Pipeline Exterior Treatment System and Method

Abstract

A pipeline exterior blasting system includes a containment enclosure, a blasting subsystem, and a waste material removal subsystem. The containment enclosure is configured to enclose a section of a pipeline. The blasting subsystem is configured to propel blasting material at an exterior surface of the section of pipeline within the containment enclosure. The waste material removal subsystem configured to remove blasting waste material from within the containment enclosure. A method of treating an exterior surface of a section of pipeline includes enclosing the section of pipeline within a containment enclosure. Blasting material is propelled at the exterior surface of the section of pipeline within the containment enclosure, after which blasting waste material is removed from within the containment enclosure.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pipeline exterior blasting system, comprising:
 a containment enclosure configured to enclose a section of a pipeline;   a blasting subsystem configured to propel blasting material at an exterior surface of the section of pipeline within the containment enclosure; and   a waste material removal subsystem configured to remove blasting waste material from within the containment enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the containment enclosure includes a first element and a second element, wherein the first and second elements are coupled so as to be movable between an open position in which the section of pipeline can be received in the containment enclosure, and a closed position in which the section of pipeline is enclosed in the containment enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second elements are hingedly coupled. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 . wherein the containment enclosure includes:
 a fixed portion configured to remain stationary with respect to the section of pipeline; and   a movable portion configured to be moved around a circumference of the section of pipeline.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the containment enclosure further includes a curtain arrangement configured to provide isolation between respective interiors of the fixed portion and the movable portion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a rotation assembly configured to move the movable portion of the containment enclosure around the circumference of the section of pipeline, wherein the rotation assembly includes:
 a motor having a drive output,   a linkage assembly arranged to impart motion of the motor drive output to the movable portion of the containment enclosure, and   a power interface configured to couple with a power source to power the motor.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the movable portion is configured to be aligned with a weld joint in the section of pipeline. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising an observation assembly configured to provide an image of the weld joint to an observer outside the containment enclosure, wherein the observation assembly includes:
 an imaging subsystem having a camera mounted within the movable portion,   a display device, and   a communication subsystem to provide imaging data from the camera to the display device.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the blasting subsystem is arranged to move with the movable portion to propel the blasting material at the exterior surface of the section of pipeline within the movable portion. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the waste material removal subsystem is arranged to remove blasting waste material from within the movable portion. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the waste material removal subsystem is arranged to move with the movable portion. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the waste material removal subsystem includes a tray arranged to catch falling grit debris. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the waste material removal subsystem includes a barrel arranged to catch falling grit debris. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the blasting subsystem includes a blasting nozzle configured to couple to the containment enclosure at a blasting port in the containment enclosure and to a blasting hose outside the containment enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising the blasting hose, configured to couple with an output of an abrasive pressure blaster. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the waste material removal subsystem includes a vacuum coupler configured to couple to the containment enclosure at a vacuum port in the containment enclosure and to a vacuum hose outside the containment enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the waste material removal subsystem includes an air pressure port configured to couple to compensate for a pressure difference at the vacuum port. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising the vacuum hose, configured to couple with an input of a vacuum device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a transport assembly, including:
 a lifting assembly configured to suspend the containment enclosure when mounting and dismounting from the pipeline, and   a mobile platform configured to support the containment enclosure.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the transport assembly further includes a drive device configured to move the containment enclosure along a length of the pipeline. 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating an exterior surface of a section of pipeline, comprising:
 enclosing the section of pipeline within a containment enclosure;   propelling blasting material at the exterior surface of the section of pipeline within the containment enclosure; and   removing blasting waste material from within the containment enclosure.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein enclosing the section of pipeline within a containment enclosure includes:
 opening the containment enclosure,   receiving the section of pipeline within the open containment enclosure, and   closing the containment enclosure around the section of pipeline, thereby enclosing the section of pipeline.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein propelling blasting material at the exterior surface of the section of pipeline within the containment enclosure includes:
 fixing a first portion of the containment enclosure with respect to the section of pipeline, and   moving a second portion of the containment enclosure around a circumference of the section of pipeline while propelling blasting material at the exterior surface of the section of pipeline within the movable portion.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising aligning the movable portion with a weld joint in the section of pipeline. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein removing blasting waste material from within the containment enclosure includes suctioning grit dust from an interior of the containment enclosure. 
     
     
         26 . The method of claim  25 , further comprising suctioning grit dust from an interior of the containment enclosure while propelling blasting material at the exterior surface of the section of pipeline within the containment enclosure. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein removing blasting waste material from within the containment enclosure includes catching falling grit debris in a tray or barrel.