Pipeline supplemental containment wall systems and methods

Abstract

In one embodiment, a pipeline system includes a pipe fitting to be secured to a pipe segment including tubing that defines a pipe bore and a fluid conduit implemented in a tubing annulus of the tubing, in which the pipe fitting includes a fitting grab notch implemented on an outer surface of the pipe fitting, and a supplemental containment wall assembly to be deployed at the pipe fitting. The supplemental containment wall assembly includes a containment wall shell to be secured circumferentially around the pipe fitting to define a fitting annulus that is sealed at least between the outer surface of the pipe fitting and an inner surface of the containment wall shell to facilitate providing multi-wall containment in the pipeline system and a shell grab tab implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell, in which the shell grab tab matingly interlocks with the fitting grab notch on the outer surface of the pipe fitting to facilitate securing the containment wall shell to the pipe fitting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pipeline system comprising:
 a pipe fitting configured to be secured to a pipe segment, wherein the pipe fitting comprises a fitting grab notch implemented on an outer surface of the pipe fitting, wherein the fitting grab notch is configured to matingly interlock with an equipment grab tab on deployment equipment that operates to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the pipe segment during a first time period; and   a supplemental containment wall assembly configured to be deployed at the pipe fitting, wherein the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises:
 a containment wall shell configured to be secured circumferentially around the pipe fitting to facilitate define a fitting annulus that is sealed at least between the outer surface of the pipe fitting and an inner surface of the containment wall shell; 
 a shell grab tab implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell, wherein the shell grab tab is configured to matingly interlock with the fitting grab notch on the pipe fitting to facilitate securing the supplemental containment wall assembly to the pipe fitting during a second time period following the first time period; and 
 a containment wall seal implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell to enable the containment wall seal to be compressed directly between the inner surface of the containment wall shell and the outer surface of the pipe fitting to facilitate sealing the fitting annulus. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pipeline system of  claim 1 , wherein the containment wall seal is integrated with the shell grab tab at least in part by covering the shell grab tab with sealing material. 
     
     
         3 . The pipeline system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the containment wall seal in the supplemental containment wall assembly is implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell to enable the containment wall seal to be compressed directly between first ends of the inner surface of the containment wall shell and the outer surface of the pipe fitting to facilitate sealing the fitting annulus; and   the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises another containment wall seal implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell to enable the another containment wall seal to be compressed directly between second ends of the inner surface of the containment wall shell and the outer surface of the pipe fitting to facilitate sealing the fitting annulus.   
     
     
         4 . The pipeline system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the containment wall seal in the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises a first O-ring seal secured to the inner surface of the containment wall shell or a first belt seal secured to the inner surface of the containment wall shell; and   the another containment wall seal in the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises a second O-ring seal secured to the inner surface of the containment wall shell or a second belt seal secured to the inner surface of the containment wall shell.   
     
     
         5 . The pipeline system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the containment wall shell of the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises a clamp containment wall shell configured to be clamped circumferentially around the pipe fitting; and   the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises one or more threaded fasteners configured to be selectively tightened in corresponding threaded fastener openings implemented in the clamp containment wall shell to facilitate securing the clamp containment wall shell circumferentially around the pipe fitting.   
     
     
         6 . The pipeline system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the containment wall shell of the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises a sleeve containment wall shell configured to be slid over the pipe fitting; and   the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises one or more worm clamp fasteners embedded circumferentially within the sleeve containment wall shell, wherein the one or more worm clamp fasteners are configured to be selectively tightened such that the sleeve containment wall shell is compressed inwardly to facilitate securing the sleeve containment wall shell circumferentially around the pipe fitting.   
     
     
         7 . The pipeline system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the containment wall shell of the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises a wrap containment wall shell configured to be wrapped circumferentially around the pipe fitting; and   the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises one or more worm clamp, wherein the one or more worm clamp fasteners are configured to be selectively tightened circumferentially around the wrap containment wall shell such that the wrap containment wall shell is compressed inwardly to facilitate securing the wrap containment wall shell circumferentially around the pipe fitting.   
     
     
         8 . The pipeline system of  claim 1 , comprising another pipe fitting configured to be secured to another pipe segment and the pipe fitting, wherein:
 the another pipe fitting comprises another fitting grab notch implemented on another outer surface of the another pipe fitting;   the containment wall shell is configured to be secured circumferentially around the another pipe fitting to facilitate defining the fitting annulus such that the fitting annulus is sealed at least between the another outer surface of the another pipe fitting and the inner surface of the containment wall shell;   another shell grab tab implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell, wherein the another shell grab tab is configured to matingly interlock with the another fitting grab notch on the another pipe fitting to facilitate securing the supplemental containment wall assembly to the another pipe fitting; and   another containment wall seal implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell to enable the another containment wall seal to be compressed directly between the inner surface of the containment wall shell and the another outer surface of the another pipe fitting to facilitate sealing the fitting annulus.   
     
     
         9 . The pipeline system of  claim 8 , comprising a fitting connector configured to be coupled between the pipe fitting and the another pipe fitting, wherein the containment wall shell is configured to be secured circumferentially around the pipe fitting, the another pipe fitting, and the fitting connector. 
     
