RO127040A2 - Process and flexible tubing for collecting accidentally leaking petroleum products - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a process and a flexible tubing intended to collect accidentally leaking pressurized petroleum products from a transport pipeline in case of breaking or cracking thereof, in order to stop uncontrolled escape of said fluids into the environment, thereby limiting the effects of pollution and losses. According to the invention, the process consists in replacing a portion of the faulty pipeline by a flexible tubing made of some strips, lengthwise connected to one another by some zip fasteners, ensuring protection against fluid entering or leaking from the tubing. The tubing, as claimed by the invention, consists of a number of strips () having along their longitudinal sides some zipper cogs () which permit the joining thereof by means of some zip fasteners (), said strips being fixed on a faulty pipeline () by means of some sealing clamps () to generate the flexible tubing, while, at the other end, there is a rigid connection union () coupled to a fluid pump () which is able to create a negative pressure in the flexible tubing system to reduce the amount of fluid discharged into the environment and take over the entire amount of pressurized fluid () from the faulty pipeline ().

Description

PROCEDURE FLEXIBLE PIPE FOR CAPTURE

ACCIDENTAL LEAKS OF PETROCHEMICALS

The invention relates to a process for capturing the accidental leakage of petrochemical products, under pressure, from pipes carrying these products, in the situation of breaking or cracking them for various reasons and to a related tight and flexible pipe, with which it intervenes. , in order to stop the uncontrolled discharge of the respective fluids into the environment, limiting the effects of pollution and losses.

According to the process, in the case of breaking or cracking of such a pipe, a flexible pipe is fitted thereon, which covers the portion of the damaged pipe, a pipe formed of rubber bands with fiber insert and / or resistance metal insert, connected between them, by longitudinal connection, by means of zippers capable of providing protection against the ingress of liquids and gases (liquid-tight & gas-tight zip fasteners).

The system will initially function as a longitudinal and unfolded sectioned pipe, which can be connected with one of its ends to the body of a broken pipe or the body of a cracked pipe, at a safe distance from the damaged area.

The flexible tubing will be generated, by the joining and gradual closing of some zipper closures (by towing or manually), an action that will lead to the creation of a flexible, but leaky pipe, in the intermediate phase of the zipper closure, so that the fluid leaking from the damaged pipe will be channeled to the opposite end of a sleeve, without exerting, in this phase, any action of opposition against the pressure of the taken jet

At the opposite end to the end to be connected to the damaged area of the pipe, the flexible pipe is connected, through a rigid connection, to a pipe system equipped, possibly, with a pump (submersible in the case of underwater damage), a pump that will apply a Depression action, from the area of the tubing generated by the closure of the zippers, thus helping the captured fluid to be directed through the created system, to a storage tank.

Flexible tubing may be used for recovery of fluid leakage resulting from longitudinal cracks in the pipe body, in this case, the sealing of flexible pipe body being performed at both ends of the pipe system ° ^ ™ ^UL stÂtpEntru inventîîşTmărcij

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(\ -2 010-00661 -2 8 -07- 2010 created from the rubber bands, so that, when the sealing zippers are completely closed, the discharge will be stopped.

The reinforced rubber bands, from which the flexible tubing is made, may be provided with one or more rigid side connections, on which manometers can be fitted, to indicate pressure and depression in the system, valves, for drainage or pumps, for creation a depression in the flexible piping system.

In order to ensure the tightness of the connection at the ends of the flexible tubing, standard fixing methods with collars and gaskets can be used that can be applied in the fixing area on the damaged pipe.

Methods and devices are known for controlling and capturing accidental oil spills by freezing the affected pipeline portion (England patent 1601462, US patent 4,396,031, US patent 4,203,472), but the technical solutions presented in these patents are not subject to the abovementioned invention.

The method and flexible piping for capturing accidental leaks, according to the invention, has the following advantages:

- it is intended as a quick intervention solution, to stop spills from broken or cracked pipes, allowing, at the same time, the directing of the taken fluids, to a storage tank, possibly with the help of a pump;

- the fluids taken can be directed under controlled pressure conditions, being transported to the recovery tank, without being contaminated with water, without further separation of them (in case of underwater damage);

- is a solution that can be extremely useful in equipping the intervention teams in the anti-pollution operations in the petrochemical industry, drilling rigs, oil tankers, etc., in case of uncontrolled leaks;

- it is a solution to stop the accidental, uncontrolled spills, which allows the continued operation of the installations, without interrupting the flow of fluid transported through the damaged pipe;

- compared to the classical solutions for blocking the cracks, regardless of the shape of the rupture, the nature and the temperature of the leaking fluid, the solution can be put into practice, not having to act directly on

CȚ-2 O 1 O - O O 6 61 - 2 8 -07- 2010

breaks, for blocking or connecting operations, but will be carried out in much safer conditions;

- the fastening of the zippers is carried out at a safe distance from the damaged area, after which they can be completely closed, by remotely pulling the zippers, independently or simultaneously, until the system becomes a tube through which the captured fluid will pass ;

- the diameter of the flexible manifold piping can be adjusted according to the diameter of the damaged pipe, by combining the various widths of the strips, generating by closing the zippers a pipe capable of providing intervention to the damaged pipes, regardless of their diameter and the pressure of the spill.

