Termination of a flexible pipe

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for re-terminating an end of a flexible pipe. The method comprises removing at least one original end fitting component (310, 335) from a multicomponent end fitting, secured to flexible pipe body at an end of a flexible pipe, leaving a retained portion (330, 360) of the end fitting in situ and subsequently securing at least one superseding end fitting component (310, 335) to the retained portion thereby providing a new fluid tight seal against a fluid retaining layer of the flexible pipe at a new sealing location axially displaced from an original sealing location.

1 . A method of re-terminating an end of a flexible pipe, comprising the steps of:
 removing at least one original end fitting component from a multi-component end fitting, secured to flexible pipe body at an end of a flexible pipe, leaving a retained portion of the end fitting in situ; and   subsequently securing at least one superseding end fitting component to the retained portion thereby providing a new fluid tight seal against a fluid retaining layer of the flexible pipe at a new sealing location axially displaced from an original sealing location.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the new fluid tight seal by locating an inner seal ring member and/or outer seal ring member against an outer surface of the fluid retaining layer at a new axial position along a length of the flexible pipe body spaced apart from an axial position associated with the original sealing position.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing the original end fitting component and subsequently providing the new fluid tight seal without cutting off the multi-component end fitting from a remainder of the flexible pipe by cutting through a whole cross-section of the flexible pipe body.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of removing an original end fitting component comprises:
 removing at least one of a termination portion and/or an inner seal ring member and/or an inner spacer ring member and/or an inner ring insert member. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of removing an original end fitting component comprises:
 removing at least one of an outer spacer ring member and/or an outer seal ring member and/or an outer collar member. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 replacing the at least one original end fitting component with a corresponding replacement component that comprises the superseding component and that has a width dimension greater than or less than a corresponding original width dimension of the original end fitting component.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising replacing the original end fitting component with the replacement component by the steps of:
 unsecuring and then removing the original end fitting component from the retained portion of the end fitting; and   subsequently locating the replacement component adjacent to the retained portion of the end fitting and directly or indirectly securing the replacement component thereto.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 removing an original termination portion of an end fitting that comprises a posterior end flange from an end of a region of the flexible pipe body together with an inner seal ring member and an inner ring insert member; and   locating a replacement termination portion having a posterior end flange wider or less wide than the corresponding width of the flange of the original termination portion against a flange of a retained core portion of the end fitting; whereby a replacement inner seal ring member and/or inner ring insert member are located in a recessed region between the replacement termination portion and an outer surface of the fluid retaining layer.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 removing an original termination portion of an end fitting that comprises a posterior end flange from an end of a region of the flexible pipe body together with an inner seal ring member and an inner ring insert member;   removing an original spacer ring member from a location adjacent to a retained core portion of the end fitting;   locating a posterior side of a replacement inner spacer ring member having a width more or less wide than a width of the original inner spacer ring member against a flange of a retained core portion of the end fitting;   locating a termination portion, and inner seal ring member located in a recessed region between said a termination portion and an outer surface of the fluid retaining layer, against an anterior side of the replacement inner spacer ring member; and   securing the termination portion to the replacement inner spacer ring member.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 unsecuring and then removing an original termination portion of an end fitting, that comprises a posterior end flange, from an end region of the flexible pipe body together with an inner seal ring member and an inner ring insert member; 
 locating a termination portion comprising the superseding component, and an inner seal ring member in a recessed region between said a termination portion and an outer surface of the fluid retaining layer, against an anterior side of a retained core portion of the end fitting; and 
 securing the termination portion directly to the core portion. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 cutting a portion off an end of the fluid retaining layer from a remainder of the fluid retaining layer subsequent to removal of the original end fitting component.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 subsequent to the cutting off of said a portion of the fluid retaining layer, determining at least one characteristic associated with said a portion of the fluid retaining layer.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid retaining layer comprises a barrier layer or liner of the flexible pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 removing an original collar member of an end fitting together with an outer seal ring member and an outer spacer ring member; and   locating a replacement outer spacer ring member having width greater than or less than a corresponding width of the removed outer spacer ring member against a posterior surface of a jacket member of the end fitting; thereby   locating a replacement outer seal ring member in a recessed region between the replacement outer spacer ring member and an outer surface of the fluid retaining layer.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 removing an original collar member of an end fitting together with an outer seal ring member and an outer spacer ring member; and   locating an additional outer spacer ring member against a posterior surface of a jacket member of the end fitting; thereby   locating an outer seal ring member in a recessed region between an outer spacer ring member and an outer surface of the fluid retaining layer, said an outer spacer ring member being spaced apart from the posterior surface of the jacket by the additional outer spacer ring member.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the fluid retaining layer comprises an outer sheath of the flexible pipe. 
     
     
         17 . An outer jacket member for an end fitting, comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body having an outer surface that provides an outer surface region of an end fitting and an inner surface that defines an extent of a tensile armour wire termination region of the end fitting; wherein   a first end region of the generally cylindrical body comprises at least one securing element for securing the body to a core portion of the end fitting and the inner surface of the generally cylindrical body at a remaining end region of the jacket member, is cylindrical.   
     
     
         18 . The outer jacket member as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 said inner surface of the generally cylindrical body at the remaining end region of the jacket member does not include a tapered region for receiving an outer seal ring member.   
     
     
         19 . The outer jacket member as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the securing element comprises a threaded region. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A multi-component end fitting for terminating a flexible pipe body having a fluid retaining layer, comprising:
 an end fitting portion;   an end fitting termination portion having a radially innermost surface at a posterior end of the end fitting termination portion comprising a recessed region for receiving a seal ring member, wherein the end fitting termination portion is removably secured to the end fitting portion; and   a seal ring member received by the recessed region and arranged such that, when a flexible pipe body having a fluid retaining layer is terminated by the multi-component end fitting, the seal ring member seals against an outer surface of the fluid retaining layer.   
     
     
         31 . The multi-component end fitting of  claim 30 , wherein the end fitting portion is configured to be permanently secured to a flexible pipe body. 
     
     
         32 . The multi-component end fitting of  claim 30  in which the multi-component end fitting is for terminating a flexible pipe body that further comprises tensile armour windings, wherein the end fitting portion defines an enclosure for receiving ends of the respective tensile armour windings of the flexible pipe body. 
     
     
         33 . The multi-component end fitting of  claim 32 , wherein the end fitting portion comprises a core portion and a jacket member which define the enclosure therebetween. 
     
     
         34 . The multi-component end fitting of  claim 30 , wherein the recessed region is tapered.