     
         10 . A method of implementing a pipeline system, comprising:
 securing a pipe fitting to a pipe segment at least in part by matingly interlocking a swage machine with a fitting grab notch on the pipe fitting during a first time period, wherein the fitting grab notch runs circumferentially along an outer surface of the pipe fitting;   disposing a containment wall shell of a supplemental containment wall assembly circumferentially around at least a portion of the pipe fitting, wherein the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises:
 a shell grab tab implemented on an inner surface of the containment wall shell; 
 a containment wall seal implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell; and 
 one or more fasteners; and 
   tightening the one or more fasteners of the supplemental containment wall assembly such that:
 the shell grab tab on the inner surface of the containment wall shell matingly interlocks with the fitting grab notch on the outer surface of the pipe fitting during a second period of time following the first period of time to facilitate securing the supplemental containment wall assembly to the pipe fitting; and 
 the containment wall seal is compressed directly between the inner surface of the containment wall shell and the outer surface of the pipe fitting to facilitate defining a fitting annulus that is sealed at least between the outer surface of the pipe fitting and the inner surface of the containment wall shell. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the containment wall seal of the supplemental containment wall assembly is integrated with the shell grab tab at least in part by covering the shell grab tab with sealing material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 disposing the containment wall shell of the supplemental containment wall assembly circumferentially around at least the portion of the pipe fitting comprises disposing a first clamp shell segment of the containment wall shell and a second clamp shell segment of the containment wall shell around the pipe fitting such that a first threaded fastener opening in the first clamp shell segment is aligned with a second threaded fastener opening in the second clamp shell segment; and   tightening the one or more fasteners of the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises tightening a threaded fastener in the first threaded fastener opening in the first clamp shell segment and the second threaded fastener opening in the second clamp shell segment such that the first clamp shell segment and the second clamp shell segment are forced toward one another.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 disposing the containment wall shell of the supplemental containment wall assembly circumferentially around at least the portion of the pipe fitting comprises sliding a sleeve containment wall shell over at least the portion of the pipe fitting; and   tightening the one or more fasteners of the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises tightening a worm clamp fastener that is embedded within the sleeve containment wall shell such that the sleeve containment wall shell is compressed inwardly.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 disposing the containment wall shell of the supplemental containment wall assembly circumferentially around at least the portion of the pipe fitting comprises wrapping a wrap containment wall shell circumferentially around at least the portion of the pipe fitting; and   tightening the one or more fasteners of the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises tightening a worm clamp circumferentially around the wrap containment wall shell such that the wrap containment wall shell is compressed inwardly.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the containment wall seal in the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises an O-ring seal or a belt seal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising disposing the containment wall shell of the supplemental containment wall assembly circumferentially around at least another portion of another pipe fitting that is secured to the pipe fitting, wherein:
 the another pipe fitting comprises another fitting grab notch that runs circumferentially along another outer surface of the another pipe fitting;   the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises:
 another shell grab tab implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell; and 
 another containment wall seal implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell; and 
   tightening the one or more fasteners of the supplemental containment wall assembly comprises tightening the one or more fasteners such that:
 the another shell grab tab on the inner surface of the containment wall shell matingly interlocks with the another fitting grab notch on the another outer surface of the another pipe fitting to facilitate securing the supplemental containment wall assembly to the another pipe fitting; and 
 the another containment wall seal is compressed directly between the inner surface of the containment wall shell and the another outer surface of the another pipe fitting to facilitate defining the fitting annulus such that the fitting annulus is sealed at least between the another outer surface of the another pipe fitting and the inner surface of the containment wall shell. 
   
     
     
         17 . A supplemental containment wall assembly configured to be deployed in a pipeline system, comprising:
 a containment wall shell configured to be secured circumferentially around at least a first pipe fitting and a second pipe fitting in the pipeline system, wherein the first pipe fitting is connected to the second pipe fitting;   a first containment wall seal implemented on an inner surface of the containment wall shell to enable the first containment wall seal to be compressed directly between the inner surface of the containment wall shell and a first outer surface of the first pipe fitting to facilitate defining a fitting annulus that is sealed at least between the inner surface of the containment wall shell and the first outer surface of the first pipe fitting; and   a second containment wall seal implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell to enable the second containment wall seal to be compressed directly between the inner surface of the containment wall shell and a second outer surface of the second pipe fitting to facilitate defining the fitting annulus such that the fitting annulus is sealed at least between the inner surface of the containment wall shell and the second outer surface of the second pipe fitting.   
     
     
         18 . The supplemental containment wall assembly of  claim 17 , comprising:
 a first shell grab tab implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell, wherein the first shell grab tab is configured to matingly interlock with a first fitting grab notch on the first outer surface of the first pipe fitting to facilitate securing the supplemental containment wall assembly to the first pipe fitting; and   a second shell grab tab implemented on the inner surface of the containment wall shell, wherein the second shell grab tab is configured to matingly interlock with a second fitting grab notch on the second outer surface of the second pipe fitting to facilitate securing the supplemental containment wall assembly to the second pipe fitting.   
     
     
         19 . The supplemental containment wall assembly of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first containment wall seal comprises a first integrated seal that is implemented at least in part by covering the first shell grab tab with sealing material; and   the second containment wall seal comprises a second integrated seal that is implemented at least in part by covering the second shell grab tab with sealing material.   
     
     
         20 . The supplemental containment wall assembly of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first containment wall seal comprises a first O-ring seal or a first belt seal; and   the second containment wall seal comprises a second O-ring seal or a second belt seal.