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

Abstract

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. At least one movement resistor can be installed along the length of a subsea conduit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for conveying fluids on a seabed, the system comprising:
 a. a conduit located on a seabed; and   b. at least one movement resistor installed on the conduit, the movement resistor comprising:
 i. an inner portion having an inner surface adapted to receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit; and 
 ii. at least one resistor portion extending outward from the inner portion having a cross-sectional shape and an outer diameter of a circumscribed circle intersecting the cross-sectional shape and adapted to resist a force applied to the resistor portion. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein multiple movement resistors are installed on the conduit at locations determined by engineering analysis to resist movement. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one data handling device located in at least one of the at least one movement resistor for at least one of measuring data, storing data and communicating data. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the data is selected from the group consisting of displacement data, strain data, temperature data, compression data, number of events data, time data, soil property data, water current data, date data and location data. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an axial element in contact with the conduit wherein the axial element is selected from the group consisting of a direct electric heating cable, an umbilical cable, a power cable and a secondary pipeline; wherein the at least one movement resistor is installed on the conduit and the axial element. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one movement resistor is integral with the conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one movement resistor is bonded to the conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one movement resistor comprises at least two elements attachable to one another using at least one of a clamp, a circumferential band, a hinge mechanism, polymer material, and a bolt. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluids are from hydrocarbon production at a temperature between about 80° C. and about 200° C. 
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling displacement of a subsea conduit located on a seabed, the method comprising:
 a. installing at least one movement resistor on a subsea conduit, the movement resistor comprising:
 i. an inner portion having an inner surface adapted to receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit; and 
 ii. at least one resistor portion extending outward from the inner portion having a cross-sectional shape and an outer diameter of a circumscribed circle intersecting the cross-sectional shape and adapted to resist a force applied to the resistor portion. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the displacement of the subsea conduit is controlled in the axial direction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one movement resistor is installed in at least one location determined by engineering analysis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one movement resistor comprises at least two elements attachable to one another; and
 the at least one movement resistor is installed by attaching the at least two elements to one another using at least one of a clamp, a circumferential band, polymer material, a hinge mechanism, and a bolt.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one movement resistor is installed by bonding the inner surface of the at least one movement resistor to the conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising placing an axial element in contact with the conduit wherein the axial element is selected from the group consisting of a direct electric heating cable, an umbilical cable, a power cable and a secondary pipeline;
 wherein the at least one movement resistor is installed on the conduit and the axial element.   
     
     
         17 . A method for installing a subsea conduit on the seabed comprising:
 a. installing at least one movement resistor on a conduit; and   b. laying down the conduit on the seabed;
 wherein the movement resistor comprises:
 i. an inner portion having an inner surface adapted to receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit; and 
 ii. at least one resistor portion extending outward from the inner portion having a cross-sectional shape and an outer diameter of a circumscribed circle intersecting the cross-sectional shape and adapted to resist a force applied to the resistor portion.