The following is an example of an embodiment of the invention, in connection with FIGS. 1-7, which represents:

- figure 1 - view of a flexible pipe applied over a damaged pipe, in the early phase of closing the zippers, having mounted a fastening and sealing collar

- Figure 2 - view of a flexible reinforced rubber bench, provided on the sides, with locking system, zipper type;

- figure 3 - view of a system consisting of several strips, joined together by closing, at different stages, with zippers;

- Figure 4 - view of a tape system, positioned under a damaged pipe, system prepared, to be folded on its body;

- figure 5 - view of a flexible pipe, in the intermediate phase of closing the zippers, having applied both fixing and sealing collars, connected by a connection to a network provided with pump;

- Figure 6 - view of a flexible tubing, in the advanced phase of closing the zippers, two completely closed zippers and the third zipper close to complete closing;

- Figure 7 - view of a flexible pipe, in the situation of closing it on the body of a longitudinally cracked pipe (broken pipe).

The flexible tubing, for the capture of accidental leaks, figure 1, mounted on a damaged pipe A, in which there is a fluid under pressure p, is made from

Λ: 2 0 1 0 - 0 0 6 6 1 -2 8 -07- 2010 a z number of strips 1, which have on both sides longitudinal zips of zipper 2 (Liquid Tight zipper), at the end of which, after joining all the zippers on a portion of the damaged pipe A, a sealing collar 3 is arranged, thus generating the flexible tubing, the strips 1 are joined to each other, by means of zipper closures 4, the displacement of which is achieved by pulling in the usual manner, even manually, of flexible elements 5 (cable or chain), which can be operated independently or concurrently, in the latter case they can be connected with a common connection system.

The strips 1 may have different lengths and widths, depending on the size of the pipe A, and its failure, such a strip being shown in figure 2, a strip, which has at the ends some areas a and b, which are fixed by the pipe A, with the help of sealing collars 3.

Several strips 1, in different stages of assembly between them, in order to form the flexible tubing, are shown in figure 3.

The beginning of the fixing of the pipe A of several strips 1, partially assembled between them, figure 3, is shown in figure 4.

In Figure 5, the strips 1 are joined in zone a, and in zone b, the strips 2 are still open, but both ends are fastened with a clamp 3 of pipe A, the pressure fluid p still being able to discharge into the environment, considering for which, at the end of zone b of the strips 1, is mounted a rigid connection connection 6, the fixing being realized with the collar 3, connection that can be coupled further, to a fluid pump 7, to be made in the flexible system of pipe created, a depression reducing the amount of fluid discharged into this area, and also reducing the tensile force in the connection 6, thus allowing the complete closure of the zippers and in zone b, thus taking over the entire amount of fluid under pressure p from the damaged pipe A.

Figure 6 shows the stage of the final closure of the strips 1, forming the flexible pipe.

Figure 7 shows the situation of the closure of lanes 1, when pipe A is cracked.

Claims (3)

1. Flexible pipeline and process for capturing the accidental leakage of pressure-sensitive petrochemical products from pipelines carrying these products, in the event of their breaking or cracking, for various reasons, characterized in that the flexible pipeline, for accidental leakage, (figure 1), mounted on a damaged pipe (A), in which there is a pressurized fluid (p), it is made of a number (z) of strips (1), which have on both sides longitudinal bores of zipper (2) (Liquid Tight zipper), at the end of which, after joining all the zippers on a portion of the damaged pipe (A), a sealing collar (3) is arranged, thus generating the flexible tubing, the strips (1) being joined between them, by means of zippers (4), the displacement of which is achieved by pulling in a usual way, even manually, of flexible elements (5) (cable or chain), which can be action independently or concurrently, in the latter case they can be connected to each other with a common connection system. 2. Process and flexible piping for capturing the accidental leakage of pressure-sensitive petrochemical products, from pipes carrying these products, in the situation of their breaking or cracking, for various reasons, according to claim 1, characterized in that the strips (1) they can have different lengths and widths, depending on the size of the pipe (A), and its failure, (figure 2), benches, which have at the ends some areas (a) and (b), which are fixed by the pipe (A ), with the help of sealing collars (3) · (^ -2 0 1 0 - 0 0 6 6 1 -. 2 8 -07- 2010 3. Process and flexible piping for capturing accidental leakage of pressure-sensitive petrochemical products from pipelines carrying these products, in the event of their breaking or cracking, for various reasons, according to claim 1, characterized in that, during the operation of pipe fitting (figure 5), the strips (1) are joined in the area (a), and in the area (b), they are still open, but both ends are fastened with a clamp (3) of the pipe (A), the pressurized fluid (p) can still be discharged into the environment, for which, at the end of the zone (b) of the strips (1), there is mounted a rigid connection connection (6), the fixing being made with the collar (3) , a connection that can be coupled further, to a fluid pump (7), which will achieve in the flexible piping system created, a depression reducing the amount of fluid discharged in this area, reducing the tensile force in the connection (6), perm thus keeping the complete closure of the zippers in area (b), taking the whole amount of fluid under pressure (p) from the damaged pipe (A).