Subsea HIPPS Buffer Vessel for Overpressure Surge Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea high integrity pressure protection systems (HIPPS) require complex and costly designs to achieve rapid valve closure, leading to high costs and complexity, especially due to the need for lengthy fortified pipeline zones and thick walls, which are not efficiently addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a detachable container with a piston seal that can temporarily divert fluid pressure into a receptacle during pressure surges, allowing for increased valve closure time, reducing HIPPS activations, and shortening the fortified pipeline zone, featuring a piston seal that can be reset magnetically or by spring force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional HIPPS systems use rapid valve closure to prevent overpressurization, then protection reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to fortified pipeline zones and thick walls
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer vessel is introduced as an intermediary component between the pipeline and the HIPPS valve. This buffer vessel absorbs pressure surges and transient pressure waves, allowing the HIPPS valve to close more slowly without compromising protection reliability. The buffer vessel acts as a mediator that decouples the rapid pressure changes in the pipeline from the valve closure process, reducing the need for complex fortified pipeline zones and thick walls.
2Reliability
If rapid valve closure is implemented in HIPPS systems, then overpressurization protection is improved, but the length and thickness of fortified pipeline zones increase
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer vessel serves as a mediator that absorbs and dampens pressure surges, allowing the HIPPS valve to close at a slower rate. This reduces the length of the fortified pipeline zone required downstream of the valve, as the buffer vessel contains the pressure transient effects within its volume rather than propagating them through the pipeline.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer vessel provides beforehand cushioning by being pre-filled with fluid and positioned upstream of the HIPPS valve. When the valve closes, the buffer vessel's compressible fluid absorbs the pressure surge before it can propagate downstream, cushioning the system against rapid pressure changes and reducing the need for extended fortified zones.
3Reliability
If rapid valve closure is used in HIPPS systems, then pressure surge mitigation is improved, but wall thickness of fortified pipeline zones increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer vessel acts as an intermediary that absorbs pressure surges through its compressible fluid content. This reduces the peak pressure loads transmitted to the pipeline walls downstream of the HIPPS valve, allowing for reduced wall thickness in the fortified pipeline zone while maintaining pressure surge mitigation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer vessel provides prior cushioning by containing compressible fluid that absorbs pressure surges before they reach the pipeline walls. This cushioning effect reduces the required wall thickness of the fortified pipeline zone, as the buffer vessel prevents full-pressure surges from being transmitted to the pipeline structure.
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 solution reduces the length and thickness of fortified pipeline zones, prolongs HIPPS valve life, and decreases the complexity and cost of the HIPPS system by allowing longer closure times and fewer activations, thereby simplifying installation and design.
Implementation Method 1
A piston seal is positioned within the container capable of completely blocking the container opening in a sealed position and movable between a first position and a second position within the container
Implementation Method 2
In another embodiment, a magnetic component is provided within the container for providing a magnetic force to reset the piston seal to the sealed position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are processes, devices and systems for preventing overpressurization of subsea production equipment and flowlines in which fluid passes through a high integrity pressure protection system (HIPPS). In embodiments, a container having a piston seal therein can be attached to the piping. In embodiments, a device having a piston seal therein and connected to a fluid receptacle can be attached to the piping. In the event of a pressure surge, fluid can be diverted to the container or the device, thereby lessening the pressure surge. In embodiments, the container or device includes a resetting force to return the piston seal to its original sealed position. The use of the systems disclosed improve the life of the HIPPS valve, protects subsea equipment and flowlines, and enables a length and/or a wall thickness of a fortified pipeline zone downstream of the HIPPS to be reduced.