Ge Oil & Gas UK Limited

Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited

Wellstream International Limited

Geoffrey Stephen Graham

John Cross McNab

Philip Michael Hunter Nott

Phillip Edward Harley

Neville Dodds

George Karabelas

Philip Michael Nott

Upul Shanthilal Fernando

Michelle Davidson

Peter Kirton

Andrew Thompson

William James Shephard

William James Shepherd

Suranjith Warnakulasuriya

Andrew Wharton

George Henry Frank Hatherley

Philip Edward Harley

John Mcnab

A first embodiment of a detection apparatus arranged to detect defects within a flexible pipe body comprises a signal generator, a receiver, a correlator and a processor. A second embodiment of a detection apparatus arranged to detect defects within a flexible pipe at least partially surrounded by seawater comprises an impedance monitor and a processor. Methods of detecting defects within a flexible pipe body, a pipeline apparatus and methods of forming pipeline apparatuses are also disclosed.

Detection apparatus and method

A detection apparatus and method arranged to detect defects within a flexible pipe at least partially surrounded by seawater. The detection apparatus comprises a seawater electrode, an impedance monitor and a processor. The seawater electrode is arranged to be in contact with seawater surrounding at least part of a flexible pipe. The impedance monitor is arranged to measure the impedance between a metallic structural component of the flexible pipe extending at least partially along the length of the flexible pipe and the seawater electrode in response to an electrical test signal applied to the seawater electrode. The processor is arranged to determine the distance from the seawater electrode to a pipe defect electrically connecting the metallic structural component to seawater using the measured impedance.

Apparatus and method for detecting defects within a flexible pipe

A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a bending radius of a flexible pipe. The apparatus includes at least one bend sensor element comprising an elongate flexible substrate and at least one bend sensitive element on the substrate that has at least one electrical characteristic that is responsive to angular displacement of the substrate. The apparatus also comprises a flexible crush resistant elongate housing that supports and surrounds the bend sensor element.

Angular displacement of flexible pipe

Detection apparatus and method for a flexible pipe

A flexible pipe body comprising an elongate curvature sensor and a tensile armor layer. The elongate curvature sensor incorporates a strain sensor arranged to provide an indication of bending strain applied to the curvature sensor. The tensile armor layer comprises helically wound tensile armor wires. The curvature sensor is positioned within the tensile armor layer helically wound adjacent to at least one tensile armor wire such that bending strain applied to the flexible pipe body is transmitted to the curvature sensor. The curvature sensor is smaller than an adjacent tensile armor wire in at least one of depth and width and arranged to slide longitudinally relative to the adjacent tensile armor wire.

Flexible pipe body and sensing method having a curvature sensor and tensile armour wire

A detection apparatus arranged to detect defects within a flexible pipe body. The detection apparatus comprises an electrical power supply and a first meter. The electrical power supply is arranged to couple between, and to supply current to, first and second electrically conductive members extending at least partially along the length of a flexible pipe body and electrically isolated from one another except for being electrically connected at a point remote from the power supply. The first meter is arranged to detect variation between the current flowing in each electrically conductive member. Detected variation is indicative of a pipe body defect causing an Earth fault along one of the electrically conductive members. A corresponding method, a pipeline apparatus including the detection apparatus and a method of forming the pipeline apparatus are also disclosed.

A flexible pipe body and methods of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The method may include providing a tubular length of polymeric material for forming a polymeric layer of flexible pipe body; providing a strength layer radially outwards of the polymeric layer; and treating the polymeric layer with a non-ambient temperature and pressure.

Flexible pipe body and method of producing same

A pipeline apparatus comprising a flexible pipe body and a detection apparatus. The flexible pipe body includes an optical fiber extending at least partially along the length of the flexible pipe body, the optical fiber being encased in a metal tube. The detection apparatus comprises an optical sensor and an electrical sensor. The optical sensor is coupled to a first end of the optical fiber, the optical sensor being arranged to inject optical pulses into the optical fiber and to detect scattered or reflected light. The electrical sensor is coupled to a first end of the metal tube and to detect variation of an electrical impedance between the first end of the metal tube and a separate terminal. Variation of the scattered or reflected light, or impedance variation, is indicative of a potential pipe body defect.

Pipeline apparatus and method

Flexible pipe body for transporting fluids from a sub-sea location includes a carcass layer comprising adjacent interlocked annular elements each comprising a body portion that extends around an inner circumference of a bore region and a channel region provided within the body. A method of manufacturing flexible pipe body is also disclosed.

Flexible pipe having a carcass layer

An elongate element () for a flexible pipe body () and method of producing the same are disclosed. The method includes inserting a first fiber element () in a crush resistant elongate tube element (), wherein the first fiber element is suitable for monitoring at least one of strain, temperature and acoustic properties; inserting a further fiber element () in the tube element, wherein the further fiber element is suitable for curing a matrix material (); and inserting a matrix material into the tube element to fill at least a length of the tube element such that the first and further fibers elements within that length are surrounded by matrix material.

Elongate element for flexible pipe body and method

A method for manufacturing flexible pipe body and flexible pipe body of a type suitable for transporting production fluids is disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes an armour layer comprising interlocked windings of armour tape comprising at least one armour locating element and a reinforcement layer comprising a layer of reinforcement tape comprising at least one reinforcement locating element over the armour layer. The armour locating element and reinforcement locating element locate windings of the reinforcement tape with respect to respective windings of the armour tape.

Armour reinforcement

An elongate tape and method of producing an elongate tape are disclosed. The tape is suitable for forming a helically wound layer of interlocked windings in a flexible pipe body, and is configured for interlocking with adjacent windings, wherein the tape has a cross-sectional profile including: a first surface that in use forms a radially inner surface of the helically wound layer; a further surface, in use forming a side wall extending radially outwards, away from the first surface, and for forming a contact surface with a region of an adjacent winding; and a transition surface joining the first surface and further surface, wherein the transition surface comprises a curved surface, and wherein the curved surface has a larger radius of curvature in a region proximate the first surface than in a region proximate the further surface.

Elongate tape and method of producing same

Apparatus and method of manufacturing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The method may include providing a fluid retaining layer; wrapping a plurality of tensile armour elements around the fluid retaining layer; and wrapping a crush resistant elongate body that houses at least one fibre element around the fluid retaining layer and radially between two of the plurality of tensile armour elements. Matrix material provided in the elongate body may be cured subsequent to fitting the pipe body to an end fitting.

Growing community of inventors

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom

Geoffrey Stephen Graham