Flexible Pipe for Offshore and Other Applications

Abstract

A flexible pipe for conducting fluid, such as offshore production fluids, has interior tubing, a series of rings and clamps, and exterior tubing. The interior tubing has an extruded tube and a surrounding layer. Outer rings dispose about the interior tubing and abut end-to-end. Inner rings dispose on the tubing and fit in between each of the outer rings. These inner rings have tapered surfaces that fit against beveled ends defined in each end of the outer ring's internal bore. The clamps affix the abutting ends of the outer rings together, and the exterior tubing disposes on the series of rings and clamps. This exterior tubing has an inner layer of wrapped tape surrounded by an extruded tube. A flange couples by an end clamp to the end ring of the pipe, and inner and outer supports on the flange support the interior and exterior tubing.

1 . A flexible pipe, comprising:
 interior tubing having one or more first layers and defining a bore for conducting fluid;   a plurality of first rings disposed about the interior tubing, each of the first rings abutting one another;   a plurality of clamps coupling the abutting first rings together; and   exterior tubing having one or more second layers and disposed about the first rings and the clamps.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first rings comprises a separate ring disposed independently on the interior tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe of  claim 1 , wherein each of the clamps comprises a separate clamp disposed independently on the first rings. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pipe comprises a jumper, a flow line, a riser, or conduit used in offshore production. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first layers of the interior tubing comprise:
 an inner liner having the bore for conducing fluid; and   at least one outer layer disposed about the inner liner.   
     
     
         6 . The pipe of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one outer layer comprises an overwrapping layer of a composite laminate. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more second layers of the exterior tubing comprises:
 an inner layer disposed on the plurality of rings and clamps; and   an overwrapping layer of a composite laminate disposed about the inner layer.   
     
     
         8 . The pipe of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange assembly coupled to an end of the pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The pipe of  claim 8 , wherein the flange assembly comprises a flange having a distal end abutting one of the first rings on the end of the pipe, and a second clamp coupling the one first ring to the distal end of the flange. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe of  claim 8 , wherein the flange assembly comprises an inner tubular support disposed inside the bore of the interior tubing and having one end engaging inside a bore of the flange. 
     
     
         11 . The pipe of  claim 8 , wherein the flange assembly comprises an outer tubular support disposed outside the exterior tubing and having one end coupled to the flange. 
     
     
         12 . The pipe of  claim 1 , wherein each of the clamps comprises at least two clamp portions fitting around the abutting first rings and coupling together. 
     
     
         13 . The pipe of  claim 12 , wherein each of the at least two clamp portions has ends fastenable to ends of the other of the at least two clamp portions. 
     
     
         14 . The pipe of  claim 12 , wherein each of the at least two clamp portions has a first end with an interior-facing notch and a second end with an exterior-facing notch, the first ends being mateable with the second ends. 
     
     
         15 . The pipe of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first rings each define an opening fittable onto the interior tubing, each end of the opening defining an inner tapered surface; and   the pipe further comprises a plurality of second rings disposing on the interior tubing between the first rings, each of the second rings having outer tapered surfaces abuttable to one of the inner tapered surfaces of the first rings.   
     
     
         16 . The pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first rings and clamps permit pivoting between interconnected ones of the rings. 
     
     
         17 . A flexible pipe assembly method, comprising:
 disposing a plurality of first rings about interior tubing;   abutting the first rings end-to-end on the interior tubing;   clamping the first rings together end-to-end by affixing a plurality of clamps to the abutting ends of the first rings; and   disposing exterior tubing about the first rings and the clamps.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein disposing the first rings about the interior tubing comprises disposing each of the first rings as an independent ring on the interior tubing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein affixing a plurality of clamps to the abutting ends of the first rings comprises disposing each of the clamps as an independent clamp on the first rings. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein disposing the exterior tubing about the first rings and the clamps comprises pulling the exterior tubing over the first rings and clamps. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein disposing the exterior tubing about the first rings and the clamps comprises forming the exterior tubing over the first rings and clamps. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 disposing a plurality of second rings about the interior tubing between the first rings; and   abutting each of the second rings to a portion of a bore in the ends of the first rings when abutting the first rings end-to-end.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein abutting each of the second rings to the portion of the bore in the ends of the first rings comprises disposing seals between the first and second rings. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein affixing the plurality of clamps to the abutting ends of the first rings comprises:
 fitting at least two clamp portions in adjacent channels on the ends of the first rings; and   affixing notched ends of the at least two clamp portions together.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising fitting a flange assembly on an end of the flexible pipe. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein fitting the flange assembly comprises:
 disposing a flange on an end of the interior tubing;   abutting an end of the flange against the first ring at the end of the pipe; and   clamping the flange and the first ring together end-to-end by affixing a clamp to the abutting ends of the flange and the first ring.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein fitting the flange assembly comprises:
 disposing a first support in a first bore of the flange and a second bore of the interior tubing; and   engaging the flange to an end of the exterior tubing by disposing a second support outside the flange and the exterior tubing.