Conduit displacement mitigation apparatus including springs, methods and systems for use with subsea conduits

摘要

Disclosed are apparatus, systems and methods for reducing displacement of a subsea conduit such as offshore hydrocarbon production pipeline, also referred to as pipeline walking or buckling, thus reducing the need for expensive pipeline anchoring or other mitigation solutions. A movement resistor adapted to be installed on a subsea conduit is provided having an inner portion adapted to receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit and at least one resistor portion adapted to resist induced forces. The at least one resistor portion includes a spring element therein. At least one movement resistor can be installed along the length of a subsea conduit.

主权项

1. A movement resistor adapted to be installed on a subsea conduit having an axis, the movement resistor comprising:
a. a sleeve having two ends, a sleeve diameter and an inner sleeve surface adapted to receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit; and b. a pair of resistor portions for resisting forces applied thereto wherein each of the resistor portions is attached at one of the two ends of the sleeve, respectively, and extends radially from the sleeve and wherein each of the resistor portions comprises at least one spring element therein; wherein the at least one spring element is selected from the group consisting of coil springs, compression springs, machined springs and Belleville springs and is capable of being compressed in length by a distance and in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the subsea conduit as a result of a force applied to each of the resistor portions such that when compressed, each of the resistor portions exerts a force proportional to the distance the at least one spring element is compressed in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the subsea conduit.