F16L101/12

Diverting pigs in a pipeline or piping system
11624470 · 2023-04-11 · ·

A pig diverter comprises a hollow housing having a flowline inlet port, a flowline outlet port, a pig entry opening, and a pig exit opening, all communicating with the interior of the housing. A tubular pig holder enclosed by the housing is pivotable between a receiving position and a launching position. In the receiving position, the pig holder is aligned with the pig entry opening to receive a pig and effects fluid communication between the pig entry opening and the flowline outlet port. In the launching position, the pig holder is aligned with the pig exit opening to launch a pig and effects fluid communication between the flowline inlet port and the pig exit opening.

Flexible and extendable conduit descaling article
11779965 · 2023-10-10 ·

A Conduit Descaling System (CDS) is provided and includes an anchor structure, wherein the anchor structure includes a first anchor end, a second anchor end and a structure center portion and wherein the structure center portion connects the first anchor end with the second anchor end; a descaling chain ring, wherein the descaling chain ring defines a chain ring center cavity and is connected to the structure center portion; and a Forward Descaling Article (FDA), wherein the FDA includes an FDA structure having an FDA structure first end, an FDA structure second end and an FDA structure center portion, wherein the FDA structure center portion includes a plurality of FDA anchor structures distributed along the circumference of the FDA structure center portion, and wherein FDA further includes a plurality of FDA descaling links having a plurality of FDA descaling link cutting teeth.

Cleaning assembly for a tubular drag conveyor
11821567 · 2023-11-21 · ·

A cleaning pig assembly is provided for use on a tubular drag conveyor. The assembly is quickly and easily mounted anywhere along the cable, chain, or rope via slots in the assembly components. The components include a puck, a plate, a drag disc, and a cleaning member or tool sandwiched between the puck and the plate. The drag disc provides interference fit on the cable, chain, or rope holding the assembly on the cable, chain, or rope and prevents sliding of the assembly along the cable, chain, or rope during use. The cleaning assembly is installed without the use of tools or clamps. Multiple interchangeable cleaning members are provided depending on cleaning needs.

Generating power with a conduit inspection tool

A conduit inspection tool system includes a conduit inspection tool that includes a body that includes one or more wheels configured to move the body through and in contact with a conduit; at least two power generating sub-systems coupled to the body, each of the at least two power generating sub-systems configured to generate electrical power to operate the one or more wheels to move the body through and in contact with the conduit; and at least one energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems, the at least one energy storage device configured to store electrical power generated by the at least two power generating sub-systems; and a control system communicably coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems and the at least one energy storage device.

Intervention drive system comprising an umbilical

The present invention relates to an intervention drive pig comprising an umbilical. In this scenario, the present invention provides an intervention drive pig comprising an umbilical, wherein the umbilical (6) is manufactured from a low-density material, wherein the umbilical (6) comprises an external covering of material having a low coefficient of friction.

Method and apparatus for cleaning and inspecting oil well drilling mud flow lines
11975368 · 2024-05-07 · ·

The present invention is directed to a method of cleaning and inspection of drilling mud carrying flow lines, each flow line having an inner surface. The method includes affixing a fitting to the flow line, the fitting having a main flow channel and a branch flow channel extending at an angle from said main flow channel. A first end portion of the fitting can have an attachment that enables connection of the fitting to the flow line at one flow line end portion. A second end portion of the fitting can have one or more doors that can be moved between opened and closed positions, the door or doors providing an opening that is not closed when the doors are in the closed position. A suction line can be connected to the branch flow channel. A cleaning tool can be guided first into the fitting and then into the flow line using a fluid carrying cable. The cleaning tool and jetting fluid can be used to clean drilling mud and debris from the inner surface of the flow line. The jetting fluid can be removed via the branch flow channel using the suction line. The cable can extend through the door opening or openings when the door or doors are in the closed position. A camera can be guided into the flow line using a camera cable wherein the camera cable extends through the door opening or openings. The cleaning tool is preferably too small to fit through the door opening.

Apparatus and method for internal cleaning of a pipeline
12005483 · 2024-06-11 · ·

An apparatus and related process for the internal cleaning of a pipeline includes an interchangeable rotary cleaning head, a motor device coupled to the rotary head, a movement device configured to move the apparatus inside the pipeline, and a remote control system. The combined movement of the rotary head rotation and of the advancing motion of the apparatus inside the pipeline allows the disintegration of the deposits present internally of the pipeline by mechanical action.

Method for positioning and/or communicating with a pig
12044347 · 2024-07-23 · ·

A method for positioning and/or communicating with a pig located in a hollow and elongate object is provided. The object is preferably a pipeline. At least one inner transducer of the pig is arranged on the inner side of a wall of the object. At least one outer transducer is arranged on an outer side of the wall of the object, and at least one ultrasound signal is generated in the wall. By means of an evaluation and/or communication device, and from the amplitude of the ultrasound signal preferably generated by the inner transducer, and in particular from a change of the amplitude, a relative position and/or a spacing A between the two transducers is derived and/or a communication is initiated via the transducers.

Pipeline inspection system with scale removing feature

In a pipeline inspection system, a hollow spherical ball has an internal ultrasonic vibration module, an internal battery for powering the vibration module, and an internal, wirelessly operated, control for controlling the vibration module while the ball is moving, with liquid, along the pipeline. Liquid, having a reduced oxygen content, is pumped through the pipeline, and filtered before returning to the pipeline. Each of a plurality of holes, connecting the interior to the exterior of the ball, is tapered proceeding in the direction from the interior to the exterior, resulting in the formation of a blade structure where the interior of each hole meets the outer surface of the ball at an inclined angle. When the blade structure is in contact with the wall of the pipe, and caused to vibrate by the vibration module, it is able to cut off scale from the interior of the pipe.

Generating power with a conduit inspection tool

A method for operating a conduit inspection tool in a conduit includes positioning a conduit inspection tool in the conduit, the conduit inspection tool including a body that includes one or more wheels, at least two power generating sub-systems coupled to the body, and at least one energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems; moving the body through and in contact with the conduit through the one or more wheels; generating electrical power by at least one of the at least two power generating sub-systems by the movement; and providing at least a portion of the generated electrical power to the at least one energy storage device to store the portion of the generated electrical power.