NON-DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SURVEYING, INSPECTION, AND CLEANING MARINE GROWTH AROUND OFFSHORE STRUCTURE

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure directed towards a non-destructive device configured to survey, inspect, and clean marine growth, comprising: manipulators comprising adjustable clamps configured to move or rotate 360 degrees for holding at least one cylindrical shape of an offshore structure; a plurality of hydraulic rams configured to hydraulically operate and control the plurality of manipulators; a central part comprising a camera and light emitting diodes configured to provide visual aid to a user and a lidar configured to determine ranges by targeting the offshore structure with a laser and measure the time for reflected light to return to a programming logic circuit board; probes configured to survey angular and distance measures of objects around the offshore structure, and inspections of safety and security of the offshore; and a high pressure jetting nozzle configured to clean the marine growth and rotary arms of the offshore structure.

Claims

1. A non-destructive device configured to survey, inspect, and clean marine growth, comprising: a plurality of manipulators comprising a plurality adjustable clamps configured to move or rotate 360 degrees for holding at least one cylindrical shape of an offshore structure; a plurality of hydraulic rams configured to hydraulically operate and control the plurality of manipulators; a central part comprising a camera and light emitting diodes configured to provide visual aid to a user and a lidar configured to determine ranges by targeting the offshore structure with a laser and measure the time for reflected light to return to a programming logic circuit board; a plurality of probes configured to survey angular and distance measures of objects around the offshore structure, and inspections of safety and security of the offshore; and at least one high pressure jetting nozzle configured to clean the marine growth and rotary arms of the offshore structure.

2. The non-destructive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality adjustable clamps configured to take the load of the non-destructive device and enough to take dynamic and static forces induced on the non-destructive device.

3. The non-destructive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of hydraulic rams configured to enable the non-destructive device to walk or crawl on the offshore structure in various axis.

4. The non-destructive device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of umbilical cables configured to enable an operator to deploy the non-destructive device from a main deck of a platform.

5. The non-destructive device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control van on the main deck from which the operator interface manages to operate or view or measure or control or survey or inspect and clean the offshore structure.

6. The non-destructive device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the non-destructive device is deployable for extended amount of time without any depth limitations.

7. A method for surveying, inspecting, and cleaning marine growth using a non-destructive device, comprising: connecting wires or umbilical cables with the non-destructive device; operating or controlling the umbilical cables or wires by crew members, and deploying the non-destructive device from a main deck of a platform via the umbilical cables; deploying the non-destructive device from the main deck of the platform through the swingout arm till the non-destructive device is clamped to an offshore structure; hydraulically operating a plurality of manipulators of the non-destructive device having a plurality of clamps which holds any cylindrical shape of the offshore; walking or crawling of the non-destructive device on the offshore structure in various axis and directions; moving and rotating of each clamp and its housing assembly for surveying, inspections of safety and security of the offshore; capturing objects, angular and distance measuring information about surveying, inspections and cleaning by cameras, various probes, a high-pressure jetting nozzle of the non-destructive device; and enabling an operator to operate or view or measure or control or survey or inspect and clean the offshore structure using the non-destructive device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements, and wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting a non-destructive device for surveying, inspection, and cleaning marine growth, in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments.

[0031] FIG. 2 is an example diagram depicting an embodiment of a non-destructive device on an offshore structure, in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting a method for surveying, inspection, and cleaning marine growth, in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0033] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0034] The use of including, comprising or having and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms a and an herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Further, the use of terms first, second, and third, and so forth, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1 is a diagram 100 depicting a non-destructive device for surveying, inspection, and cleaning marine growth, in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments. The non-destructive device 100 includes manipulators 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d, a central part 103, clamps 105a, 105b,105c,105d, and hydraulic rams 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d. The central part 103 includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) circuit board 109 (not shown), a camera (lidar integrated) 111 (not shown), light emitting diodes (LEDs) 113 (not shown), probes 115 (not shown). The manipulators 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d may be configured to hydraulically operated and electronically controlled by the hydraulic rams 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d. Each of the manipulators 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d has a hydraulically operated adjustable clamp 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d which may hold any cylindrical structure of designed diameter, each clamp 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d and its housing assembly may move or rotate 360 degrees for effective inspection, surveying and marine growth cleaning. In another embodiment, each clamp 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d and its housing assembly may rotate in a predetermined direction. The predetermined direction may include, but not limited to, left direction, right direction, forward direction, backward direction, up, down, inclined, and the like. Each clamp 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d when engaged shall take the load of the overall equipment. Under working condition such manipulators 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d when engaged may be enough to take dynamic and static forces induced on the non-destructive device 100. The non-destructive device 100 may be made of a rust proof alloy which may withstand corrosion in salt and fresh water.

