Segmented Insulating Inserts for Bendable Pipeline Field Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing field joint coatings in subsea pipelines face challenges with cracking and prolonged curing times, leading to delays and increased operational costs, particularly during the reel-lay method where bending stresses and strains cause deformation and potential corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A pliant insulating insert with a series of annular segments connected by flexible links is positioned around the field joint to absorb differential stress and strain, allowing for angular displacement and reducing the need for stiffening, which is then embedded in a polymer field joint coating to ensure continuous thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid field joint coating is used to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but cracking occurs under bending stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The field joint coating is divided into multiple discrete segments rather than a continuous rigid layer. These segments are spaced apart to allow relative movement and angular displacement when the pipeline bends, preventing the coating from cracking while maintaining protective coverage over the field joint area.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating system transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic segmented structure that can adapt to bending stresses. The segments can move independently relative to each other, enabling the coating to accommodate changes in pipeline geometry without failure.
2Temperature
If a continuous rigid coating is applied to ensure thermal insulation continuity, then thermal insulation is improved, but curing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is applied as separate segments rather than as a single continuous layer. This segmentation allows each segment to cure independently and more quickly, reducing the overall curing time while still providing continuous thermal insulation coverage when the segments are positioned adjacent to each other.
3Strength
If stiffening measures are taken to prevent deformation under bending, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than adding complex stiffening structures, the solution segments the coating into simple discrete units. These segments inherently accommodate bending through their spaced arrangement without requiring additional stiffening elements, thereby maintaining strength while minimizing complexity.
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
The solution reduces the risk of cracking and shortens the field joint coating production time by accommodating bending stresses, maintaining thermal insulation continuity, and preventing corrosion, thus optimizing pipeline installation efficiency and reducing capital asset idle time.
Implementation Method 1
The links are flexible relative to the segments to facilitate bending of the insert along its length by enabling relative angular displacement between adjacent segments of the series
Implementation Method 2
a pliant insulating insert with a series of annular segments connected by flexible links is positioned around the field joint to absorb differential stress and strain, allowing for angular displacement and reducing the need for stiffening, which is then embedded in a polymer field joint coating to ensure continuous thermal insulation
Data Source
AI summary
An insulating insert is positioned around a field joint of a pipeline to insulate the field joint. The insert comprises a longitudinal series of annular or part-annular filler segments of insulating material, curved about a longitudinal axis, that are each joined to one or more adjacent segments of the series by at least one link. The links may be webs, rods or articulated links. The links are flexible relative to the segments to facilitate bending of the insert along its length by enabling relative angular displacement between adjacent segments of the series.