US3827282A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Installation, hydrostatic testing, repair, and modification of large diameter fluid transmission lines
Assignee: COLE CONNIE EVERETT AS ADMINISTRATOR OF ESTATE OF BERYLE DEAN BRISTER
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Filing: 1971-07-19
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1991-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A pipeline, or a section of pipeline, is hydrostatically tested after assembly by pumping water into the pipeline behind a pig to completely fill a test section. A short length of the water in the pipeline is then frozen to form an ice plug at one or both ends of the test section. Additional water is then pumped into the test section to bring the pressure to a high value, typically at least 90 percent of the minimum specified yield strength of the pipe on one side of the ice plug. A lower pressure is established on the other side of the ice plug and is monitored to test the integrity of the ice plug. The test pressures and the ice plugs are maintained for at least 24 hours. If there is pressure loss, the leak is located and repaired. If there is no pressure loss, water is then pumped into the next test section and the procedure repeated. After all of the test sections have been tested, the water is then purged from the pipeline by pumping a dewatering pig through the pipeline, either with products or air. The method is also applicable to either test or repair pipelines which are in service by pumping a long slug of water through the line with the product. The water may then be frozen to provide ice plugs for testing, repairing or modifying the pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 B Brister
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/26; G01M3/28; G01M3/2807; G01M3/2815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
The method for hydrostatically testing a pipeline system for transporting ecology degrading or dangerous fluid products over substantial distances which comprises: freezing a short length of water in the pipeline to form an ice plug, maintaining a relatively high test pressure on one side of the ice plug while maintaining a lower back pressure on the other side of the ice plug for a test period, and monitoring the test pressure and the back pressure during the test period to detect any leaks in the test section or in the ice plug.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
The method for hydrostatically testing a pipeline system for transporting ecology degrading or dangerous fluid products over substantial distances which comprises: freezing a short length of water in the pipeline to form an ice plug, maintaining a relatively high test pressure on one side of the ice plug while maintaining a lower back pressure on the other side of the ice plug for a test period, and monitoring the test pressure and the back pressure during the test period to detect any leaks in the test section or in the ice plug.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein two ice plugs are formed in the pipeline, and there is a test pressure between the ice plugs and a back pressure on the other side of each ice plug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the pipeline is tested in a plurality of successive test sections, and the test sections overlap so that the position of each ice plug is included in another test section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2 wherein: THE two ice plugs are disposed on opposite sides of a mainline valve, and the test pressure is established by pumping additional water through a fixture of the mainline valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the line is divided into at least first and second test sections having higher and lower maximum permissible test pressures, respectively, when in fluid communication, an ice plug is used to isolate the second test section from the first test section while the first test section is being tested to the higher pressure, and the first and second test sections are in fluid communication while the second test section is being tested.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
108 words
The method for hydrostatically testing a pipeline system for transporting ecology degrading or dangerous fluid products over substantial distances which comprises: filling at least a test section of the pipeline with water from a source, freezing a short length of the water adjacent at least one end of the test section to form an ice plug, pumping additional water into the test section to increase the pressure to a predetermined test level which is a major percentage of the minimum yield pressure of the pipe and holding the test level for a test period, and purging the water from the test section upon completion of a successful test.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
108 words
The method for hydrostatically testing a pipeline system for transporting ecology degrading or dangerous fluid products over substantial distances which comprises: filling at least a test section of the pipeline with water from a source, freezing a short length of the water adjacent at least one end of the test section to form an ice plug, pumping additional water into the test section to increase the pressure to a predetermined test level which is a major percentage of the minimum yield pressure of the pipe and holding the test level for a test period, and purging the water from the test section upon completion of a successful test.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 wherein back pressure is maintained against the other side of the ice plug during the test period and the back pressure is also monitored.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 6 wherein: water is pumped into the test section from a water source at one end of the test section and the water is purged from the test section back to the water source by forcing a pig through the section with fluid pumped into the opposite end of the test section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the water is pumped to successive test sections of a completed pipeline.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
144 words
The method for hydrostatically testing an operational pipeline which is transporting ecology degrading or dangerous fluid products over substantial distances which comprises pumping a substantial volume of water into the pipeline to form a water slug filling a length of the pipeline, transferring the water slug through the pipeline by pumping additional fluid into the pipeline, discontinuing the pumping of the fluids into the pipeline when the water slug has reached a predetermined position, freezing a length of the water in the pipeline to form a pressure resistant ice plug, and pumping additional liquid into the pipeline to raise the water pressure against the plug to a predetermined value that is a major portion of the minimum yield pressure of the pipe and holding the pressure at the predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time while maintaining the ice plug frozen.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
144 words
