Method of purging and subsequently verifying a liquid-carrying conduit includes the steps of: providing a hydrogel comprising additive(s) selected from the group comprising: chloride ions, sulphate ions, nitrate ions fluorescein dye, carmine dye and cation salts; transporting the hydrogel along at least a portion of an offline liquid-carrying conduit to thereby purge the conduit; substantially or completely removing the hydrogel from the offline liquid-carrying conduit; flushing the offline liquid-carrying conduit with a volume of flushing water; and verifying removal of the hydrogel from the offline liquid-carrying conduit by checking the flushed water for detectable traces of the additive. The flushing step is repeated as often as necessary until the additive cannot be detected. The method may be employed to purge different types of liquid-carrying conduits, e.g. conduits for transporting potable water; conduits for transporting sewage; and oil pipelines.

Method of purging and subsequently verifying a liquid-carrying conduit includes the steps of: providing a hydrogel comprising additive(s) selected from the group comprising: chloride ions, sulphate ions, nitrate ions fluorescein dye, carmine dye and cation salts; transporting the hydrogel along at least a portion of an offline liquid-carrying conduit to thereby purge the conduit; substantially or completely removing the hydrogel from the offline liquid-carrying conduit; flushing the offline liquid-carrying conduit with a volume of flushing water; and verifying removal of the hydrogel from the offline liquid-carrying conduit by checking the flushed water for detectable traces of the additive. The flushing step is repeated as often as necessary until the additive cannot be detected. The method may be employed to purge different types of liquid-carrying conduits, e.g. conduits for transporting potable water; conduits for transporting sewage; and oil pipelines.

A hydraulic motor brake for providing load holding torque to a hydraulic motor and comprising a housing, a plate fixedly mounted within the housing, a piston mounted for bi-directional translation relative to the plate along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of friction-producing members arranged such that the piston and plate at least partially define a brake release chamber and the piston, normally biased in engagement with the friction-producing members to produce load holding torque, translates away from the plate and disengages from the friction-producing members to stop producing load holding torque in response to pressurized hydraulic fluid being received by the brake release chamber. The hydraulic motor brake further comprises a wear plate with the brake housing and wear plate defining bores arranged in coaxial alignment with threaded bores of the hydraulic motor for detachably attaching the hydraulic motor brake to the hydraulic motor as a self-contained unit.

A hydraulic motor brake for providing load holding torque to a hydraulic motor and comprising a housing, a plate fixedly mounted within the housing, a piston mounted for bi-directional translation relative to the plate along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of friction-producing members arranged such that the piston and plate at least partially define a brake release chamber and the piston, normally biased in engagement with the friction-producing members to produce load holding torque, translates away from the plate and disengages from the friction-producing members to stop producing load holding torque in response to pressurized hydraulic fluid being received by the brake release chamber. The hydraulic motor brake further comprises a wear plate with the brake housing and wear plate defining bores arranged in coaxial alignment with threaded bores of the hydraulic motor for detachably attaching the hydraulic motor brake to the hydraulic motor as a self-contained unit.

The invention relates to a degradable plug device (12, 13, 41, 110, 140) for a pipe (10). The plug device has an outer plug body (16) and an inner plug (14) for preventing fluid flow through the pipe (10) until it or a part thereof has been removed from the outer plug body (16). The outer plug body 16 ( ) and the inner plug (14) are formed of a degradable material, such as magnesium. The inner plug (14) has a chamber (22) with a port (24) to the exterior of the inner plug (14). The exposed surfaces of the degradable plug (12, 13, 41) have a protective layer thereon. The inner plug (14) is disposable in at least a first position, in which the inner plug (14) prevents said fluid flow through the pipe (10), and is adapted to undergo, in use, a degradation initiation operation, such that fluid is able to enter the chamber (22) to initiate corrosion or dissolution of the inner plug (14) from inside the chamber (22). In an alternative form, the inner plug (14) is in sealing contact with the outer plug body (16) so as to define the chamber (22), and the plug body (16) has a cup-shaped cross-section, and, in the first position, the inner plug (14) is disposed at the mouth of the cup, thereby forming the chamber (22). The degradation initiation operation may comprise moving the inner plug (14) relative to the outer plug body (16) between the first position and a second position, in which fluid is able to enter the chamber (22) by applying a fluid pressure in the vicinity of the inner plug (14), or a direct force to inner plug (14), that exceeds a threshold to cause failure of a shear ring and release or allow limited movement of inner plug (14). O ring seals are provided between the outer plug body and the inner plug to provide a seal therebetween, and during movement the port may move from between the O ring seals to a position where it communicates with the interior of the pipe. In an alternative embodiment, the degradation initiation operation comprises at least partially removing, in use, the protective layer at or near one end of the inner plug by an abrasive member, thereby initiating corrosion or dissolution of the degradable member through contact with the fluid. An apparatus for temporarily blocking flow of fluid through a pipe, and a method of operating a degradable plug device for a pipe, are also disclosed.

A polymer pipeline pig is provided for cleaning the interior of a pipeline capable of completely dissolving in a fluid including oil, water and/or gas over a time period of from 4 days to 24 days and over a temperature range of from 100 F. to 250 F. The polymer is selected from polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and combinations thereof The pipeline pig can be launched into the interior of the pipeline, allowed to move through the interior of the pipeline in a fluid including oil and water, and dissolved over a time period of from 4 days to 24 days and over a temperature range of from 100 F. to 250 F. Thus, no pig receiving facility is needed.

A polymer pipeline pig is provided for cleaning the interior of a pipeline capable of completely dissolving in a fluid including oil, water and/or gas over a time period of from 4 days to 24 days and over a temperature range of from 100 F. to 250 F. The polymer is selected from polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and combinations thereof The pipeline pig can be launched into the interior of the pipeline, allowed to move through the interior of the pipeline in a fluid including oil and water, and dissolved over a time period of from 4 days to 24 days and over a temperature range of from 100 F. to 250 F. Thus, no pig receiving facility is needed.

A system and method for a hose with degradation monitoring is disclosed. The system includes a sensor having one or more first alignment features, a contactless switch, and a light transmitter configured to transmit a light transfer protocol. A gateway device is configured to wirelessly receive data from the sensor, and includes one or more second alignment features that are configured to align with the one or more first alignment features, a trigger configured to activate the contactless switch only when the one or more second alignment features are aligned with the one or more first alignment features, and a phototransistor configured to capture and record the light transfer protocol transmitted from the light transmitter.

A system and method for a hose with degradation monitoring is disclosed. The system includes a sensor having one or more first alignment features, a contactless switch, and a light transmitter configured to transmit a light transfer protocol. A gateway device is configured to wirelessly receive data from the sensor, and includes one or more second alignment features that are configured to align with the one or more first alignment features, a trigger configured to activate the contactless switch only when the one or more second alignment features are aligned with the one or more first alignment features, and a phototransistor configured to capture and record the light transfer protocol transmitted from the light transmitter.

The present invention provides a launcher system, adapted for deployment at a remote site, the launcher system including a launcher apparatus and a launcher apparatus carrier module for transporting the launcher apparatus to the remote site, the launcher system being configured to launch a gel pig train into a pipeline network and to seal a leakage in the pipeline network at the remote site.