IMPROVEMENTS IN PIPELINE NETWORKS

Abstract

A pipeline network includes at least one housing comprising a riser and a pipeline connector, the housing adapted to receive a device configured to interact with fluid flowing through the pipeline connector. The riser is provided with a riser closure member that is attachable removably to the riser, and a seal adapted to provide a fluid tight seal between the riser and the riser closure member.

Claims

1-28. (canceled)

29. A pipeline network including at least one housing comprising a riser and a pipeline connector, the housing adapted to receive a device configured to interact with fluid flowing through the pipeline connector, the device removable from the housing, the riser provided with a riser closure member that is attachable removably to the riser, and a seal adapted to provide a fluid tight seal against egress of fluid from the pipeline connector via the riser wherein the at least one housing has attached thereto a selected one of the device and the riser closure member.

30. A pipeline network according to claim 1, wherein the riser closure member comprises an insert that is removably attachable to the riser.

31. A pipeline network according to claim 1, wherein the insert is shaped and dimensioned such that the riser is closed to the pipeline and the fluid pathway through the pipeline connector is similar to the shape and dimension of the opening when fully open of a fully open valve suitable for deployment in the pipeline network.

32. A pipeline network according to claim 1, wherein the riser includes a riser foot which opens up into the pipeline connector.

33. A pipeline network according to claim 4, wherein the riser closure member includes a blanking element.

34. A pipeline network according to claim 5, wherein the blanking element is configured to close off the foot of the riser.

35. A pipeline network according to claim 6, wherein a seal is provided between the blanking element and the wall of the housing at the foot of the riser.

36. A pipeline network according to claim 5, wherein the blanking element extends into the pipeline connector.

37. A pipeline network according to claim 8, wherein the blanking element provides an opening the shape and dimensions of which correspond to the shape and dimensions of the opening of a fully open shut off valve suitable for deployment in the pipeline network.

38. A pipeline network according to claim 1, wherein a mounting means is provided for releasably mounting one of the device and the riser closure member in the riser and the seal is a seal means situated between an inner surface of the riser and an outer surface of the mounting means, the mounting means and the riser each including a part of a locking means for releasably locking the device in the riser.

39. A pipeline network according to claim 10, wherein the device is situated in the pipeline connector.

40. A pipeline network according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means provides for one of the blanking element and the device to be a selected one of: removed from and introduced into, the housing with the pipeline under pressure.

41. A pipeline network according to claim 11, wherein the mounting means comprises a casing, the casing mounting one part of the locking means, and first and second seal means, wherein the first seal means provides a seal between the outer surface of the casing and the inner surface of the riser, and the second seal means is situated between the outer surface of casing and the inner surface of the pipeline connector.

42. A pipeline network according to claim 13, wherein the outer surface of the casing and the inner surface of the pipeline connector correspond in shape in the region of the second seal means.

43. A pipeline network according to claim 13, wherein the casing includes an opening and the second seal means is mounted around the opening between the casing and the pipeline connector, the opening providing a fluid pathway through the pipeline connector.

44. A pipeline network according to claim 13, wherein the casing includes an end member so shaped and dimensioned as to fit in a recess located in the pipeline connector.

45. A pipeline network according to claim 13, wherein the casing comprises a first casing part and a second casing part, the first casing part mounting the at least one sensor and the second casing part situated in the riser above the first casing part.

46. A pipeline network according to claim 17, wherein the part of the locking means located in the mounting means is situated in the second casing part.

47. A pipeline network according to claim 17, wherein the mounting means comprises a casing part connector located between the first and second casing parts, which first and second casing parts are each attached to the casing part connector.

48. A pipeline network according to claim 11, wherein the device is mounted in an instrument housing, which housing is attached to the mounting means.

49. A pipeline network according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means includes a fishing neck.

50. A pipeline network according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a coupling configured to attach to the mounting means and to receive a closure cap thereon.

51. A pipeline network according to claim 1 and wherein at least one housing is configured for attachment of a bonnet thereto.

52. A pipeline network according to claim 1, the pipeline network comprising a multiplicity of housings.

53. The pipeline network according to claim 1, including at least one bonnet valve providing for shut off of a part of the pipeline network.

54. A pipeline network according to claim 1, wherein the riser closure member is instrumented and connected with communication means, for example using a mobile phone network or the internet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In the Drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a pipeline network according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of a housing forming part of the pipeline network illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 3 is a cross-section elevation of the housing illustrated in FIG. 2 with a device mounted in the housing;

[0044] FIG. 4 is a cross-section elevation of an embodiment including the housing illustrated in FIG. 2 with a valve mounted in the housing using a bonnet arrangement;

[0045] FIGS. 5a to 5d illustrate the housing and valve arranged side by side is a plan view of the closure member illustrated in FIG. 4; and

[0046] FIG. 6 is a cross-section through a housing closure member for attachment to the housing of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0047] Referring now to FIG. 1, the pipeline network comprises a plurality of pipe lines 1-6 and a plurality of housings 9 to 11, connected to the pipe lines 1-6 for the passage of fluid therethrough and adapted to receive devices for interacting with fluid flowing through the pipelines 1-6.

