Gern D Exley

US Patent:

62904329, Sep 18, 2001

Filed:

Oct 13, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/417553

Inventors:

Gern D. Exley - Houston TX
Donald W. Cross - Houston TX
Oran Tarlton - League City TX
Larry Decker - The Woodlands TX
David J. Hicks - Tulsa OK
Richard W. McCoy - Houston TX

Assignee:

Williams Field Services Gulf Coast Company, L.P. - Tulsa OK

International Classification:

B08B 904
F16L 112

US Classification:

405173

Abstract:

A diverless process of tapping a pressurized subsea pipeline without removing the pipeline from service. The process includes the steps of lowering and landing a measurement tool onto the pipeline in order to check ovality and straightness of the pipeline with the measurement tool. Pipe lift frames are lowered and landed onto the pipeline spaced from a chosen location. The pipeline is lifted by hydraulic actuators or mechanical screws on the lift frames. A hot tap fitting and accompanying orientation frame are lowered and landed on the pipeline between the pipe lift frames. The pipe lift frames are incrementally raised until the pipeline is fully seated in the hot tap fitting and orientation frame. A fitting clamp is secured to the pipeline. A hot tap machine is lowered onto the hot tap fitting and orientation frame.

US Patent:

62904310, Sep 18, 2001

Filed:

Feb 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/497577

Inventors:

Gern D. Exley - Houston TX
Donald W. Cross - Houston TX
Oran Tarlton - League City TX
Larry Decker - The Woodlands TX
David J. Hicks - Tulsa OK
Richard W. McCoy - Houston TX

Assignee:

Williams Field Services Gulf Coast Company, L.P. - Tulsa OK

International Classification:

F16L 100
F16L 5518

US Classification:

405158

Abstract:

A diverless process of tapping a pressurized subsea pipeline without removing the pipeline from service. The process includes the steps of lowering and landing a measurement tool onto the pipeline in order to check ovality and straightness of the pipeline. Pipe lift frames are lowered and landed onto the pipeline spaced from a chosen location. The pipeline is lifted by hydraulic actuators or mechanical screws on the lift frames. A hot tap machine and accompanying orientation frame are lowered from the surface and landed on the pipeline between the pipe lift frames. A fitting clamp is secured to the pipeline. A hot tap machine is lowered onto the hot tap fitting and orientation frame. The pipeline is then tapped with the hot tap machine.