A mechanical plug includes first and second plug portions and an elongate member. The first plug portion includes a first endwall and a first sidewall. The first sidewall includes a female section extending in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the mechanical plug. The second plug portion is movable relative to the first plug portion. The second plug portion includes a second sidewall, a second endwall coupled to the second sidewall, and a seal. The second sidewall includes a male section extending in a direction along the longitudinal axis. The seal surrounds a portion of the male section in a region along the longitudinal axis between the second endwall and the female section. The elongate member is coupled to the first and second plug portions. Actuation of the elongate member moves the first plug portion and the second plug portion toward each other to compress the seal.

A pig routing insert or drain is used in various subsea systems having a block structure, e.g., block manifolds, with a plurality of perforated fluid passages. The insert generally includes a substantially unrestricted flow opening configured to allow substantially unrestricted fluid flow and passage of a cleaning pig, and a partially restricted opening having at least one pig blocking structure, in which the partially restricted opening is configured to allow substantially unrestricted fluid flow through the partially restricted opening whilst blocking the passage of the cleaning pig through the partially restricted opening. A method for manufacturing and installing the pig routing insert or drain in a machined block manifold includes positioning a manufactured pig routing insert at an intersection of first and second perforated fluid flow holes formed in a body of a structure and fastening the manufactured pig routing insert within the intersection in the body.

A gripper assembly for a pipeline plug includes an actuator plate, bowl, and gripper unit. The actuator plate includes a wedge surface. The bowl includes a bowl expansion face. The bowl expansion face has bowl stairsteps. The gripper unit includes a gripper body. The gripper body is positioned between the actuator plate and the bowl. The gripper body includes an expansion face having gripper stairsteps, the gripper stairsteps corresponding to the bowl stairsteps.

An pneumatic plug for sealing a pipeline. The pneumatic plug includes a tubular member that extends in an axial direction from a first end to a second end. The tubular member includes a rubber layer and an elastomeric band. The rubber layer extends from the first end to the second end of the tubular member. The elastomeric band is disposed on a top of the rubber layer. The elastomeric band is positioned between the first end and the second end of the tubular member.

Methods of sealing tubulars are disclosed herein, which methods may include: providing a patch plug assembly that includes: a shaft; a wedge coupled to the shaft; a slip coupled to the shaft; a plug slidably coupled to the wedge; and a ferrule disposed between the wedge and the plug; pushing the slip against the tubular; pushing the plug against the ferrule after the slip is pushed against the tubular; pushing the ferrule against the wedge after the plug is pushed against the ferrule; and pushing a plug portion of the plug against an inner surface of the tubular.

The invention discloses an intelligent plugging robot and method thereof for rerouting, maintaining and repairing long-distance pipelines. The intelligent plugging robot includes a through-flow governor, a flow-blocking mechanism and a telescopic mechanism, wherein the through-flow governor and the flow-blocking mechanism are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the device. The invention can realize remote, fast, safe and accurate plugging during maintaining and repairing the long-distance pipeline, wherein the telescopic mechanism cooperates with the flow-blocking mechanism to move autonomously in the pipe to achieve precise positioning, the through-flow governor can not only adjust the plugging robot but also ensure the cleaning of the pipe wall, make it stable contact with the signal transceiver, and realize the stable communication between the robot in the pipe and the remote monitoring machine.

The invention discloses an intelligent plugging robot and method thereof for rerouting, maintaining and repairing long-distance pipelines. The intelligent plugging robot includes a through-flow governor, a flow-blocking mechanism and a telescopic mechanism, wherein the through-flow governor and the flow-blocking mechanism are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the device. The invention can realize remote, fast, safe and accurate plugging during maintaining and repairing the long-distance pipeline, wherein the telescopic mechanism cooperates with the flow-blocking mechanism to move autonomously in the pipe to achieve precise positioning, the through-flow governor can not only adjust the plugging robot but also ensure the cleaning of the pipe wall, make it stable contact with the signal transceiver, and realize the stable communication between the robot in the pipe and the remote monitoring machine.

Methods of sealing tubulars are disclosed herein, which methods may include: providing a patch plug assembly that includes: a shaft; a wedge coupled to the shaft; a slip coupled to the shaft; a plug slidably coupled to the wedge; and a ferrule disposed between the wedge and the plug; pushing the slip against the tubular; pushing the plug against the ferrule after the slip is pushed against the tubular; pushing the ferrule against the wedge after the plug is pushed against the ferrule; and pushing a plug portion of the plug against an inner surface of the tubular.

The disclosure relates to a gripping apparatus, for use in connecting to a pipe wherein the pipe defines an inside radius, the apparatus having at least one discrete gripping device mounted on a body, wherein the body is a wedge cone; an outer surface on each of the at least one discrete gripping device, wherein the outer surface has a transition surface defined by a means for reducing any sharp transition point; a coating on the outer surface; a collective actuation-retraction mechanism connected to the wedge cone and to each of the at least one discrete gripping device; and a collective extension-retractable mechanism connected to each of at least one discrete gripping device. The disclosure further relates to an alternative exemplary embodiment wherein the gripping apparatus further includes a spring, wherein the spring pre-biases each of the at least one discrete gripping device beyond the inside radius of the pipe to instantly grip the inside radius.

A method of manufacturing a plug for a pipe system includes cutting a plug from a length of pipe, the length of pipe defining a pipe bore, the pipe bore defining an inner diameter equal to an inner diameter of a main bore of the plug, the plug including a top portion defining a top diameter, a bottom portion defining a bottom diameter, and a web portion joining the top portion and the bottom portion.