A pipeline inspection apparatus includes a main body. A sealing structure attached to the main body seals against an internal surface of the pipeline. An imaging module includes a camera and a light source. The light source is arranged to emit light in a direction towards the internal surface of the pipeline. The camera is arranged such that, in use, the camera captures image data of the internal surface of the pipeline. Control circuitry includes a power supply and memory for storing data captured by said camera, wherein the sealing structure forms a seal against the internal surface of the pipeline such that, in use, a fluid flowing along the pipeline applies a driving force to the pipeline inspection apparatus to propel the apparatus along the pipeline.

There is provided an expandable pipeline pig for a varying diameter pipeline having a pig body that carries two or more guides and one or more actuators. Each guide has a resilient body with a folding zone between an outer perimeter and a central area connected to the pig body, a series of support members spaced circumferentially about the resilient body within the folding zone, and a series of collapsing structures positioned between, and integrally formed with, adjacent support members. The actuators selectively release the guides from a reduced to an expanded mode. In the expanded mode the support members extend outward and the collapsing structures are expanded between the support members. In the reduced mode the support members are folded toward the pig body and the collapsing structures are collapsed to reduce a circumference of the resilient body outer perimeter. The support members are biased toward the expanded mode.

In a method of joining a structure to a water-filled pipeline aboard a reel-lay vessel, a trailing end portion of the pipeline is suspended upright on a reel-lay tower. Water is drained from the trailing end portion while being retained in an inclined portion of the pipeline extending from the tower to a reel of the vessel and in a spooled portion of the pipeline coiled on the reel. The structure is joined to a trailing end of the pipeline after inserting a pig into the trailing end portion through the trailing end. Pumping additional water into a leading end of the pipeline on the reel propels the pig from the trailing end portion into a conduit of the structure while flooding the trailing end portion. This expels air through a port of the structure that was trapped in the trailing end portion between the pig and the structure.

In a method of joining a structure to a water-filled pipeline aboard a reel-lay vessel, a trailing end portion of the pipeline is suspended upright on a reel-lay tower. Water is drained from the trailing end portion while being retained in an inclined portion of the pipeline extending from the tower to a reel of the vessel and in a spooled portion of the pipeline coiled on the reel. The structure is joined to a trailing end of the pipeline after inserting a pig into the trailing end portion through the trailing end. Pumping additional water into a leading end of the pipeline on the reel propels the pig from the trailing end portion into a conduit of the structure while flooding the trailing end portion. This expels air through a port of the structure that was trapped in the trailing end portion between the pig and the structure.

Method for installing a cable comprising: a first phase with at least the steps of: introducing the cable into a first duct, attaching at least a first pig to the cable, introducing a liquid at first pressure and first flow into the first duct, stopping the cable when, or after, its foremost end has reached an exit of the first duct, a second phase with at least the steps of: attaching at least a second pig to the cable, introducing again a liquid at first pressure and first flow into the first duct, introducing the liquid at second pressure and second flow, compensating, at a location between the first duct and second duct, for a difference in flow or volume of liquid.

Method for installing a cable comprising: a first phase with at least the steps of: introducing the cable into a first duct, attaching at least a first pig to the cable, introducing a liquid at first pressure and first flow into the first duct, stopping the cable when, or after, its foremost end has reached an exit of the first duct, a second phase with at least the steps of: attaching at least a second pig to the cable, introducing again a liquid at first pressure and first flow into the first duct, introducing the liquid at second pressure and second flow, compensating, at a location between the first duct and second duct, for a difference in flow or volume of liquid.

A pipeline inspection device including a housing, an antenna, an imaging device having one or more lenses, two diaphragms extending from the housing and distal to one another along the length of the housing, the two diaphragms sharing a longitudinal axis with the housing, a processor, a storage device in communication with the processor, and a memory in communication with the processor, storing a machine learning algorithm and instructions to be executed by the processor, wherein the antenna is operable to communicate with a remote transceiver, the remote transceiver being located on a pipeline through which the pipeline inspection device travels. Also disclosed herein are systems and methods for using the same.

A system is disclosed for cleaning the interiors of tubes in heat exchangers such as condensers and other devices having numerous substantially parallel tubes which periodically become fouled, scaled, or otherwise encumbered with deposits. An air-actuated seal resides on the end of a nozzle which is projected into the open end of a condenser tube or other heat exchanger tube to be cleaned. An air cylinder and piston retract the end of the nozzle on actuation of a single trigger valve on a manually operated water gun, which both begins high pressure water flow and operates the piston. On actuation of the trigger valve, the segment of the nozzle which has been inserted is retracted a short distance, crimping a flexible sleeve which surrounds it into a tight seal on the inner surface of the tube, thus preventing backflow or back spray. The system may employ projectiles designed to pass through the tubes under pressurized water, released by the gun, in close proximity to the interior surfaces of the tubes so that they may remove the deposits with a scraping or abrading action. The air-actuated sealing nozzle relieves the operator from arduous, repeated forcing of the nozzle into the tubes to maintain sealing contact with the interiors of the tubes. The system is readily adaptable to, and includes, a multi-nozzle arrangement actuated by a single trigger.

A system is disclosed for cleaning the interiors of tubes in heat exchangers such as condensers and other devices having numerous substantially parallel tubes which periodically become fouled, scaled, or otherwise encumbered with deposits. An air-actuated seal resides on the end of a nozzle which is projected into the open end of a condenser tube or other heat exchanger tube to be cleaned. An air cylinder and piston retract the end of the nozzle on actuation of a single trigger valve on a manually operated water gun, which both begins high pressure water flow and operates the piston. On actuation of the trigger valve, the segment of the nozzle which has been inserted is retracted a short distance, crimping a flexible sleeve which surrounds it into a tight seal on the inner surface of the tube, thus preventing backflow or back spray. The system may employ projectiles designed to pass through the tubes under pressurized water, released by the gun, in close proximity to the interior surfaces of the tubes so that they may remove the deposits with a scraping or abrading action. The air-actuated sealing nozzle relieves the operator from arduous, repeated forcing of the nozzle into the tubes to maintain sealing contact with the interiors of the tubes. The system is readily adaptable to, and includes, a multi-nozzle arrangement actuated by a single trigger.

A speed control apparatus for an inline pipeline inspection tool includes a body configured to be moved by a compressible product moving through a pipeline and a speed control mechanism supported by the body. The speed control mechanism includes a contact member that is positionable against an inner surface of the pipeline and an actuator configured to act on the contact member to adjust a speed of the body when the speed deviates from a predetermined speed. The speed control apparatus forms a drive system that provides forward propulsion to prevent the tool from slowing or stopping due to a problematic feature in the pipeline. The speed control apparatus also forms a brake system that minimizes overspeed conditions that can occur when built-up pressure initially dislodges the tool from the problematic feature in the pipeline.