Mounting and cathodic protection

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical mount body comprising a first open mouth at a first end of the cylindrical body and a further open mouth at a remaining end of the cylindrical body, a substantially cylindrical inner surface, and an outer surface that includes a plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel recessed regions that extends circumferentially around the body, wherein the cylindrical body is tapered at each end and at least one securing element is located between the recessed regions.

1 . Apparatus for mounting a corrosion protection element of a corrosion protection system to an outer surface region of flexible pipe body, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical mount body comprising a first open mouth at a first end of the cylindrical body and a further open mouth at a remaining end of the cylindrical body, a substantially cylindrical inner surface, and an outer surface that includes a plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel recessed regions that extend circumferentially around the body; wherein   the cylindrical body is tapered at each end and at least one securing element is located between the recessed regions.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the inner surface of the mount body has an inner diameter that is substantially equal to an outer surface diameter provided by an outer tensile armour layer of the flexible pipe body.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a thickness of the body between the inner surface and the outer surface, where the outer surface is not recessed or tapered, is less than 1 cm.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the thickness is less than 0.5 cm. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the cylindrical body comprises a plurality of body portions, each body portion providing a respective section of the cylindrical body.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 each securing element comprises a threaded hole in the cylindrical body.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the threaded hole is a blind hole or a through hole. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a respective circular seal element located in each recessed region.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least a region of the cylindrical mount body is electrically conductive. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said a region of the cylindrical mount body comprises a whole of the mount body. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said a region is formed from a metallic material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical mount body comprises an anode mounting collar. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is for securing an anode or anode clamp to the outer surface region of a portion of flexible pipe body, and said at least one securing element is for securing an anode or anode clamp. 
     
     
         14 . A method of securing an anode to a flexible pipe, comprising the steps of:
 determining a location along a region of flexible pipe body where a cylindrical mount body, comprising a spaced apart first and further open mouth at respective ends of the mount body and a substantially cylindrical inner surface and a plurality of spaced apart recessed regions in an outer surface, is located; and   securing an anode or anode clamp element to the mount body by locating a securing element, located between the recessed regions, through an outer sheath of the flexible pipe body.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 clamping the anode or anode clamp element to the outer sheath on opposed sides of a location where the securing element is located through the outer sheath.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 via the clamping step, urging outer sheath material into the spaced apart recessed regions of the cylindrical mount body, thereby providing a fluid seal on a first and remaining side of the securing element.   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the method is a method of securing an anode to a portion of flexible pipe body via a mount body. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing flexible pipe body, comprising steps of:
 providing a tensile armour wire layer by helically winding a tensile armour wire over an underlying layer;   providing at least one substantially cylindrical mount body, comprising a spaced apart first and further open mouth at respective ends of the mount body and a substantially cylindrical inner surface and at least one securing element between a plurality of spaced apart recessed regions in an outer surface, over the tensile armour wire layer; and   providing an outer sheath over the mount body and the tensile armour layer.