Pipe Junction Jacket and Method for Using Same

Abstract

There is a need for a flexible, insulated jacket that can be used to substantially enclose a pipe junction, then inject a cooling substance into the jacket, and thereby freeze or substantially freeze the contents of the junction. Industries conveying fluids, including fluids such as hydrocarbons, using pipes and valves would benefit from such a jacket. The jacket is shaped to substantially enclose a pipe junction connecting two or more pipes. The jacket includes a flexible insulated body having fasteners. The jacket has an open position and a closed position. The body substantially encloses the pipe junction in the closed position. The jacket further includes at least two fluid injection valves communicated through the jacket body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A jacket for freezing a pipe junction connecting two or more pipes comprising:
 a. a flexible insulated jacket body;   b. the body shaped to have an open position and a closed position and the body having fasteners for retaining the body in the closed position;   c. at least two fluid injection ports communicating through the body; and   d. wherein the body is shaped so that the body substantially encloses the pipe junction in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein a cooling substance communicates through the fluid injection ports directly onto at least a portion of a surface area where the jacket body covers the pipe junction. 
     
     
         3 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid injection ports are formed by injection orifices. 
     
     
         4 . The jacket of  claim 3 , wherein the injection orifices comprise orifice nozzles. 
     
     
         5 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe junction that the jacket body is shaped to substantially enclose is connected to at least three pipes. 
     
     
         6 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a first end, a second end, and a middle section between the first end and the second end, and wherein the at least two fluid injection ports are positioned on the middle section. 
     
     
         7 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe junction includes a valve. 
     
     
         8 . A jacket for freezing a pipe junction connecting two or more pipes comprising:
 a. a flexible insulated jacket body;   b. the body shaped to have an open position and a closed position;   c. at least one fluid injection orifice in communication with the body; and   d. wherein the body is shaped so that the body substantially encloses the pipe junction in the closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The jacket of  claim 8 , wherein a cooling substance communicates through the fluid injection orifice directly onto at least a portion of a surface area where the jacket body covers the pipe junction. 
     
     
         10 . The jacket of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid injection orifice comprises an orifice nozzle. 
     
     
         11 . The jacket of  claim 8 , wherein the pipe junction that the jacket body is shaped to substantially enclose is connected to at least three pipes. 
     
     
         12 . The jacket of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one fluid injection orifice is a one-way valve. 
     
     
         13 . The jacket of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one fluid injection orifice is integrated into the jacket body. 
     
     
         14 . The jacket of  claim 8 , wherein the body has a first end, a second end, and a middle section between the first end and the second end, and wherein the at least two fluid injection ports are positioned on the middle section. 
     
     
         15 . The jacket of  claim 8 , wherein a ratio is less than or equal to 1:36 between (i) a number of at least one fluid injection orifice and (ii) a total square inches of a surface area where the jacket body covers the pipe junction. 
     
     
         16 . The jacket of  claim 8 , wherein the pipe junction includes a valve. 
     
     
         17 . A method for freezing a liquid in a pipe junction connecting two or more pipes, said method comprising:
 a. providing a jacket comprising a flexible insulated body shaped to have an open position and a closed position, wherein the body is shaped so that the body substantially encloses the pipe junction in the closed position;   b. placing the jacket around the pipe junction; and   c. applying a pressurized cooling substance to the pipe junction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the jacket further comprises at least two fluid injection ports communicating through the jacket body. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid injection ports are formed by fluid injection orifices. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cooling substance communicates through the fluid injection ports directly onto at least a portion of a surface area where the jacket body covers the pipe junction. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cooling substance forms in a solid state over a majority of a surface area where the jacket body covers the pipe junction. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pipe junction connects at least three pipes and the jacket is shaped to substantially enclose the pipe junction. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further providing a substantially enclosed volume around the pipe junction and an exterior volume and, during the applying step, at least two fluid injection ports communicating from the exterior volume to the substantially enclosed volume. 
     
     
         24 . The jacket of  claim 17 , wherein the pipe junction includes a valve. 
     
     
         25 - 43 . (canceled)