DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REPAIRING A HOSE OF UMBILICALS

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices for repairing hoses of umbilicals. In this context, the present invention provides a device for repairing a hose (3) of an umbilical, comprising a tubular repair body (1) and a fusible element (2) adapted to obstruct the passage of fluid through the inside of the repair body (1), wherein the repair body (1) comprises an outside diameter that matches the internal diameter of the hose (3) to be repaired. In addition, the invention further provides a method for repairing a hose (3) of an umbilical comprising the steps of: blocking a first end (31) of a hose (3) of an umbilical; inserting a device for repairing a hose (3) of an umbilical into a second end (32) of the hose (3); injecting a polymer sealant into the second end (32) of the hose (3); using upstream pressure to move the repair device as far as the region of the leak, until the repair body (1) completely covers the opening/leak site (4); flushing the polymer sealant between the internal wall of the hose (3) and the external wall of the device as far as the opening/leak site (4) in the house (3); solidifying the polymer sealant, thereby attaching the tubular repair body (1) inside the hose (3); releasing the first end (31) of the hose (3) of the umbilical; and flushing the fusible element (2) through the inside of the hose (3).

Claims

1. A device for repairing a hose of an umbilical, the device comprising: a tubular repair body; and a fusible element adapted to obstruct passage of fluid through the inside of the tubular repair body, wherein the tubular repair body comprises an external diameter that matches an internal diameter of the hose to be repaired.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the fusible element comprises a cylindrical body internal to the tubular repair body, and a circular fusible plug including a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical body and the diameter of the circular fusible plus is smaller than the internal diameter of the hose of the umbilical.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein a length of the tubular repair body is larger than an opening of a leak in the hose.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body of the fusible element is manufactured of high-density foam that entirely fills the interior of the tubular repair body.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the tubular repair body and the hose of the umbilical comprise of a polyamide.

6. A method of repairing a hose of an umbilical, the method comprising: blocking a first end of the hose of the umbilical; inserting a repair device to repair the hose of the umbilical into a second end of the hose; injecting a polymer sealant into the second end of the hose; using pressure from the injection to move the repair device upstream to the area of a leak in the hose until a tubular repair body of the repair device completely covers an opening in the hose causing the leak; flushing the polymer sealant between an internal wall of the hose and an external wall of the tubular repair body until the polymer sealant reaches the opening in the hose; solidifying the polymer sealant attaching the tubular repair body inside the hose; releasing the first end of the hose of the umbilical to recover the fusible element; and flushing the fusible element inside the hose.

7. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] The detailed description presented below references the attached figures and their respective reference numbers.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the device used to repair umbilical hoses in accordance with a preferred configuration of the present invention.

[0028] FIGS. 2a to 2d schematically illustrate how the device for repairing umbilical hoses in FIG. 1 is applied to repair a leak in a hose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] First, it is noted that the following description will begin with a preferred embodiment of the invention. As will be evident to anyone versed in the matter, however, the invention is not limited to that specific embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a view of the device to repair an umbilical hose 3 in accordance with a preferred configuration of the present invention.

[0031] More broadly, the device comprises a tubular repair body 1, and a fusible element 2 adapted to obstruct the passage of fluid through the inside of the repair body 1. The repair body 1 must comprise an external diameter that matches the internal diameter of the hose 3 to be repaired.

[0032] In an optional configuration, the fusible element 2 comprises a cylindrical body 22 that is internal to the repair body 1 and a fusible plug 21 whose diameter is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical body 22.

[0033] FIGS. 2a to 2d schematically illustrate how the device for repairing umbilical hoses 3 in FIG. 1 is used to repair a leak in a hose 3.

[0034] Use of the device of the present invention is as follows.

[0035] First, a first end 31 of the hose 3 is blocked (if necessary) so that no fluid is flushed out through that end. Next, the device is inserted into a second end 32 of the hose 3 to be repaired (after cutting the connector of this end to allow that insertion, with subsequent retermination to allow pumping), and then a polymer sealant is injected into the same end 32 of the hose 3, moving the device up to the area of the leak 4, using pressure exerted by the polymer sealant.

[0036] At this time, the fluid that was already inside the hose 3 has to be flushed out through the opening 4, where the leak continues until the repair body 1 completely covers the opening 4.

[0037] Since the first end 31 of the hose 3 is blocked, there is nowhere for any fluid to be flushed out, and the device will stop moving. At this point the pressure is increased upstream of the device, causing the polymer sealant to flush between the internal wall of the hose 3 and the external wall of the device, until it reaches the hole 4 in the hose 3 and flows more slowly.

[0038] The polymer sealant will then be subject to a large pressure variation when passing through the opening 4 in the hose 3, which will cause it to solidify, attaching the tubular repair body 1 to the inside of the hose 3, and repairing the existing leak through the opening 4.

[0039] At this moment, then, the first end 31 of the hose 3 must be released and the pressure upstream of the device must be increased so that the plug 21 cannot impede movement of the fusible element 2, causing the fusible element 2 to flush through the inside of the hose 3, thus completing repair of the leak.

[0040] The invention therefore provides a method for repairing the hose 3 of an umbilical, comprising the steps of:

[0041] blocking a first end 31 of a hose 3 of an umbilical;

[0042] inserting a device to repair umbilical hoses 3 into a second end 32 of the hose 3;

[0043] injecting a polymer sealant into the second end 32 of the hose 3;

[0044] using pressure to move the repair device upstream up to the area of the leak, until the repair body 1 completely covers the opening 4;

[0045] flushing the polymer sealant between the internal wall of the hose 3 and the external wall of the tubular repair body 1 until reaching the opening 4 in the hose 3;

[0046] solidifying the polymer sealant attaching the tubular repair body 1 to the inside of the hose 3;

[0047] releasing the first end 31 of the umbilical hose 3 to recover the fusible element 2; and

[0048] flushing out the fusible element 2 from inside of the hose 3.

[0049] In accordance with the method described in the preceding paragraph, the fusible element 2 can also be recovered from the first end 31 of the hose 3, as would be evident to an expert in the matter.

[0050] In order for the repair device to function completely, it is important that the repair body 1 be longer than the opening 4 in the hose 3, so that this element completely covers the opening 4 and still has some excess.

[0051] How much larger the repair body 1 should be can be defined on a case by case basis, so that this characteristic is not a limiting factor to the scope of protection of the invention.

[0052] Optionally, the fusible cap 21 comprises a flexible circular element whose diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of the hose 3. The characteristics of the material that will comprise this element will be defined on a case by case basis so that it supports the necessary pressure levels, as described above.

[0053] Optionally, the cylindrical body 22 is manufactured of high-density foam, entirely filling the interior of the tubular repair body 1.

[0054] Optionally, the tubular body and the umbilical hose 3 are manufactured out of polyamide. However, the best material for manufacturing this element may vary, and will be best defined on a case by case basis by an expert in the matter, wherein the pipe may be reinforced with a highly resistant material, such as Kevlar.

[0055] Therefore, the invention provides a device and a method for repairing large leaks (such as tears) in umbilical hoses 3 using the same polymer sealants used in the current state of the art.

[0056] The notion is reinforced that such polymer sealants can only be efficiently used, currently, to repair small leaks in umbilical hoses (of up to 3 liters/minute at pressures on the order of 100 bar, typically represented by small holes), while the device now revealed can be used to repair large leaks.

[0057] Countless variations to the scope of protection of this application are allowed. Thus, the notion is reinforced that the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations/embodiments described above.