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 including 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 , wherein the arcuate surfaces of the at least two saddles are configured to provide equal pressures around a pipe circumference during expansion. 
     
     
         13 . The pipe repair tool of  claim 1 , wherein the actuatable cylinder is configured to provide up to about 100 tons of force. 
     
     
         14 . A method of repairing pipe, the method comprising:
 aligning opposing saddles of a pipe repair tool within an out-of-round pipe section,   wherein the out-of-round pipe section comprises a short axis and a long axis substantially perpendicular thereto, and   wherein the saddles are substantially aligned with the short axis of an out-of-round pipe circumference; and   radially expanding the saddles against an inner wall of the pipe section in a direction substantially parallel with the short axis of the out-of-round pipe circumference;   wherein the short axis and the long axis of the out-of-round pipe section are substantially equal after radial expansion of the saddles.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , 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. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising dimensionally inspecting the threaded pipe. 
     
     
         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 out-of-round pipe section. 
     
     
         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 section. 
     
     
         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 section. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising repairing the indentation according to API specification requirements.