Subsea Pipe Connectors With Breakable Plugs for Sealed Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Installation of subsea structures and piping is technically complex and cost-intensive, necessitating improved methods for efficient and safe installation.
Innovation Solution
The use of breakable plugs in the installation of subsea structures and piping systems, the installation of subsea fluid handling components, the installation of subsea pipes involves laying down pipes with breakable plugs that remain sealed during positioning, followed by shattering the plugs to establish fluid connections using increased pressure or mechanical means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional subsea pipe installation methods are used, then the installation process requires complex procedures and multiple intervention steps, but this increases technical complexity and installation costs
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe is pre-filled with fluid under pressure before installation, and breakable plugs are pre-installed at the ends. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex intervention procedures during installation, as the pipe is ready for immediate connection and fluid transfer upon plug removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakable plugs are designed as separate, removable components that can be easily extracted after installation. This extraction principle simplifies the installation process by separating the sealing function (plug) from the connection structure, allowing for straightforward plug removal to establish fluid flow without complex disassembly procedures.
2Reliability
If breakable plugs are used to seal pipes during installation, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the installation process requires additional steps for plug removal
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical plug removal process is replaced by using fluid pressure to automatically shatter the breakable plugs. The high-pressure fluid injected into the pipe naturally breaks the plugs without requiring external mechanical intervention, tools, or manual operations, thereby maintaining sealing reliability while eliminating additional installation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakable plugs are designed to self-destruct automatically when exposed to high-pressure fluid during the fluid transfer operation. The plugs do not require external removal mechanisms or additional操作步骤; they simply shatter when the fluid pressure exceeds their strength, making the system self-servicing and improving installation efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If pipes are positioned and connected before fluid transfer, then proper alignment and connection integrity are ensured, but the risk of fluid leakage during connection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pipes are positioned and connected while in a dry state with breakable plugs intact, ensuring proper alignment and connection integrity without the risk of fluid leakage. The fluid transfer operation is performed as a preliminary action only after connection is established, and the breakable plugs are removed only when ready for controlled fluid introduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakable plugs serve as an intermediary sealing element that prevents fluid leakage during the connection process. They allow the pipe ends to be connected in a controlled manner while maintaining sealing, and can be removed only when the connection is secure and ready for fluid transfer.
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
This approach allows for efficient and safe installation of subsea pipes by maintaining a sealed environment during positioning and installation of the pipe 11, 12, 13 and the subsea structure 4, 14-17 and the subsea structure 4, 14-17 and the subsea structure 4, 14-17 have been illustrated in FIG. 2, it is common to first allow the pipe 11, 12, 13 with the connectors 11a, 12a, 12b to be positioned in place relative to the relevant subsea structures 14-17 and the connectors thereon, and then to operate an actuator to make up the connections. The actuator may in such a case pull in one connector part into engagement with another connector part, e.g. pull the connector 11a towards the connector 4a in FIG. 1, and then to lock the connectors together. In this process, the pipe 11 may also be partly moved (e.g., pulled) relative to the sea floor 2 and/or the subsea structure(s) 14-17.
Implementation Method 1
shattering the plug such as to open for fluid connection between the pipe and the subsea structure
Data Source
AI summary
A method of establishing a fluid connection in a subsea petroleum production system, the method comprising: positioning a first subsea fluid handling component (4,11-17,28) having a first connector (4a, 11a, 12a, 12b,29) adjacent a second subsea fluid handling component (4,11-17,28) having a second connector (4a, 11a, 12a, 12b,29), the first and/or second connectors (4a, 11a, 12a, 12b,29) having a breakable plug (20) sealingly arranged therein; operating an actuator to make up a connection between the first and second connectors (4a, 11a, 12a, 12b,29) while the breakable plug (20) is intact; shattering the plug (20) such as to open for fluid connection between the first and second subsea fluid handling components (4,11-17,28). There is also provided a subsea pipe (11,12,13) for arrangement on a sea floor (2) or on a subsea structure (4,14-17), having a breakable plug (20) sealingly arranged in an end connector (11a,12a, 12b) forming strengthened end parts of the pipe (11,12,13).