Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses the manufacturing of a collapse resistant hose arrangement including fabricating a hose around a flexible conduit having a spiral-wound interlock configuration. Fabricating the hose includes extruding a first polymer layer over the flexible conduit; cooling the first polymer layer; extruding a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer after the first polymer layer has cooled to form a core tube around the flexible conduit; and extruding an outer sheath around the core tube. In certain examples, the first polymer layer is sufficiently thin as to not flow into an interfering relationship with the spiral-wound interlock configuration of the flexible conduit during cooling.

<CIT> discloses an end-piece having: an end vault extending along a central axis; an outer cover fixed to the end vault and defining, with the end vault, a reception chamber for receiving an end section of the armor elements; at least one annular member applied externally to the armor elements of an armor layer, the annular member being at least partially accommodated in the reception chamber between the armor elements and the outer cover. The annular member applies a radial tightening pressure higher than <NUM> bars towards the central axis onto the armor elements.

Existing end fittings have certain deficiencies and disadvantages. For example, current end fittings used with offshore flexible pipe as described in API RP 17B ("17B Recommended Practice for Unbonded Flexible Pipe") with carcass are costly and have a long installation time. Improvements in this field of technology are therefore desired.

In one embodiment, a system according to claim <NUM> includes a pipe segment tubing and a swaged pipe fitting secured to the pipe segment tubing. The pipe segment tubing includes a carcass layer, an internal pressure sheath layer disposed around the carcass layer, a reinforcement layer disposed around the internal pressure sheath layer, and an outer sheath layer disposed around the reinforcement layer. The swaged pipe fitting includes a fitting body that defines a bore, an internal pressure sheath seal that seals the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segment tubing within the swaged pipe fitting, and a fitting jacket secured to the fitting body, in which the fitting jacket is conformally deformed around the pipe segment tubing to anchor the reinforcement layer of the pipe segment tubing in the swaged pipe fitting.

In another embodiment, a method of installing a swaged pipe fitting on a pipe segment according to claim <NUM> includes disposing a fitting jacket of the swaged pipe fitting circumferentially around tubing of the pipe segment, in which the fitting jacket is secured to a fitting body of the swaged pipe fitting that defines a body bore, disposing a support cylinder directly adjacent to a carcass layer of the pipe segment, in which the carcass layer of the pipe segment comprises an interlocked metal layer, and conformally deforming the fitting jacket of the swaged pipe fitting around the tubing of the pipe segment to secure the swaged pipe fitting to the pipe segment and to seal tubing of the pipe segment within the swaged pipe fitting.

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the figures. As used herein, the term "coupled" or "coupled to" may indicate establishing either a direct or indirect connection and, thus, is not limited to either unless expressly referenced as such. The term "set" may refer to one or more items. Wherever possible, like or identical reference numerals are used in the figures to identify common or the same features. Certain features and/or certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale for purposes of clarification. Additionally, all depicted examples are intended to be illustrative and not limiting.

The present disclosure generally relates to pipeline systems that may be implemented and/or operated to transport (e.g., convey) fluid, such as liquid and/or gas, from a fluid source to a fluid destination. Generally, a pipeline system may include pipe fittings, such as a midline pipe fitting and/or a pipe end fitting, and one or more pipe segments. More specifically, a pipe segment may generally be secured and sealed in one or more pipe fittings to facilitate fluidly coupling the pipe segment to another pipeline component, such as another pipe segment, another pipe fitting, a fluid source, and/or a fluid destination.

An example of a pipeline system <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. A pipeline system <NUM> may generally, be coupled between a fluid source <NUM> and a fluid destination <NUM>. For example, in some instances, the fluid source <NUM> may be a production well and the fluid destination <NUM> may be a fluid storage tank. In other instances, the fluid source <NUM> may be a first (e.g., lease facility) storage tank and the fluid destination <NUM> may be a second (e.g., refinery) storage tank.

In any case, the pipeline system <NUM> may generally convey fluid, such as gas and/or liquid, from the fluid source <NUM> to the fluid destination <NUM>. The pipeline system <NUM> may be used in many applications, including without limitation, both onshore and offshore oil and gas applications. For example, the pipeline system <NUM> may be used to transport hydrocarbon, aqueous fluid, and/or another suitable fluid, such as crude oil, petroleum, natural gas, produced water, fresh water, fracturing fluid, flowback fluid, carbon dioxide, or any combination thereof.

To convey fluid from the fluid source <NUM> to the fluid destination <NUM>, a pipeline system <NUM> may include one or more pipe fittings <NUM> and one or more pipe segments <NUM>. For example, the depicted pipeline system <NUM> includes a first pipe segment 20A, a second pipe segment 20B, and an Nth pipe segment 20N. Additionally, the depicted pipeline system <NUM> includes a first pipe (e.g., end) fitting 18A, which couples the fluid source <NUM> to the first pipe segment 20A, a second pipe (e.g., midline) fitting 18B, which couples the first pipe segment 20A to the second pipe segment 20B, and an Nth pipe (e.g., end) fitting 18N, which couples the Nth pipe segment 20N to the fluid destination <NUM>.

