Pipe repair tool and related methods

Abstract

A pipe repair tool includes at least two saddles having an actuatable cylinder disposed therebetween and configured to fit within the pipe, the at least two saddles having arcuate surfaces configured to correspond with a circumference of the pipe.

1 . A pipe repair tool comprising:
 at least two saddles having an actuatable cylinder disposed therebetween and configured to fit within the pipe, the at least two saddles comprising arcuate surfaces configured to correspond with a circumference of the pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein the actuatable cylinder is configured to expand the at least two saddles in opposite directions. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate surfaces of the at least two saddles are configured to be substantially concentric with the circumference of the pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein an arc length of the arcuate surfaces is approximately one-half or less of the circumference of the pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein the actuatable cylinder is a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , further comprising an external power source in fluid communication with the actuatable cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one alignment member configured to maintain a radial alignment between the at least two saddles. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein a radial thickness of the at least two saddles is at least twice the wall thickness of the tubular. 
     
     
         9 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one linkage between the at least two saddles. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein the actuatable cylinder is configured to provide a pressure of up to 10,000 psi. 
     
     
         11 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein a profile of the at least two saddles is configured to correspond to a standard counter bore of the pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one shim configured to be inserted between the at least two saddles and an inner surface of the pipe. 
     
     
         13 . A method of repairing a damaged pipe end, the method comprising:
 exerting a radially outward force against a section of the pipe having an indentation located in a circumference of the pipe; and   returning the circumference of the pipe to an original outer diameter contour.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising work-hardening the section of the pipe having the indentation after returning the circumference of the pipe to the original outer diameter contour. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising dimensionally inspecting the threaded pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a pipe repair tool having at least two saddles and expanding the at least two saddles to exert a radially outward force on the indentation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising inserting a shim between an outer surface of the at least two saddles and an inner surface of the section of the pipe having the indentation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing threaded outer surfaces on the at least two saddles to correspond with an internal thread of the pipe end. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing smooth outer surfaces on the at least two saddles to correspond with a smooth inner surface of the pipe end. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising repairing the indentation according to API specification requirements.