Deepwater Corrosion Services, Inc.

Wayne Graham & Associates International, Inc.

Other

James N Britton

William R Bath

William Jamrok

Michael Dolfay

A hydraulic excavation apparatus may be used for providing access to a pipeline buried under shallow water or in wetland locations, for example, in order to install an electro-mechanical clamp on the pipeline. This clamp can then be used for connecting externals anodes to the pipeline, for monitoring the level of corrosion protection of the pipeline, or for any other purpose.

Hydraulic excavation around a pipeline buried under shallow water

Apparatusdiscloses a subsea monitoring station using solar cells to energize at least one electronic circuit incorporating at least one node having a determinable circuit value or other parameter test station providing a full time voltage readout, powered by the lightson an ROV/AUVor diver's lamp. An additional element of the apparatus is a subsea cathodic protection test stationincorporating a plurality of banks of solar cellspowering DC voltage test circuits having some form of parameter display, such as voltmeter readout, deriving voltage from ambient lightprovided by outside sources, such as an ROVor diver's lamp. The apparatus's cathodic protection test system includes four integral voltmetersof which are powered with independent solar panels. The solar panelsare powered by artificial lightdelivered by diver or submersible vehicle. The test stationincludes sensorsthat are hard wired back to the solar powered voltage readouts contained within the subsea pressure housing. The readout unitcan be incorporated into the structure being monitored, the cathodic protection anode source or can be integrated into a buoyant modulewhich floats above the sea bed.

Subsea solar powered test station with voltage readout

The present inventiondiscloses a collapsible pod for providing cathodic protection to a preferred structureThe present inventionhas a top frameand a bottom framewith a plurality of folding leg segmentspositioned therebetween. The leg segments are comprised of the anode material having a pivotpositioned at each distal end. Also extending between the topand bottomframe is the folded retaining meansthat prevents random deployment of the structure. To expand the structure the folded retaining meansis disengaged whereby the topand bottomframe are spaced apart by the segmented leg elementsAlso shown are stabilizersand a rest channelfor the upper anode. Also disclosed is a lock bracketforming a dual pivot pointfor each leg segmentThe lock bracketprovides means whereby each leg segmentlays in communication with each other adding rigidity to the folded structure. The lock brackethas pinspassing through a slotin the guide bar extending from the distal ends of the leg segmentAs the guide barmoves into linear alignment with the lock bracketthe opposing guide bars move into the lock bracket and are then locked into the extended position.

Expandable anode pod

A self-actuating clamp for attachment to a structural member in a subsea environment is disclosed. The clamp includes a housing having spaced side members, a transverse compression plate mounted between the members across the top of the housing and external accessory mounting surfaces. A pair of opposed, elongated jaw members have their upper portions disposed within the housing, the upper portions of which include upper ends adapted for pivotal mating engagement for permitting limited pivotal movement between the members, with the lower portions of the jaw members projecting below the housing and adapted for opposing clamping engagement with the subsea structural member. Force exerting means, which in one embodiment may comprise a pair of leaf spring assemblies, are provided to cooperate with the housing and jaw members to exert sufficient forces on the jaw members to clamp the jaw members to the exterior surface of the structural member. A trigger actuating assembly is provided for maintaining the jaw members in an open position while the clamp is properly positioned over the structural member, and releases the jaw members for permitting the force exerting means to close the jaw members into clamping engagment with the subsea structural member. Locking apparatus may also be provided for locking the jaw members in the clamped position engaging the subsea structural member.

Subsea clamping apparatus

In a cathodic protection system for protecting a metal structure in contact with a surrounding electrolytic medium, method and apparatus are provided for directly measuring current density. A small metal sample cathode of a like material as the metal structure having a predetermined surface area exposed to the electrolytic medium is located adjacent the surface of the metal structure. A direct electrical path is completed between the sample cathode and the metal structure that is substantially IR free. At least a portion of the electrical path between the sample cathode and the metal structure is insulated from the surrounding electrolytic medium and the metal structure. A voltage directly proportional to the current passing through the electrical path is generated by disposing a toroidal coil in the insulated space by detecting the flux field associated with the current flow through the sample cathode.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

James N Britton