Patent ID: 6241424
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A method for replacing a damaged section of subsea pipeline setting on the seabed, the method comprising the steps of:installing a first and a second hot tap tee on a subsea pipeline such that each tee is positioned astride the pipeline with one hot tan tee on each side of the damaged pipeline section;cutting a hole into the subsea pipeline through each hot tap tee;inserting a first plugging pig through the first hot tap tee and into the pipeline with a pig-set machine;inserting a second plugging pig through the second hot tap tee and into the pipeline;securing the plugging pigs within the pipeline;cutting the pipeline at a first location between the first plugging pig and the first hot tap tee with a cutting device to form a first pipe end;cutting the pipeline at a second location between the second plugging pig and the second hot tap tee with the cutting device to form a second pipe end;removing the damaged section of the subsea pipeline which includes the hot tap tees; andinstalling a new section of pipeline between the first and second pipeline ends.