In other embodiments, a pipeline system <NUM> may include fewer than three (e.g., two or one) pipe segments <NUM> or more than three (e.g., four, five, or more) pipe segments <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, in other embodiments, a pipeline system <NUM> may include fewer than four (e.g., three or two) pipe fittings <NUM> or more than four (e.g., five, six, or more) pipe fittings <NUM>.

In any case, a pipe segment <NUM> generally includes tubing that may be used to convey (e.g., transfer and/or transport) water, gas, oil, and/or any other suitable type of fluid. The tubing of a pipe segment <NUM> may be made of any suitable type of material, such as plastic, metal, and/or a composite (e.g., fiber-reinforced composite) material. In fact, as will be described in more detail below, in some embodiments, the tubing of a pipe segment <NUM> may have multiple different tubing layers. For example, the tubing of a pipe segment <NUM> may include a first high-density polyethylene (e.g., fluid containment) layer, one or more reinforcement (e.g., steel strip) layers external to the first high-density polyethylene layer, and a second high-density polyethylene (e.g., external corrosion protection) layer external to the one or more reinforcement layers.

Additionally, as in the depicted example, one or more (e.g., second and/or Nth) pipe segments <NUM> in a pipeline system <NUM> may be curved (e.g., large deflection). To facilitate producing a curve in a pipe segment <NUM>, in some embodiments, the pipe segment <NUM> may be flexible, for example, such that the pipe segment <NUM> is spoolable on a reel and/or in a coil (e.g., during transport and/or before deployment of the pipe segment <NUM>). In other words, in some embodiments, one or more pipe segments <NUM> in the pipeline system <NUM> may be a flexible pipe, such as a bonded flexible pipe, an unbonded flexible pipe, a flexible composite pipe (FCP), a thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP), or a reinforced thermoplastic pipe (RTP). Generally, as described in API RP 17B, a flexible pipe combines low bending stiffness with high axial tensile stiffness, which is achieved by a multi-layer construction. The two basic components are helical reinforcement layers and polymer sealing layers, which allow a much smaller radius of curvature than for a steel pipe with the same pressure capacity. In general, an unbonded flexible has a lower bending stiffness than bonded flexible pipe due to the tubing layers not being bonded to one another. Bending stiffness may also be reduced in both bonded and unbonded flexible pipe when they have annular gaps between adjacent reinforcement strips in the reinforcement layers. In fact, at least in some instances, increasing flexibility (e.g. reducing bending stiffness) of a pipe segment <NUM> may facilitate improving deployment efficiency of a pipeline system <NUM>, for example, by having long coiled or reeled pipe segments transported to installation locations, thereby substantially reducing the number of pipe fittings relative to rigid pipe installations.

In some embodiments, the annular gaps between reinforcement strips are devoid of solid material. In fact, in some embodiments, the free space in the tubing annulus of a pipe segment <NUM> may span the length of the pipe segment <NUM> and, thus, define one or more fluid conduits in the annulus of the tubing, which are separate from the pipe bore. In other words, in such embodiments, a pipe segment <NUM> may enable fluid flow via its pipe bore, fluid flow via a fluid conduit defined within its tubing annulus, or both.

To help illustrate, an example of a pipe segment <NUM>, which includes tubing <NUM> with annular gaps (e.g., fluid conduits and/or free space) <NUM> defined in its annulus <NUM>, is shown in <FIG>. As depicted, the pipe segment tubing <NUM> includes multiple tubing layers including an internal pressure sheath (e.g., inner barrier) layer <NUM> and an outer sheath (e.g., outer barrier) layer <NUM>. In some embodiments, the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and/or the outer sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> may be made from composite material and/or plastic, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), raised temperature polyethylene (PE-RT), cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), polyamide <NUM> (PA-<NUM>), polyamide <NUM> (PA-<NUM>), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), or any combination thereof. Although a number of particular layers are depicted, it should be understood that the techniques described in the present disclosure may be broadly applicable to composite pipe body structures including two or more layers, for example, as distinguished from a rubber or plastic single-layer hose subject to vulcanization.

In any case, as depicted, an inner surface <NUM> of the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> defines (e.g., encloses) a pipe bore <NUM> through which fluid can flow, for example, to facilitate transporting fluid from a fluid source <NUM> to a fluid destination <NUM>. In some embodiments, the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> may be the innermost layer of the pipe segment <NUM>. However, as will be described in more detail below, in other embodiments, a carcass layer may be disposed under the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and, thus, the carcass layer may be the innermost layer of the pipe segment.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the outer sheath layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> may be the outermost layer of the pipe segment <NUM>. In particular, as described in API RP 17B, the outer sheath layer <NUM> may protect the pipe segment <NUM> against penetration of seawater and other external environmental conditions, corrosion, abrasion, and/or mechanical damage. In any case, in some embodiments, the outer sheath layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> may include a number of sublayers.

