Modular Pipe Restraint for Selective High-Pressure Flowline Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
High pressure temporary pipelines in the offshore oil and gas industry pose a risk of violent movement during failures, potentially causing injury or damage due to the lack of effective restraint systems that allow for selective maintenance without disassembling all slings.
Innovation Solution
A restraint system utilizing endless loop slings connected end-to-end with hitch type connections and disconnectable fittings, such as shackles, allows for secure attachment to the pipeline at intervals using knotted connectors, enabling selective disconnection and maintenance of high pressure piping systems without disassembling all slings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional restraint systems are used on high pressure pipelines, then the pipeline is secured against violent movement during failures, but the entire restraint system must be disassembled for maintenance of any pipe section
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system is divided into multiple independent modular units, each comprising a sling assembly with disconnectable fittings that can be individually attached to and removed from specific pipe sections. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access and maintain only the affected pipe section by disconnecting just one restraint unit, rather than disassembling the entire restraint system, thereby improving maintenance accessibility while maintaining pipeline security through the remaining intact restraint units.
2Ease of operation
If disconnectable fittings are introduced to enable selective maintenance, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but the complexity of the restraint system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses standardized disconnectable fittings that create modular, interchangeable components. Each restraint unit is designed as a self-contained module with uniform connection interfaces, allowing for easy assembly and disconnection without requiring complex tools or procedures. This modular segmentation manages complexity by breaking down the overall system into simple, repeatable units.
Solution Approach 2:
The disconnectable fittings are designed with universal compatibility across all restraint units in the system. The same fitting type and connection mechanism are used throughout, allowing any restraint unit to be interchangeably attached to any pipe section. This universality simplifies the system by using standardized components rather than custom-designed connections for each restraint unit, thereby improving maintenance accessibility without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Strength
If multiple slings are used to secure the pipeline, then the pipeline restraint strength is improved, but the time required for maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple slings are organized into discrete restraint units that can be independently disconnected. Each unit contains one or more slings configured to provide the necessary restraint strength for its associated pipe section. When maintenance is needed, only the specific restraint unit requiring service is disconnected, allowing the other units with their multiple slings to remain in place and continue providing restraint strength, thereby reducing maintenance time while maintaining adequate restraint capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The disconnectable fittings are pre-configured and positioned at strategic locations along the pipeline before operation begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that restraint units are already optimally positioned and configured to provide necessary strength, and that disconnecting a single pre-positioned unit provides immediate access to the pipe section for maintenance without requiring time-consuming reconfiguration of multiple slings during the maintenance process.
Data Source
AI summary
A restraint system for use in securing temporary flow lines that include multiple pipe sections, each pair of pipe sections connected together with a fitting or coupling such as a hammer joint coupling. The system includes multiple pluralities of endless loop slings connected end to end with a cow hitch or girth hitch knot. Disconnectable fittings (e.g., shackles) are placed every three or more slings so that easy disassembly is afforded in case of leakage or other failure.