Method for terminating flexible pipe body

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for terminating flexible pipe body. The apparatus comprises an end fitting core portion, an end fitting termination portion and a spacer ring member locatable between the core portion and the termination portion for maintaining a whole anterior end surface of the core portion and an opposed whole posterior end surface of the termination portion in a spaced apart relationship.

1 . A method for terminating a flexible pipe body, the method comprising the steps of:
 during a pipe body terminating stage of operation, providing a spacer ring member between a core portion of an end fitting and a termination portion of the end fitting thereby maintaining a whole anterior end surface of the core portion in a spaced apart relationship from an opposed whole posterior end surface of the termination portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 preventing axial motion of a fluid retaining layer of the pipe body with respect to an end fitting by gripping a radially outer surface of the fluid retaining layer via a plurality of inset regions on a radially innermost surface of the spacer ring member.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 selectively heating and/or cooling a region of a fluid retaining layer underlying the spacer ring member via a respective heating or cooling element supported in the spacer ring member.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
 heating and/or cooling said a region to a predetermined temperature or with a predetermined temperature profile.   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 sensing at least one parameter of a fluid retaining layer underlying the spacer ring member via at least one sensor element supported via the spacer ring member.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a vent path for venting an annulus region of a flexible pipe by locating the spacer ring member, comprising a body including at least one fluid communication passageway, between the termination portion and core portion of an end fitting at a first end region of a flexible pipe.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a fluid communication path for pressurising an annulus region of a flexible pipe by locating a spacer ring member, comprising a body including at least one fluid communication passageway, between the termination portion and core portion of an end fitting at a first end of a flexible pipe; and   applying a non-ambient pressure to the fluid communication passageway.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 applying the non-ambient pressure independently of, or either sequentially with, or concurrently with a pressurisation cycle of a bore of the flexible pipe; and applying a non-ambient pressure that exceeds atmospheric pressure when the pipe is tested in air at sea level.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 applying a non-ambient pressure that comprises a resultant hydrostatic pressure associated with sea water at a predetermined depth where a region of the flexible pipe is located.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 applying the resultant hydrostatic pressure that exceeds atmospheric pressure at sea level directly to a back region of an inner seal ring in the end fitting.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 locating the spacer ring member over a fluid retaining layer of a flexible pipe thereby locating at least one posterior facing inlet port, at a first passageway end of the fluid communication passageway, substantially in alignment with a pressure armour layer of the flexible pipe and locating at least one outlet port at a remaining end of the fluid communication passageway at an external surface of the end fitting.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising at least one of:
 providing a vent valve at the outlet port of the spacer ring member; and   providing a fluid communication pathway between the armour layer and the inner port via a groove in the posterior facing surface of the spacer ring member.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 energising at least one inner seal ring member via the spacer ring member as the spacer ring member is secured between the termination portion and core portion of the end fitting.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 energising two spaced apart seal ring members via the spacer ring member as the spacer ring member is secured between the termination portion and core portion of the end fitting.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a sealed-off-zone, where a bore fluid pressure and annulus fluid pressure is not experienced, underlying the spacer ring member subsequent to the spaced apart seal ring members being energised.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 retrofitting the spacer ring member by replacing an original spacer ring member of an end fitting with a new spacer ring member that comprises the fluid communication passageway.   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the step of retrofitting further comprises:
 replacing an original spacer ring member that comprises a blank body with a replacement spacer ring member that comprises the fluid communication passageway.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pipe termination stage of operation comprises a stage of re-terminating a pre-terminated segment of flexible pipe body, the method further comprising:
 re-sealing against a liner or a barrier layer of the flexible pipe without removing an entire pre-existing end fitting.   
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 pressurising a bore region of the flexible pipe to a bore pressure; and   pressurising the fluid communication passageway to a further passageway pressure;   wherein the passageway pressure is less than or equal to the bore pressure and greater than atmospheric pressure of air at sea level.