Riser Bundle Hoist Rail for Controlled Satellite Pipe Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing and replacing satellite tubes or pipes from riser bundles in deep water petroleum collection systems are inefficient, lacking a systematic approach for safe and controlled extraction.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing a specially configured hoist and rail arrangement with separate lifts that travel along the riser bundle, allowing for the selective removal of satellite tubes by lifting and pulling them through an end flange opening, while supporting the tube with multiple lifts and cradles, and using wheeled vehicles for lateral transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional methods are used to remove satellite tubes from riser bundles, then the process is simpler in terms of equipment, but the operational efficiency and safety are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hoisting apparatus is divided into multiple independent lifts (first lift, second lift, third lift) that can operate independently or in coordination. Each lift is equipped with its own carriage that travels along the rail, allowing segmented handling of the satellite tube at different locations along its length. This segmentation enables controlled elevation and positioning while maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A rail system serves as an intermediary structure that connects and coordinates the movement of multiple carriages along the length of the riser bundle. The rail provides a guided pathway that ensures synchronized and controlled movement of the lifts, enabling precise positioning of the satellite tube during removal and reinstallation operations.
2Reliability
If multiple lifts are used to support the satellite tube, then the control and safety are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into multiple independent lifts, each with its own carriage and lifting mechanism. This allows distributed support of the satellite tube at multiple points along its length, improving safety through redundant support points while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design of each lift unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriages are designed to travel dynamically along the rail system, allowing the lifts to reposition themselves as needed during the removal and reinstallation process. This dynamic capability enables flexible and controlled manipulation of the satellite tube, enhancing safety through precise positioning while the modular rail system keeps the overall apparatus complexity manageable.
3Productivity
If the satellite tube is lifted and pulled through the flange opening, then the removal efficiency is improved, but the risk of damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The satellite tube is first elevated vertically by the lifts to a safe height before being pulled through the flange opening. This preliminary elevation action separates the lifting function from the pulling function, allowing controlled movement through the opening while reducing the risk of damage. The multi-lift system enables this staged approach, improving removal efficiency while mitigating damage risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail system acts as an intermediary guide that controls the movement of the satellite tube during the pulling operation. By providing a guided pathway and synchronized movement of multiple carriages, the rail system ensures that the tube is pulled through the flange opening in a controlled manner, reducing the risk of damage while maintaining removal efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of servicing a pipe bundle or riser bundle employs a specially configured hoist having a rail that supports multiple lifts. A selected satellite pipe/conduit of the pipe bundle is both lifted and pulled horizontally in order to remove it from a plurality of supports that hold the satellite pipes together in spaced apart positions. During removal of a satellite pipe, the lifts elevate, then travel with and hold the pipe as it moves horizontally away from the bundle.