JPH0492189A - Method and device for repairing pipeline - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inspect and repair without deforming a pipeline by filling water in a pipeline, and closing both ends of the pipeline with pigs inserted into the pipeline, and exhausting the water inside of the pipeline to displace with the air, and thereafter, performing processing such as inspection of pipe wall and welding or the like. CONSTITUTION:A device main frame consists of a welding train partitioning device Y and a preparatory train partitioning device M. In the partitioning device Y, a packer, which can cutoff the pipe wall 2 when it is expanded, is provided freely to be expanded and shrinked. An ultrasonic sensor and a pump for exhausting and travelling are provided in a pig part 4. The partitioning device M comprises a grinder device or the like. The partitioning device Y and the partitioning device M are passed through a pipeline P, and are moved, sucking and exhausting the water. The exhaust pump is started to drain the water, and while the air is supplied, and inspection and grinder processing are performed, and welding is performed with an automatic welding machine. As a result, necessity for prepairing a means for floating and deforming a pipeline is eliminated.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for repairing pipelines, and particularly to a method and apparatus for repairing relatively large-diameter pipelines laid on the seabed. be.

[Conventional technology] Pipelines are widely used as an economically superior means of transportation for long-distance transportation of crude oil, natural gas, etc., and in order to maintain and ensure safe operation, various pipeline inspections are required. A device is being developed.

For example, corrosion near welds is detected by processing data of planar images and cross-sectional images of pipeline walls using the principle of ultrasound.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, although the conventional inspection apparatus described above can inspect submarine pipelines, it has a serious drawback in that it can only inspect and cannot carry out repair work. In particular, in order to repair pipelines laid on the seabed, crude oil, etc. must be extracted from the entire line, but when the crude oil is extracted, the pipeline deforms due to water pressure, and there is also the problem that it may float up due to buoyancy and be damaged. arise.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for repairing pipelines that can not only be inspected but also repaired without deforming pipelines laid in places where large pressures are applied, such as the seabed. The purpose is

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the invention of the local pneumatic method according to claim 1 is provided by filling a pipe with water, closing both ends with a pig inserted into the pipe, After the closed space is drained and replaced with air, the pipe wall is inspected, welded, etc.

In addition, the local air system device invention according to claim 2 has a main body that is movably installed in the longitudinal direction of the tube, and a standard-grade shrinkable packer that is provided on the outer periphery of both ends of the main body. Between the packers, there are installed a sensor for inspecting the pipe wall, a grinder for repair, a welding machine, etc., and a drainage pump for replacing the inside with air.

Furthermore, the invention of the pneumatic method is constructed to fill the pipe with compressed air to increase the internal pressure of the pipe, and to repair the part to be repaired by bringing it to normal pressure, and claim 4 relating to the apparatus.
The described invention consists of two movable partition devices, a first and a second, which are provided with a standard-grade, retractable packer on the outer periphery, and the first partition device is equipped with at least an automatic welding machine together with an exhaust means. The second partition device includes at least airlock means.

[Function] In the invention as claimed in claim 2, since the main body is provided with packers at both ends in the longitudinal direction, these packers are heated, for example, by air. In that case, the pipeline would be cut off at two places. Therefore, a drainage pump is used to drain the water between the packers. The interior will then be replaced with air.

Of course, supply and exhaust pipes are connected to the main body, so air is introduced along with drainage.

This device can also be used as a sensor as an inspection device, and as a repair device.
Since we are equipped with a welding machine, we can remotely inspect and repair the wall surface where air has been replaced by welding.

Further, the invention of a pneumatic type device according to claim 4 provides a first and a second
Since the vibrator is equipped with movable partition devices, the entire vibe line is replaced with pressurized air and its pressure is increased, but the packers of these partition devices are used to shut off the inside of the pipe. evacuate the space between the packers and bring it to normal pressure. The second bulkhead device also includes an aerodynamic device, so a person enters through this and, based on the inspection results, sets a welding machine at the required location to repair the pipe wall.

"Example code" An embodiment of the local air system of the present invention will be described below.

In this embodiment, the main body of the device including the packer is a train bulkhead device NY for welding and a train bulkhead device M for pretreatment.
An example of implementation is shown.

