Split Clamp Sampling of Flexible Pipe Pressure Barriers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to effectively sample and analyze the pressure barrier layer of flexible pipes operating at elevated temperatures, leading to premature condemnation due to conservative safety factors and uncertainties in temperature and fluid composition estimates.

Innovation Solution

A split clamp and tool system for flexible pipes that allows layer-by-layer drilling to reach the pressure barrier, enabling sample extraction and subsequent repair, ensuring accurate degradation analysis and restoration of pipe integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conservative safety factors are used in degradation assessment, then reliability of assessment is improved, but pipe operational life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedegradation assessment reliabilityVSAvoidpipe operational life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conservative mechanical safety factors with actual physical measurement data. By using acoustic emission sensors and other detection devices to directly measure the structural integrity and degradation state of the pipe, the system substitutes theoretical conservative estimates with empirical evidence, allowing for more accurate assessment and extended operational life without compromising reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism through continuous monitoring and sampling of the pressure barrier. By periodically assessing the actual degradation state and using this information to update the assessment model, the system creates a closed-loop feedback system that reduces uncertainty over time, enabling more accurate predictions and extended safe operation beyond conservative estimates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If temperature estimates with uncertainties are used, then assessment coverage is improved, but measurement precision is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment coverageVSAvoidtemperature measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by installing temperature sensors and monitoring equipment during the initial deployment phase. This allows for continuous temperature data collection from the outset, enabling the system to track actual temperature profiles and use this historical data to refine degradation assessments, rather than relying on estimated temperatures after deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses temperature sensors and thermal monitoring devices as intermediaries to directly measure the thermal environment affecting the pipe. These intermediaries provide accurate real-time temperature data that mediates between the complex thermal conditions and the degradation assessment model, eliminating the need for uncertain temperature estimates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If fluid composition simulations are used, then assessment comprehensiveness is improved, but measurement precision is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment comprehensivenessVSAvoidfluid composition measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces fluid composition simulations with direct sampling and analysis of the transported fluid. By using physical sampling devices to extract actual fluid samples and analyzing their composition in laboratories, the system substitutes theoretical simulations with measured data, providing precise information about the actual chemical environment affecting the pipe

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If layer-by-layer drilling is performed to sample pressure barrier, then sampling precision is improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure barrier sampling precisionVSAvoidsampling device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the sampling process into discrete sequential steps: drilling through each layer, collecting samples, and progressing to the next layer. The sampling device is segmented into modular components that can be deployed and operated in a systematic sequence, making the complex process manageable and controllable while maintaining precision in reaching the pressure barrier

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12474235B2Method and device for sampling pressure barrier of flexible pipes

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 PETROLEO BRASILEIRO SA PETROBRAS

AI summary

The present invention proposes a split clamp (7), typical of trepanning operations in pipes, which allows the intervention with a tool (3) that makes a circular hole in the pipe (1) under analysis, removing layer by layer, until reaching the pressure barrier (2). With this, a sample of the layer of interest is removed to be forwarded for analysis. Such a clamp (7) has means to isolate the pipe (1) from the external environment, introduce the tool (3) and remove the same with the sample, also allowing tightness repair of the pipe (1).