Subsea Pipeline Isolation Valve Layout for Leak Testing Without Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea pipeline operations face challenges in leak isolation and maintenance, particularly during emergencies, due to the lack of effective isolation devices and reliance on support vessels for maintenance, leading to increased costs, operational complexity, and extended downtime.
Innovation Solution
A subsea pipeline isolation system comprising a subsea isolation valve (SSIV), mechanically actuated ball valve (MBV), hydraulic gate valves (HGV-1 and HGV-2), a recoverable electric actuator, pressure compensation system, and monitoring system with pressure and temperature transducers, allowing for autonomous testing and isolation without support vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If subsea isolation valves are installed in gas pipelines to prevent leaks and emergencies, then safety and operational control are improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pipeline is divided into multiple isolated sections using subsea isolation valves (SSIVs) positioned at strategic locations. Each valve segment can independently isolate specific pipeline sections, allowing localized emergency response without shutting down the entire pipeline system. This segmentation approach enhances safety by containing potential leaks while maintaining overall system operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with torque tools serves as an intermediary device to operate subsea isolation valves during emergencies. The ROV transmits control signals and mechanical torque through the water column to actuate valves without requiring human divers or complex surface-based mechanical linkages, thereby improving safety response capability while avoiding excessive mechanical complexity in the valve actuation system.
2Productivity
If support vessels are used for maintenance and watertightness testing of subsea pipelines, then testing capability is improved, but operational costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The subsea isolation valve system incorporates integrated testing capabilities that allow the valves and pipeline sections to be tested for watertightness and operational integrity while remaining in their installed subsea positions. The system uses its own isolation functionality to create test chambers and pressure differentials, eliminating the need for external support vessels to perform maintenance testing. This self-service approach significantly reduces operational costs and time consumption while maintaining comprehensive testing capability.
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 system ensures safe and efficient pipeline isolation with reduced operational costs and increased flexibility by enabling rapid testing and maintenance from the production unit, minimizing reliance on support vessels and providing multiple layers of protection against failures.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic gate valve (HGV-1), a hydraulic gate valve (HGV-2)
Implementation Method 2
pressure compensation system
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a subsea pipeline isolation system and methods. An embodiment of a system includes a subsea isolation valve, a mechanically actuated ball valve, a first hydraulic gate valve, a second hydraulic gate valve, a mechanically actuated gate valve, recoverable electric actuator, pressure compensation systems, instrumentation and a monitoring system having a pressure transducer and a pressure and temperature transducer, mounted on a multiple quick connector. Embodiments of the isolation systems and methods offers greater control and operational flexibility and efficiency in gas flow through subsea pipelines, and is designed to address specific challenges in subsea operations, such as leak isolation and subsea pipeline maintenance.