[0036] In accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments, the PLC circuit board 107, the camera (lidar integrated) 109, light emitting diodes 111, probes 113 may be configured to survey (for example, angular and distance measuring) and inspections (for example, non-destructive testing), a high-pressure jetting nozzle for cleaning of the marine growth and a rotary arm. The camera 109 and the light emitting diodes 111 being primary means of visual aid, lidar may be secondary means of visual aid and measuring equipment. With the help of the manipulators 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d, the non-destructive device 100 may walk or crawl on the subsea structure of the platform in various axis. The probes 115 (not shown) may include, but not limited to, alternating current field measurement (ACFM), unit model U 41 or similar models from Eddyfi, a cathodic protection (CP) meter, Lidar, underwater ultrasound thickness gauge by cygnus, high pressure water jet equipment or hydro blaster, and the like. The alternating current field measurement (ACFM) is an electromagnetic technique used for the detection and sizing of surface breaking cracks in metallic components and welds. The ACFM probe may introduce an electric current locally into the part and measure the associated electromagnetic fields close to the surface. The cathodic protection (CP) meter may be configured to determine the corrosion of subsea structures. The cathodic protection (CP) meter may be also configured to provide a consistent way of determine the corrosion of subsea structures. The cathodic protection (CP) meter may provide the divers with a direct readout of corrosion potential at the point of application. The cathodic protection (CP) meter may be also connected to a surface display unit to give topside readings.

[0037] In accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments, the PLC circuit board 109 (not shown) may be configured to control the hydraulic equipment necessary to control the movements of the hydraulic rams 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, the manipulators 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d, and the clamps 105a, 105b,105c,105d. The PLC circuit board 107 (not shown) may be also configured to control the power and movement of the probes 115. Furthermore, the PLC circuit board 107 (not shown) may be configured to control the LEDs 113 (not shown). The manipulators 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d, the clamps 105a, 105b,105c,105d, and the hydraulic rams 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d may include joints which are flexible to make the crawling possible.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2 is an example diagram 200 depicting an embodiment of a non-destructive device on an offshore structure, in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments. The offshore structure 201 includes a main deck 202, deck legs 204, pipeline and risers 206, conductors 208, a barge bumper 210, a conductor frame 212, jacket legs 214, a diagonal-in-vertical brace 216, a diagonal-in-horizontal brace 218, a horizontal brace 220, a leg-brace node 222, and skirt pile sleeve clusters 224. The non-destructive device 100 includes a van 226, an umbilical 228, clamps 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, and the central part 103 of the non-destructive device 100.

[0039] In accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments, the main deck 202 may be located at an elevation of predefined distance above sea level. The main deck 202 may be provided with deck legs 204 to support the topside. The pipeline and risers 206 may be located on the main deck 202. The pipeline and risers 206 may include large inventories of oil or gas. The barge bumper 210 may be a cylindrical bumper. The barge bumper 210 may be mounted on the at least one deck leg 204. The conductor frame 212 may be removably attached to the jacket legs 214. The conductors 208 may be installed at corner slots of the main deck 202 using a platform crane. A segment of the brace assembly may be defined by the diagonal-in-vertical brace 216, the diagonal-in-horizontal brace 218, the horizontal brace 220, and the leg-brace node 222. The skirt pile sleeve clusters 224 may be rigidly connected to each jacket leg 214 through horizontal and vertical plates.

[0040] In accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the umbilical 228 may be coupled to the offshore structure 201, the umbilical 228 may include terminating ends and the umbilical 228 may be a tubular umbilical. The control van 226 on the main deck 202 from which an operator interface manages to operate or view or measure or control or survey or inspect and clean the offshore structure 201. With the help of hydraulic rams 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d and the clamps 105a, 105b,105c, 105d, the non-destructive device 100 may walk or crawl on the offshore structure 201 in various axis. The non-destructive device 100 has to be deployed from the main deck 202 of the platform through swingout arm till the equipment is clamped to the offshore structure 201. The mobilization of the non-destructive device 100 may not require a multipurpose support vessel as it may be transported by a boat due to its small size and weight. The non-destructive device 100 may be designed to be operated by 2-3 crew. The non-destructive device 100 may be designed to be operate by two to three crew.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 3 is a flow diagram 300 depicting a method for surveying, inspection, and cleaning marine growth, in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments. The method 300 may be carried out in the context of the details of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2. However, the method 300 may also be carried out in any desired environment. Further, the aforementioned definitions may equally apply to the description below.

[0042] The method commences at step 302, connecting wires or umbilical cables with the non-destructive device. Thereafter at step 304, operating or controlling the umbilical cables or wires by crew members, and deploying the non-destructive device from the main deck of the platform via umbilical cables. Thereafter, at step 306, deploying the non-destructive device from the main deck of the platform through the swingout arm till the non-destructive device is clamped to the offshore structure. Thereafter at step 308, hydraulically operating the manipulators of the non-destructive device having clamps which holds any cylindrical structure of the offshore. Thereafter, at step 310, determining whether the manipulators clamped to the offshore structure. If answer to the step 310 is YES, the method continues at step 312, walking or crawling of the non-destructive device on the offshore structure in various axis and directions. If answer to the step 310 is NO, the method continues at step 306. Thereafter at step 314, moving and rotating of each clamp and its housing assembly for surveying, inspection, and cleaning marine growth. Thereafter at step 316, capturing images, angular and distance measuring information about surveying, inspections and cleaning by the cameras, various probes, high pressure jetting nozzle of the non-destructive device. Thereafter at step 318, enabling the operator to operate or view or measure or control or survey or inspect and clean the offshore structure using the non-destructive device.

[0043] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases in one embodiment, in an embodiment and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

[0044] Although the present disclosure has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments and illustrations thereof, other embodiments and modifications to preferred embodiments may be possible that are within the principles of the invention. The above descriptions and figures are therefore to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive.

[0045] Thus the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.