The method for hydrostatically testing an operational pipeline which is transporting ecology degrading or dangerous fluid products over substantial distances which comprises pumping a substantial volume of water into the pipeline to form a water slug filling a length of the pipeline, transferring the water slug through the pipeline by pumping additional fluid into the pipeline, discontinuing the pumping of the fluids into the pipeline when the water slug has reached a predetermined position, freezing a length of the water in the pipeline to form a pressure resistant ice plug, and pumping additional liquid into the pipeline to raise the water pressure against the plug to a predetermined value that is a major portion of the minimum yield pressure of the pipe and holding the pressure at the predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time while maintaining the ice plug frozen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 10 wherein: the water is frozen at two spaced points to form two spaced ice plugs, and the additional liquid pumped into the pipeline to raise the pressure is water pumped into the pipeline between the two pressure plugs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the additional liquid pumped into the pipeline to raise the pressure is additional products pumped into the pipeline from the source of products.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the additional fluid pumped into the pipeline for transferring the water slug is fluid products.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the additional fluid pumped into the pipeline for transferring the water slug is water.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
100 words
The method for hydrostatically testing a pipeline carrying ecology degrading or dangerous fluid products which comprises: injecting water into the pipeline in place of the fluid product, transferring the water to a predetermined point by pumping additional liquid into the pipeline, discontinuing the pumping of liquid into the pipeline and freezing a portion of the water to form an ice plug in the pipeline, pumping additional liquid into the pipeline adjacent the ice plug to raise the pressure of the liquid to a predetermined test pressure, and maintaining the test pressure for a test period while monitoring the test pressure.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
100 words
The method for hydrostatically testing a pipeline carrying ecology degrading or dangerous fluid products which comprises: injecting water into the pipeline in place of the fluid product, transferring the water to a predetermined point by pumping additional liquid into the pipeline, discontinuing the pumping of liquid into the pipeline and freezing a portion of the water to form an ice plug in the pipeline, pumping additional liquid into the pipeline adjacent the ice plug to raise the pressure of the liquid to a predetermined test pressure, and maintaining the test pressure for a test period while monitoring the test pressure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 15 further characterized by establishing a back pressure on the other side of the ice plug during the test period, and monitoring the back pressure during the test period.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
144 words
The method for modifying or repairing a central section of a welded pipeline which is transporting ecology degrading or dangerous fluid products over substantial distances which comprises: pumping a substantial volume of water into a pipeline to form a water slug filling a portion of the length of the pipeline, transferring the water slug to straddle a section of the pipeline to be modified or repaired by pumping additional fluid products into the pipeline behind the water slug, isolating the portion of the water slug straddling the section of the pipeline to be modified or repaired by freezing at least one section of the water slug on each side of the central section to form an ice plug on each side of the central section, and penetrating the pipeline filled with the isolated portion of the water slug to perform the modification or repair.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
144 words
The method for modifying or repairing a central section of a welded pipeline which is transporting ecology degrading or dangerous fluid products over substantial distances which comprises: pumping a substantial volume of water into a pipeline to form a water slug filling a portion of the length of the pipeline, transferring the water slug to straddle a section of the pipeline to be modified or repaired by pumping additional fluid products into the pipeline behind the water slug, isolating the portion of the water slug straddling the section of the pipeline to be modified or repaired by freezing at least one section of the water slug on each side of the central section to form an ice plug on each side of the central section, and penetrating the pipeline filled with the isolated portion of the water slug to perform the modification or repair.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
232 words
The method for modifying or repairing a central section of a welded high pressure pipeline which is transporting ecologically degrading or dangerous fluid hydrocarbon products over substantial distances which comprises: pumping a substantial volume of water at an inlet point into a pipeline already containing fluid hydrocarbon to form a water slug filling a portion of the pipeline separate from the fluid hydrocarbon, pumping additional fluid hydrocarbon into the pipeline at the inlet point separate from both the water slug and the fluid hydrocarbon already in the pipeline to force the water slug and the hydrocarbon already in the pipeline toward an outlet point, transferring the water slug to a central section of the pipeline to be modified or repaired by pumping additional fluid hydrocarbon into the pipeline at the inlet point until the water slug straddles the section of the pipeline to be modified or repaired, isolating the portion of the water slug straddling the central section of the pipeline to be modified or repaired by freezing at least one section of the water slug to form an ice plug and closing the pipeline at a point within the water slug and spaced on the other side of the section from the water slug, and penetrating the central section of the pipeline filled with the isolated portion of the water slug with a tool and then performing the modification or repair.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
232 words
The method for modifying or repairing a central section of a welded high pressure pipeline which is transporting ecologically degrading or dangerous fluid hydrocarbon products over substantial distances which comprises: pumping a substantial volume of water at an inlet point into a pipeline already containing fluid hydrocarbon to form a water slug filling a portion of the pipeline separate from the fluid hydrocarbon, pumping additional fluid hydrocarbon into the pipeline at the inlet point separate from both the water slug and the fluid hydrocarbon already in the pipeline to force the water slug and the hydrocarbon already in the pipeline toward an outlet point, transferring the water slug to a central section of the pipeline to be modified or repaired by pumping additional fluid hydrocarbon into the pipeline at the inlet point until the water slug straddles the section of the pipeline to be modified or repaired, isolating the portion of the water slug straddling the central section of the pipeline to be modified or repaired by freezing at least one section of the water slug to form an ice plug and closing the pipeline at a point within the water slug and spaced on the other side of the section from the water slug, and penetrating the central section of the pipeline filled with the isolated portion of the water slug with a tool and then performing the modification or repair.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3041850A
Cited
US3505820A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |