A tool (1) for isolating a hydrant (3) of a water mains comprises an inflatable bladder (11) adapted for insertion into the riser pipe (2) or in a tee below the hydrant and the bladder comprises means for engagement with a profile on the riser pipe or tee to secure the bladder in position and resist slippage within the riser pipe and means (17; 18) for spacing the bladder above the lower surface of the mains or tee below the hydrant such that the bladder can be secured within the riser pipe without shutting off fluid flow in the water mains.
A method of maintaining a sealing element within a leak site in a vessel comprises the steps of introducing a radially compressible hollow elastic tube, held under axial tension or radial compression into the vessel, the tube being radially compressed from an at rest condition to a contracted condition, the method further including the step of releasing the tension or compressive force on the tube such that the tube expands radially from the contracted towards the at rest condition against the wall of the vessel to trap the sealing element within the leak site between the outer surface of the tube and the inner wall of the vessel. A clamp apparatus for use in the sealing of a vessel comprises a hollow, flexible, elastic tube (1), said tube being radially compressible from an at rest condition to a contracted condition when held under axial tension or radial compression.
A method of delivering a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel (1) comprises the steps of deploying a flexible body of material (4) and at least one sealing element (3) into fluid (2) flowing within the vessel upstream of the leak site whereby the body of material transports the sealing elements through the vessel to the leak site where the body of material is drawn to the leak by fluid flow created by a pressure differential at the leak site, and wherein the sealing element(s) are constrained by the body of material at the leak site such that the sealing element(s) become(s) entrained within the leak.
A method for estimating a location of a leak (x) in a pipe (1). A liquid of a known density is fed into the pipe at a first inlet pressure (P1). When the liquid achieves a substantially steady flow rate, the flow rate passing into the pipeline is recorded. This step is repeated at a second, different, inlet pressure (P2). Using this data, an estimate of the leak location (x) and the area of the leak is calculated by simultaneously solving an expression which is based on relating the frictional energy losses of the liquid travelling through the pipeline (1) to the pressure in the pipeline at the leak (Pleak) and the flow rate of liquid from the leak.
G01M 3/28 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for pipes, cables, or tubesInvestigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for pipe joints or sealsInvestigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for valves
A sealing element is described which is adapted to perform partial extrusion through an opening in a pipe wall. A method of sealing an opening (2) in a vessel or pipe comprises the steps of introducing a sealing element (5) into the vessel or pipe upstream of the leak (2), transporting the sealing element to the opening (2) and allowing the sealing element to at least partially extrude through the opening (2).
The present invention describes an apparatus (1 ) for establishing a subsea environment to enable an intervention operation to be carried out on a pipe, the apparatus comprising a frame (2) adapted to abut an outer surface of the pipe, sealing means (7) to enable the frame to be sealed against the surface of a pipe, and means for monitoring the condition of the seal, wherein the environment is established between the frame and the surface of the pipe and further describes a method of establishing a subsea environment to enable an intervention operation to be carried out on a pipe, the method comprising the steps of deploying a frame (2) subsea, locating the frame against the side of a pipe to establish the environment between the frame and the pipe, sealing the frame against the side of the pipe, and monitoring the condition of the seal.
The present invention provides an apparatus for repairing the outer sheath of a pipe, said apparatus comprising a sleeve (12) adapted to surround the pipe, sealing means (16) for establishing atleast two circumferential seals between the surface of the pipe and means (17, 18) for forcing a sealing solution against the surface of the pipe between the two circumferential seals, the arrangement being such that in use the sleeve is spaced from the outer sheath of the pipe to form a sealed annulus therebetween and a method of repairing an outer sheath of a pipe, said method comprising the steps of mounting a sleeve over the pipe to provide an annulus therebetween, securing the sleeve in place around the pipe, providing two circumferential seals between the sleeve and the pipe and forcing a sealing solution against the surface of the pipe between the two circumferential seals to form a pressure seal between the circumferential seals and sealing the annulus between the pipe and the sleeve.
F16L 1/26 - Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
F16L 17/10 - Joints with packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure the packing being sealed by the pressure of a fluid other than the fluid in or surrounding the pipe
F16L 55/175 - Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe by using materials which fill a space around the pipe before hardening
The present invention describes a method of isolating a section of rough bore flexible pipe (1), said method including the steps of deploying a sealing device (10) into the pipe to the required position and forcing a sealing solution through the carcass (2) of the flexible pipe to seal the space between the sealing device and the internal pressure sheath (5) of the flexible pipe and also a sealing device (10) for isolating a section of a rough bore flexible pipe, said apparatus comprising means for anchoring the sealing device in the pipe and means for sealing the device in the pipe, said sealing means comprising means for forcing a sealing solution through the carcass of the pipe.
F16L 55/128 - Means for stopping flow in pipes or hoses by introducing into the pipe a member expandable in situ introduced axially into the pipe or hose
F16L 55/1645 - Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from inside the pipe a sealing material being introduced inside the pipe by means of a tool moving in the pipe
The present invention relates to a method of sealing a leak, comprising 5 introducing a sealing mixture to a leak site, the sealing mixture comprising at least one elastomeric sealing element and a non-Newtonian fluid. The present invention also relates to sealing mixtures comprising at least one elastomeric sealing element and a non-Newtonian fluid.
The present invention relates to a method of assessing the condition of a duct along which a gas is flowing. The method comprises producing one or more sensor carrying elements, wherein the elements are formed to have selected parameters; introducing the sensor carrying elements into the flowing gas; and selecting the parameters of the sensor carrying elements such that the elements are transported along the duct by saltation. The present invention also relates to a method of reducing leakage through a leak in the duct. In this respect, the method comprises producing sealing elements, wherein the sealing elements are formed to have selected parameters; introducing a plurality of the sealing elements into the flowing gas; and selecting the parameters of the sealing elements such that the elements are transported along the duct by saltation and such that, at the locality of the leak, at least one of said sealing elements is captured by a pressure differential associated with the leak and is thereby drawn to and held in position at the leak for stemming or sealing it.
The present invention relates to apparatus comprising one or more sealing elements (20) to be transported along a duct (24) by the flow of fluid therein at an internal pressure and to be drawn to a leak (22) by the pressure differential resulting from a reduced pressure associated with the locality of that leak. Each sealing element comprises a body formed from an elastic material to have one or more impermeable bubbles filled with gas so that the sealing element has a volume which varies resiliently according to the change in volume of the bubble (s) in response to externally applied pressure. The product of the volume of the bubble (s) and the pressure of the gas therein is selected to provide a sealing element having a transport volume at said internal pressure which is appropriate to enter a leak and which, in response to the reduced pressure associated with the locality of that leak, is capable of increasing in volume from said transport volume sufficiently to seal that leak.
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