Method of spooling a bi-metallic pipe

Abstract

A method of spooling a marine pipeline ( 90 ) including a plurality of bi-metallic pipe sections ( 10 ) ( 66 ) onto a reel ( 60 ) including at least the steps of: (a) filling a first pipe section with a fluid ( 12 ); (b) spooling the first pipe section onto the reel; (c) filling a second pipe section with a fluid ( 78 ); (d) joining the first pipe section with the second pipe section wherein at least one of the first and second pipe sections maintains the fluid ( 12,78 ) therein; and (e) spooling the second pipe section onto the reel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of spooling a marine pipeline comprising a plurality of bi-metallic pipe sections onto a reel, the method comprising at least the steps of:
 (a) filling a first pipe section with a fluid and pressurising the fluid in the first pipe section;   (b) spooling the first pipe section onto the reel; after this,   (c) filling a second pipe section with the same fluid and pressurising the fluid in the second pipe section prior to joining the first and second pipe sections; after this,   (d) joining the first pipe section with the second pipe section, wherein each of the first and second pipe sections maintains without relieving the pressurised fluid therein;   (e) spooling the second pipe section onto the reel.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed  claim 1 , wherein the bi-metallic pipe sections are lined pipe sections. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step (a) further comprises the steps of:
 locating a first plug at one end of the first pipe section;   filling the first pipe section with a fluid;   locating a second plug at the other end of the first pipe section;   pressurising the fluid; and   locking the second plug to maintain the pressurised fluid in the first pipe section.   
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises the steps of:
 locating a first plug at one end of the second pipe section;   filling the second pipe section with a fluid;   locating a second plug at the other end of the second pipe section;   pressurising the fluid; and   locking the second plug to maintain the pressurised fluid in the second pipe section.   
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein two or more plugs are attached to provide combined movement. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is pressurised to between 5-25 bar. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising providing an absence of pressurised fluid in the areas of the first and second pipe sections being joined in step (d). 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7 , comprising subsequently filling the first and second pipe sections beneath the joint of the first and second pipe sections with a fluid. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising repeating steps (c)-(e) to join and spool one or more further pipe sections onto the reel. 
     
     
         10 . A marine pipeline comprising a plurality of joined bi-metallic pipe sections located on a reel wherein the marine pipeline is positioned and configured to undergo the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the joining comprises:
 (a) connecting opposing plugs of the first and second pipe sections;   (b) joining the first and second pipe sections;   (c) filling the first and second pipe sections beneath the joint between the first and second pipe sections with a fluid; and   (d) moving one of the connected plugs across the joint.   
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is pressurised in a range 8-12 bar.