Now, referring to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the pipeline P is provided with train bulkhead devices Y and M for welding and pretreatment so as to be movable by traction wires 30. Ru.

Since these bulkhead devices are structurally the same, we will mainly explain the train bulkhead device for welding.This bulkhead device Y has a cylindrical portion with a predetermined length in the axial direction, and has a cylindrical shape as a whole. It is showing.

At both ends thereof, packers 3, 3, .

In the figure, the right part of the main body is a device pig part 4, in which an ultrasonic sensor as an inspection sensor, a pump for drainage and running, etc. are provided.

Further, the central part is a working part 5, in which a welding machine, a television camera, etc. are housed, and this part is also the part where air is replaced. The left portion of the partition device Y in the drawing is a lock portion 6. A drainage pump is also installed in this lock section, making it possible for workers to get on board.

The train partition device M for pretreatment is equipped with a grinder device for polishing, a television camera, etc. in the working section 5-.

The above-mentioned bulkhead device YSM is also equipped with a running pump, so it can run on its own due to its discharge force.
It is towed by a wire 30. A supply/exhaust hose, a power/communication cable, etc. are also integrally bundled with this wire to form a cable 31.

As the length of the cable 3 increases, the frictional force with the pipe wall 2 also increases, so in order to avoid this, the cable relay device 32
are provided at predetermined intervals. As shown in the figure, this device has a hole 33 in the center thereof into which a cable 31 can be inserted. A plurality of rollers 34, 34, . . . that rotate when in contact with the tube wall are radially provided on the outer periphery. Moreover, a disc-shaped collar 35, 35 is provided between these rollers so that its surface is perpendicular to the tube.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

A pig launcher and catcher 40, which is used only during launch and retrieval, is set as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 2, this launcher/catcher 40 is set, for example, on the sea side, and has an injection port 41 on the land side.

First, clean the inside of the pipe and replace the water (Figure 2).

Then fire the pig. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a train partition device M for pretreatment and a train partition device Y for welding are passed through the pipeline P. The partition devices Y and M are moved while absorbing and draining water (Fig. 4). At this time, the packer 3.3 is left reduced. cable 31
A relay device 32 is provided every time, for example, every 20 to 30 m (FIG. 5).

Next, pretreatment is performed. That is, when the pretreatment train partition aM reaches a predetermined position, the packers 3, 3, . Then, the drain pump is started to drain water from the working section 5, and at the same time, air is supplied through the cable 31.

Once the work area is dry, inspection and grinding are performed while checking with a television camera. Then, the partition wall device M is moved in the manner described above, and pretreatment is performed in the same manner (FIG. 6).

Next, repair work such as welding is performed. That is, the welding train partition device Y is moved to the pretreated location, and the packers 3, 3, . . . are inflated to fix the device body and shut off the pipe. Then, the working part 5 is replaced with air, and welding is performed using, for example, an automatic welding machine while checking on a television.

Once the welding work is completed, the slag is removed, the welded area is re-inspected, and the repair is completed. Then, it moves to the next location and performs the same processing (FIG. 7).

When all the pipelines P are repaired as described above, the train partition device M for pretreatment and the train partition device Y for welding are recovered.

According to this embodiment, since the pipeline is filled with water, the pipe does not float up due to buoyancy or deform due to seawater pressure. Moreover, since the main work such as pretreatment and welding is performed in the air, inspection and repair are complete. Next, an embodiment of the pneumatic system will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 19. According to this embodiment, the first bulkhead device is a movable bulkhead 20 equipped with an automatic welding machine, and the second bulkhead device is a movable bulkhead 5o equipped with an airlock.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the movable bulkhead 20 equipped with an automatic welding machine has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and a plurality of packers 21, 21,
It is equipped with... Similar to the above-mentioned packers, these packers, for example, expand when air is supplied to block the pipe, and when air is removed, they contract and become movable.

At the front of the movable bulkhead 2o, that is, at the left end in FIG. 8, there are rollers 22, 22, .
A plurality of * are provided radially, and a water supply/drainage terminal 23 is further provided at the end thereof. This terminal passes through the movable bulkhead 20, and a pressure hose 24 extending to land is connected to the terminal 23.