[0048] In normal operation of the pipeline network, the housings 9 to 11 are sealed against egress of fluid therefrom but do not contain a shut off valve or other device for monitoring fluid flowing through the pipelines 1-6 or interacting actively with fluid flowing through the pipeline. In pipeline networks of the prior art each housing 9 to 11 would be a shut of valve or the like.

[0049] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the pipelines 4 to 6 have secondary pipelines 4a, 5a and 6a branding therefrom, for example to individual properties adjacent the pipelines 4 to 6. In the event that there is a leak in the pipeline 5, the housings 9 and 11 may be provided with valve inserts, those valve inserts being turned to shut off flow to the pipeline 5. In such an event the arrangement of housings means that water can still flow to the pipelines 1 to 4 and pipeline 6. When the leak has been repaired the valve inserts are removed for use in other parts of the pipeline network.

[0050] The valve (or other device) insert may be introduced into and removed from the housing 7 with the pipeline under pressure using the apparatus and method described in GB2517308, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0051] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 7 comprises a pipeline connector 7b and a riser 7a. The pipeline connector 7b provides a fluid passageway 7c which aligns with and is connected to the pipeline 1. The riser 7a has an upper surface 7d to which a cap 10 may be attached. The cap is fastened to the riser 7a by engagement of the wall of cap 10 with ridges 7e formed in the outer wall of the riser 7a. passing through holes 10a in the cap 10. The cap 10 includes a recess 10b for receiving a seal which seals against an inner surface of the riser 7a.

[0052] In its simplest form the housing 7 is empty and sealed by the cap 10. However, it may be desirable to close off the riser 7a at its intersection 7e with the pipeline connector 7c. A blanking element may therefore be provided for engaging with and closing off the riser 7a at the intersection 7e. This may be achieved by an insert which resembles closely a valve insert and attaches to the housing in the same way (typically as described in GB2559998 or WO2014020358, but which does not include any closure member. Hence, a through opening having a shape that is substantially the same as the shape an opening provided by a valve in an open state may be provided. One of the advantages of such an arrangement is that the only moving parts are those that attach the valve insert to the housing. There is no spindle a valve gate to seize up. Also, the shape of the fluid passage way provided by such an insert may cause less turbulence than if the pipeline connector 7c were empty.

[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates the housing 7 with a device 20 inserted therein. As can be seen from FIG. 3, a portion 20a of the device is situated in the fluid flow path through the pipeline connector 7c. The portion 20a may comprise a shut off valve, a monitoring device, a pump, etc, or the portion 20a may be empty.

[0054] The device 20 may be a simpler version of that illustrated in FIG. 3, in the form of a removable blank insert, the function of which is simply to prevent egress of fluid from the pipeline through the riser 7a. Such a device may include the same portion 20a, but without any shut-off valve or other device mounted therein. Alternatively, such a device may terminate at the point 7f where the riser 7a joins the pipeline connector, preferably presenting a smooth surface in the fluid passageway 7c. The smooth surface may be present by the lower face 21 of the device 20. Further, the lower wall 21 may include a recess 22 in which a sensor may be mounted. The recess is preferably closed so that the lower wall 21 presents a smooth surface.

[0055] It is preferred that the housing 7 and device 20 are in the form of a pipeline apparatus as described in GB2559998 or WO2014020358 which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0056] The pipeline network of the invention is not limited to the pipeline apparatus described in GB2559998. The device 20 may be configured with a bonnet attachment rather than using the attachment system described in GB2559998. In FIGS. 4 to 6, the housing 7 is configured such that it may be sealed with a bonnet 10, which sits on the upper surface 7d and is attached thereto by screws 11, which pass through holes 10a in the bonnet 10. The bonnet 10 includes seal 10c situated in recess 10b. The bonnet 10 includes a further recess 10d on its underside, the wall of the housing 7 being situated in the recess 10d such that the upper surface 7d is pulled tightly against the under side of the bonnet 10 by screws 11. The device 20 illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 is of the common bonnet valve construction comprising a spindle 20′ and valve 20″. Rotating the spindle 20′ causes the valve 20″ to be raised or lowered depending on the direction of rotation of the spindle 20′.

[0057] The pipeline network may also include traditional bonnet valves. Particularly in the case of upgrading of an existing pipeline networks it is likely that the network would include traditional bonnet valves as well as one or more housings and the associated devices for interacting with fluid flowing therethrough and riser closure members.