Subsea Pipeline Insulation Cable Embedding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pipeline construction methods lack integrated solutions for data transmission and sensing within pipelines, particularly in subsea environments, where additional cable installations are often necessary and prone to damage.

Innovation Solution

Embedding communication cables, such as fiber optic cables, within the insulation material of pipeline segments, allowing for data transfer and condition monitoring without the need for separate cable installations, using channels or conduits formed in the insulation for cable placement and protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate cable installations are used for data transmission in subsea pipelines, then data transmission capability is achieved, but the system complexity and vulnerability to damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable protectionVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the communication cable with the pipeline insulation structure by forming channels or conduits within the insulation material itself. This integration eliminates the need for separate cable installation processes and reduces vulnerability to damage during installation and operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication cable is nested within the pipeline insulation structure through channels or conduits that are formed as part of the insulation itself. This nesting approach protects the cable within the existing pipeline structure without requiring external installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If channels or conduits are formed in insulation material for cable placement, then cable protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable protectionVSAvoidinsulation manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The channels or conduits are formed in the insulation material during the insulation application process itself, before the pipeline is installed. This preliminary action integrates cable placement capability into the manufacturing process without requiring post-installation modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The insulation material serves multiple functions: thermal insulation, mechanical protection, and cable routing/protection. By forming channels within the insulation, the same component performs both insulation and cable conduit functions, simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10443763B2Smart subsea pipeline

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Pipeline segments can contain cables, such as communication cables (e.g., fiber optic cables) within insulation material surrounding the pipeline segments. Cables can be embedded within the insulation material, run through conduits embedded within the insulation material, placed in channels formed in the insulation material, or otherwise. Channels containing one or more cables can be filled with supplemental insulation material, thus securing the cables within the channels. Pipelines created as disclosed herein can enable data transfer between distant points without the need to lay fiber optic cable in addition to the pipeline. Further, fiber optic cable embedded thusly can be used to sense conditions in the pipeline, such as leaks, seismic activity, strain, and temperature information.