leak location; and
adhering the sealing device to an interior wall of the pipeline at the leak location using the adhesive.
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Abstract
A method for sealing a leak in a pipeline used to transport fluid includes positioning a sealing device within the pipeline, moving the sealing device through the pipeline to a leak location, and internally generating an inflation pressure to inflate the sealing device to substantially cover a leak opening and limit release of the fluid from the pipeline.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for sealing a leak in a pipeline used to transport fluid, the method comprising:
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positioning a sealing device within the pipeline, the sealing device comprising an inflatable bag and an adhesive; moving the sealing device through the pipeline to a leak location; and limiting the release of fluid from the pipeline at the leak location by; internally generating an inflation pressure to inflate the inflatable bag to substantially cover a leak opening at the leak location; and adhering the sealing device to an interior wall of the pipeline at the leak location using the adhesive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A sealing device for sealing a leak within a pipeline for transporting fluid, the sealing device comprising:
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a frame; and an inflatable bag coupled to the frame and sized according to one or more dimensions of the pipeline; wherein the frame and the inflatable bag are configured to move through the pipeline; and wherein the inflatable bag comprises a gas generator and is configured to at least partially seal the leak and to inhibit release of the fluid from the pipeline when the inflatable bag is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A sealing device for sealing a leak within a pipeline for transporting fluid, the sealing device comprising:
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a closed flexible wall formed into a substantially tubular shape defining an opening; and an internal frame coupled to the closed flexible wall and configured to control a movement of the closed flexible wall by applying a force to the closed flexible wall; wherein the movement of the closed flexible wall moves the sealing device through the pipeline, the internal frame being configured to control a stiffness of the closed flexible wall such that a fluid flow through the pipeline creates a shear force acting on the closed flexible wall to move the sealing device through the pipeline; and wherein the sealing device may be deployed in order to seal the leak. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A sealing device for sealing a leak within a pipeline for transporting fluid, the sealing device comprising:
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a closed flexible wall formed into a substantially tubular shape defining an opening; and an internal frame coupled to the closed flexible wall and configured to control a movement of the closed flexible wall by applying a force to the closed flexible wall; wherein the movement of the closed flexible wall moves the sealing device through the pipeline; wherein the closed flexible wall includes external structures positioned on an outer surface of the closed flexible wall and configured to control a speed of the sealing device as the sealing device moves through the pipeline; and wherein the sealing device may be deployed in order to seal the leak.
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35. A sealing device for sealing a leak within a pipeline for transporting fluid, the sealing device comprising:
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a closed flexible wall formed into a substantially tubular shape defining an opening, wherein the closed flexible wall includes a pipeline-facing surface and a fluid-facing surface; and an internal frame coupled to the closed flexible wall and configured to control a movement of the closed flexible wall by applying a force to the closed flexible wall; wherein the movement of the closed flexible wall moves the sealing device through the pipeline; wherein the pipeline-facing surface and the fluid-facing surface of the closed flexible wall are configured to repetitively change places with one another as the sealing device moves along the pipeline; and wherein the sealing device may be deployed in order to seal the leak.
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36. A sealing device for sealing a leak within a pipeline for transporting fluid, the sealing device comprising:
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a closed flexible wall formed into a substantially tubular shape defining an opening; an internal frame coupled to the closed flexible wall and configured to control a movement of the closed flexible wall by applying a force to the closed flexible wall; and an adhesive configured to adhere the sealing device to an interior wall of the pipeline; wherein the movement of the closed flexible wall moves the sealing device through the pipeline; and wherein the sealing device may be deployed in order to seal the leak.
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Specification