Buoyancy Control Systems for Tubes

Abstract

A buoyancy control system for controlling the buoyancy of a tube may includes generally tubular length of buoyancy control material having a selected buoyancy characteristic. The length of buoyancy control material may be attached to a section of the length of the tube to adjust the buoyancy of the section of the tube. The length of buoyancy control material may be an integral, coaxial layer of the tube or, alternatively, the length of buoyancy control material may be externally attached to tube. In embodiments in which the length of the buoyancy control material is externally attached, the buoyancy control material may have a longitudinal axis that is spaced-apart from a longitudinal axis of the tube.

1 . A spoolable tube comprising: 
 an internal liner; and    at least one buoyancy control layer comprising a filled thermoset or a filled thermoplastic polymer.    
   
   
       2 . The spoolable tube of  claim 1 , wherein said filled thermoset or filled thermoplastic polymer comprises particles chosen from glass, plastic, or ceramic particles, or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The spoolable tube of  claim 1 , wherein said tube further comprises a second layer comprising polypropylene.  
   
   
       4 . The spoolable tube of  claim 1 , wherein said tube further comprises a second layer comprising HDPE.  
   
   
       5 . The spoolable tube of  claim 1 , wherein said filled thermoset or filled thermoplastic polymer comprises one or more of: organic, organic-inorganic or inorganic salts, minerals, ceramics, metal oxides or main group oxides, clays, sand, glass, cement, or metals.  
   
   
       7 . The spoolable tube of  claim 1 , wherein said buoyancy control layer comprises barite loaded polypropylene, lead-filled nylon, iron oxide-loaded thermoplastic, or glass fiber filled ABS.  
   
   
       8 . The spoolable tube of  claim 1 , wherein said buoyancy control layer comprises barite loaded polypropylene.  
   
   
       9 . The spoolable tube of  claim 8 , further comprising a second layer comprising polypropylene.  
   
   
       10 . The spoolable tube of  claim 8 , further comprising a second layer comprising HDPE.  
   
   
       11 . The spoolable tube of  claim 1 , further comprising an energy conductor.  
   
   
       12 . The spoolable tube of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor.  
   
   
       13 . The spoolable tube of  claim 1 , wherein said inner layer is substantially fluid impervious.  
   
   
       14 . The spoolable tube of  claim 1 , further comprising a composite layer.  
   
   
       15 . The spoolable tube of  claim 14 , wherein said composite layer comprises fibers.  
   
   
       16 . A system comprising: 
 a tube including an inner liner; and    a buoyancy control material comprising a filled polymer, one or more portions of the buoyancy control material being attached to one or more portions of the tube to adjust the buoyancy of the one or more portions of the tube.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the filled polymer comprises particles chosen from glass, plastic, or ceramic.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the filled polymer comprises organic, organic-inorganic or inorganic salts, minerals, ceramics, metal oxides or main group oxides, clays, sand, glass, cement, or metals.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the buoyancy control material further comprises a layer comprising HDPE or polypropylene.