Although not shown, a welding machine main body, a valve unit, etc. are built in between the packers 21.

At the back of the welding machine body is a head 60 with an automatic welding machine.
is now connected.

As shown in FIG. 9, the automatic welding head 60 includes a packer 6L61 on the main body. The front part of the main body has a joint part 62 that connects to the welding machine main body. The head 60 with an automatic welding machine has a central member 63, and a plurality of automatic welding guides 4, 64, etc. are provided in a radial direction so as to be extendable and retractable from this central member, and a wire drum 65, a welding holder, etc. are provided in the axial direction. Section 66,
It is also equipped with an automatic welding guide rail 67, etc. Also, at the front and rear ends of the automatic welding head 60, a plurality of rollers 68, 69,
... is rotatably provided.

The external structure of the movable bulkhead 50 with aerodynamics is similar to that of the movable bulkhead 50 with a welding machine described above.
0, and includes a plurality of inflatable packers 51 and 51 on the outer periphery. A plurality of rollers 52, 52 are provided on the outer periphery, which roll when coming into direct contact with the pipe wall. Movable bulkhead 50 with aerotsuku
The airlock door 53 is large enough to allow a worker to move inside, and an airlock door 53 is pivotally mounted 54 at its end. The center of the door is a pressure receiving part 55.

Figure 10 is a diagram showing the state in which pipeline P is being repaired using the pressurization method. As shown in the figure, the pipeline has a rising part, and the middle part is submerged in the seabed. are doing. Both ends are open to, for example, the land base G and the offshore workbench S, and an aerodynamic device 70, 70 for use for both workers and materials is provided in these openings. Further, the land base and the offshore workbench are provided with an exhaust pressure regulating device 71 and an air supply pressure regulating device 72, and a supply/exhaust pipe 73 extends from these devices and is connected to the pressure hose 24.

This supply/exhaust pipe 73 is provided so that it can be added to all the pipelines P, and the portion where the movable bulkhead 20.degree. 50 is located is removed. In addition, this supply and exhaust pipe has
A valve 74 for opening to the pipeline P is provided in the application. Therefore, when necessary, the worker N can open this valve 74 to provide local ventilation. The supply/exhaust pipe 73 is provided with a moving cable, a communication cable, etc., and a ladder 75.
75 is also provided. In addition, reference numeral 76 in FIG. 10 indicates a carriage for carrying inspections, tools, personnel, etc., and 77 indicates a carriage for carrying welding machines and personnel.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained mainly with reference to FIGS. 11 to 19.

Since the pressure air method is a method of repair work by draining all the water from the pipeline, construction is first carried out to prevent uplifting, as shown in Figure 11. For example, hold down the pipeline P with concrete hc.

Next, the drain pumps P1 and Pl are submerged to the horizontal pipe portion to drain water. When the water is drained, the pipeline P is deformed by the water pressure, so the inside of the pipe is pressurized by the compressor CP in parallel with the seawater (Figure 12).

After draining and pressurizing, as shown in Fig. 13, the supply and exhaust pipes 73, cables, etc. are laid, and the inspection trolley 78 is installed.
Inspect the pipe wall.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, from the land-side base G, a movable bulkhead 20.50-type equipped with a welding machine and an aerodynamics is inserted into the pipe through the aerodynamics device 70.

These movable bulkheads are moved within the pipe in the following manner. In other words, bulkhead 20 with welding machine
When moving leftward in FIG. 15, packer 51. of the movable bulkhead 50 with airlock is moved.
51 is inflated to secure the head and block the tube. Then, the backers 21 and 21 of the movable bulkhead 20 with the welding machine to be moved are reduced, and air is supplied between both heads through the supply and exhaust pipes 73. Then, the head 20 will move to the left in the figure due to the air pressure.

Next, when moving the movable bulkhead 50 with the airlock, the packer 21 of the movable bulkhead 20 with the welding machine is expanded and fixed, and the packer 51, 51 of the head 50 to be moved is contracted. The air between both heads is then discharged from the supply/exhaust pipe 73. Then, the movable bulkhead 50 with the airlock is the 16th
It will move to the left in the figure.

As described above, the head 50.
50 will be moved for inspection and repair.

Next, before starting the actual welding, setup is carried out. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the repaired area H is sandwiched between a movable bulkhead 2o equipped with a welding machine and a movable bulkhead 5o equipped with an airlock, and the packer 2 of these heads is
1. Inflate 51 and block and fix. Then, from the bulkhead 50 equipped with aerodynamics, the worker
Enter R and set the movable bulkhead 20.50 at the joint 56. Next, the air pressure in the repair area is lowered to atmospheric pressure via the supply/exhaust pipe 73. In addition to the above-mentioned preparations, worker N also carries out preparations such as temporarily attaching the gouging backing plate.

As a kind of setup, the worker moves the head 60 with the automatic welding machine to the welding position while waiting for the movable bulkhead 50 with the airlock. The automatic welding head 60 is fixed by a packer 61.61 (shown in FIG. 9). Then, the welding point H is brought to atmospheric pressure. Next, the automatic welding machine is separated from the movable bulkhead and fixed independently, and the worker waits inside the movable bulkhead 5o equipped with an air lock after teaching the automatic welding machine (FIG. 18).

In the main welding, as shown in FIG. 19, the movable bulkhead 50 equipped with an airlock is moved and connected to the movable bulkhead 20 equipped with a welding machine, and then the repaired area is brought to atmospheric pressure. And head 50 with aerodynamics
is fixed and automatically welded.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the invention of the local air system, the pipeline can be inspected and repaired while being filled with water, for example, so that it is possible to prevent the pipeline from floating or deforming. The advantage is that there is no need to take any other measures. Additionally, since the repaired area is replaced with air, welding and other processes are perfect. Moreover, since it can be operated remotely, it also has the effect of ensuring the safety of workers.

In addition, according to the invention of the pneumatic method, although measures are required to prevent the pipeline from floating up, air pressure prevents deformation of the pipe due to water pressure, and workers can directly enter the pipeline to inspect and repair it. This gives you the advantage of being able to. Therefore, inspections and repairs will be more complete. Furthermore, since the part to be repaired is carried out under normal pressure, repairs such as welding, etc.
There is also the advantage that conventional technology can be applied as is.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the local air system, Figures 2-
Fig. 7 is a schematic cross section for explaining the action at each stage, Fig. 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the main part showing an embodiment of the pneumatic type invention, and Fig. 9 is shown in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 8. A perspective view as seen at A, FIG. 10 is a schematic partially cutaway perspective view showing the whole,
FIGS. 11 to 19 are schematic cross-sectional views at each stage for explaining the operation of this embodiment. M...Train bulkhead device for pretreatment Y...Train bulkhead device for welding P...Pipeline 2.
... Pipe wall 3 ... Backer 4 ... Equipment pig part 2
0... Movable bulkhead with welding machine (first bulkhead device) 21... Packer 50... Movable bulkhead with aerodynamics (second bulkhead device) 51.
... Packer 73 ... Supply and exhaust pipe Fig. 15 Fig. 16 Fig. 17

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Fill the pipe with water, close both ends with a pig inserted into the pipe, drain the closed space and replace it with air, and then perform treatments such as inspection and welding of the pipe wall. A method for repairing a pipeline using a localized pneumatic method, which is characterized by: (2) Consisting of a main body that is movable in the longitudinal direction of the pipe and inflatable and deflated packers provided on the outer periphery of both ends of the main body, with a space between the packers for inspecting the pipe wall. A pipeline repair device using a local pneumatic method, characterized in that it is equipped with a drainage pump for replacing the inside with air as well as a sensor for repairing, a grinder for repair, a welding machine, etc. (3) A method for repairing a pipeline using a pressurized air method, which is characterized in that the pipe is filled with compressed air to increase the internal pressure of the pipe, and the part to be repaired is made to have normal pressure. (4) It consists of two mobile partition devices, a first and a second, each equipped with an inflatable and deflated packer on its outer periphery, and the first partition device is equipped with an exhaust means and at least an automatic welding machine,
A pneumatic pipeline repair device, wherein the second partition device includes at least an air lock means.