Flexible Pipe Terminal Attachment with Embedded Strain Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for monitoring flexible pipes in subsea hydrocarbon production installations are time-consuming and require hydrocarbon production to be stopped, making them inefficient and impractical for detecting damage or failure.

Innovation Solution

A terminal end-attachment device with a strain sensor incorporated within an attachment body, allowing for continuous monitoring of strain conditions without stopping production, featuring an optical fibre strain sensor and a sensor carrier that can be accurately positioned and embedded within the attachment body, enabling precise strain measurement and data collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If strain gauges are attached to the side of a flexible pipe using a connecting structure, then strain conditions can be measured, but positioning and attaching the strain gauges becomes impractical and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrain measurement capabilityVSAvoidpositioning and attaching difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the strain sensor and its mounting structure into a single integrated terminal end-attachment device. The sensor carrier is incorporated within the attachment body, eliminating the need for separate positioning and attaching operations. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement capability while dramatically simplifying the installation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The strain sensor is pre-positioned on the sensor carrier within the attachment body during manufacturing, before installation on the flexible pipe. This preliminary positioning eliminates the practical difficulties of field installation, as the sensor is already in its correct operational position when the device is installed on the pipe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If monitoring techniques are used to identify damage in flexible pipes, then damage detection is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires hydrocarbon production to be stopped

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage detection capabilityVSAvoidhydrocarbon production continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal end-attachment device with integrated strain sensor enables continuous monitoring of flexible pipe strain conditions during normal hydrocarbon production operations. The sensor provides real-time data without interrupting the production flow, resolving the contradiction between reliable damage detection and maintaining production continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The strain sensor continuously monitors the flexible pipe's condition autonomously during production, providing self-diagnostic capability. This eliminates the need for external inspection teams to stop production for manual assessments, maintaining both reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If individual strain gauges are attached to a flexible pipe, then strain measurement is possible, but the operating position of the strain sensor cannot be accurately controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrain sensor position accuracyVSAvoidsensor positioning control

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor carrier is integrated within the attachment body as a unified structure, providing a predetermined and accurate operating position for the strain sensor. This merging eliminates positioning control difficulties, as the sensor's location is fixed relative to the attachment body geometry during manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment body geometry, including the sensor carrier position, is designed with specific dimensional parameters that precisely define the strain sensor's operating location. By controlling these geometric parameters during manufacturing, accurate sensor positioning is achieved without complex positioning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables continuous monitoring of flexible pipes during installation and operation, reducing the need to stop hydrocarbon production and improving the accuracy of strain measurements, thus enhancing the integrity assurance of subsea pipes.

Implementation Method 1

The said strain sensor comprises an optical fibre strain sensor, which may comprise a fibre grating strain sensor, such as a fibre Bragg grating, or a fibre interferometric strain sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical fibre strain sensing: Optical Fibre

Data Source

PatentUS9404609B2Flexible pipe terminal end-attachment device

Publication Date: 2016.08.02 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A terminal end-attachment device (10) for a flexible pipe (12) comprising an attachment body (14) adapted to receive a terminal end of a flexible pipe (12) and to couple the said flexible pipe to a hydrocarbon production installation structure. The device (10) further comprising a strain sensor (16) coupled to a sensor carrier (18), at least part of the sensor carrier (18) and the strain sensor (16) being at least partially incorporated within the attachment body (14). A method of manufacturing a terminal end-attachment device (10) for a flexible pipe (12) is also provided.