Re-lined pipe technique for wear mitigation in slurry transport pipeline

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus, including a pigging tool, that comprises a spraying mechanism configured to move along an inner surface of a pipeline, including a slurry transport pipeline in a minable oilsands facility or plant, and to spray a coating on the inner surface of the pipeline; and a curing source, including an ultraviolet (UV) light source, a microwave source or an RF source, configured to cure the coating sprayed on the inner surface of the pipeline in situ as the spray mechanism moves along the inner surface of the pipeline.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus comprising:
 a spraying mechanism configured to move along an inner surface of a pipeline, including a slurry transport pipeline in a minable oilsands facility or plant, and spray a coating on the inner surface of the pipeline; and   a curing source, including an ultraviolet (UV) light source, a microwave source or an RF source, configured to cure the coating sprayed on the inner surface of the pipeline in situ as the spray mechanism moves along the inner surface of the pipeline.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured as, or forms part of, a pipe pigging tool. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating is a monomer coating that is polymerized by the curing source. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating is a polymer coating that is polymerized by the curing source. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the polymer coating is designed to take on electro-mechanical qualities of ‘bridging groups’ incorporated into a monomer structure. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the polymer coating is configured to have particular chemical affinities. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating has a high degree of abrasion and wear resistance. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating is configured and sprayed on the inner surface of the pipeline so as to form an impedance discrimination between the pipeline and the coating that does not preclude ultrasonic non-destructive examination (NDE) approaches for detecting lining wear or wall thickness. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a signal processor configured to provide signalling to
 move the spraying mechanism along the inner surface of the pipeline and spray the coating on the inner surface of the pipeline; and 
 cure with the curing source the coating sprayed on the inner surface of the pipeline in situ as the spray mechanism moves along the inner surface of the pipeline. 
   
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signalling is, or takes the form of, wireless signaling, including being provided from a remotely operated controller. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 moving a spraying mechanism along an inner surface of a pipeline, including a slurry transport pipeline in a minable oilsands facility or plant, and spraying a coating on the inner surface of the pipeline; and   curing with a curing source, including an ultraviolet (UV) light source, a microwave source or an RF source, the coating sprayed on the inner surface of the pipeline in situ as the spray mechanism moves along the inner surface of the pipeline.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises initially cleaning the inner surface of the pipeline, including cleaning the inner surface of the pipeline using ‘pigging’ technology. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises spraying a monomer coating, then polymerizing the coating via the UV irradiation. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the pipeline forms part of oilsands processing technology. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method is performed as part of a scheduled maintenance program, including during a shut-down, where the pipeline is cleaned using ‘pigging’ technology, and then a subsequent pigging tool is introduced to the pipeline which allows for a spray-coat application of the coating, such as a polymer coating, which is then cured in-situ. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus comprising:
 a signal processor configured to provide signalling to   move a spraying mechanism along an inner surface of a pipeline, including a slurry transport pipeline in a minable oilsands facility or plant, and spray a coating on the inner surface of the pipeline; and   cure with a curing source, including an ultraviolet (UV) light source, a microwave source or an RF source, the coating sprayed on the inner surface of the pipeline in situ as the spray mechanism moves along the inner surface of the pipeline.