Furthermore, as depicted, the tubing annulus <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> is between its internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and its outer sheath layer <NUM>. As will be described in more detail below, the tubing annulus <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> may include one or more intermediate layers. Additionally, as depicted, annular gaps <NUM> running along the length of the pipe segment <NUM> are defined in the tubing annulus <NUM>.

However, in other embodiments, a pipe segment <NUM> may include fewer than two (e.g., one) or more than two (e.g., three, four, or more) annular gaps <NUM> defined in its tubing annulus <NUM>. Additionally, in other embodiments, an annular gap <NUM> defined in the tubing annulus <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> may run non-parallel to the pipe bore <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>, for example, such that the annular gap <NUM> is skewed relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe bore <NUM>.

To help illustrate, an example of a portion <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM>, which includes an internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and an intermediate layer - namely a reinforcement (e.g., tensile and/or armor) layer <NUM> - included in the annulus <NUM> of its pipe segment tubing <NUM>, is shown in <FIG>. However, it should be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the intermediate layers of pipe segment tubing <NUM> may include one or more tape layers, one or more insulation layers one or more intermediate sheath layers, one or more anti-wear layers, or any combination thereof.

As depicted, the reinforcement layer <NUM> includes a reinforcement strip <NUM>. To improve tensile strength and/or hoop strength of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, in some embodiments, a reinforcement strip <NUM> in the pipe segment tubing <NUM> may be made at least in part using solid material that has a higher tensile strength and/or a higher linear modulus of elasticity than solid material that is used to make the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and/or the outer sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. For example, the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> may be made using plastic, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), while the reinforcement strip <NUM> may be made using metal, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, super duplex stainless steel, or any combination thereof. In other words, at least in some such embodiments, a reinforcement strip <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> may be made from electrically conductive material, which, at least in some instances, may enable communication of electrical (e.g., control and/or sensor) signals via the reinforcement strip <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, one or more reinforcement strips <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> may be made at least in part using a composite material.

Additionally, the reinforcement strip <NUM> is helically disposed (e.g., wound and/or wrapped) on the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> such that gaps (e.g., openings) are left between adjacent windings to define an annular gap (e.g., fluid conduit) <NUM>. In other words, in some embodiments, the reinforcement layer <NUM> may be made at least in part by winding the reinforcement strip <NUM> around the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> at a non-zero lay angle (e.g., fifty-two degrees) relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe bore <NUM>. In any case, as depicted, the resulting annular gap <NUM> runs helically along the pipe segment <NUM>, for example, such that the annular gap <NUM> is skewed fifty-two degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe bore <NUM>.

Nevertheless, in some embodiments, one or more other intermediate layers, such as an anti-wear layer, may be included in the annulus <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>. In other words, in such embodiments, a reinforcement strip <NUM> of the reinforcement layer <NUM> may be disposed on another intermediate layer, for example, instead of directly on the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. Moreover, in other embodiments, a reinforcement layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> may include multiple reinforcement strips <NUM>.

In any case, in some embodiments, an outer sheath layer <NUM> may be disposed directly over the depicted reinforcement layer <NUM> and, thus, cover the depicted annular gap <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, the tubing annulus <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> may include multiple (e.g., two, three, four, or more) reinforcement layers <NUM>. In other words, in such embodiments, one or more other reinforcement layers <NUM> may be disposed over the depicted reinforcement layer <NUM>. In fact, in some such embodiments, the reinforcement strips <NUM> in the one or more other reinforcement layers <NUM> may also each be helically disposed such that there are annular gaps (e.g., fluid conduits and/or free space) <NUM> between adjacent windings.

For example, a first other reinforcement strip <NUM> of a first other reinforcement layer <NUM> may be helically disposed on the depicted reinforcement strip <NUM> using the same non-zero lay angle as the depicted reinforcement strip <NUM> to cover (e.g., enclose) the depicted annular gap <NUM> and to define another annular gap <NUM> in the first other reinforcement layer <NUM>. Additionally, a second other reinforcement strip <NUM> of a second other reinforcement layer <NUM> may be helically disposed on the first other reinforcement strip <NUM> using another non-zero lay angle, which may be at or near the inverse of the non-zero lay angle of the depicted reinforcement strip <NUM>, to define another annular gap <NUM> in the second other reinforcement layer <NUM>. Furthermore, a third other reinforcement strip <NUM> of a third other reinforcement layer <NUM> may be helically disposed on the second other reinforcement strip <NUM> using the same non-zero lay angle as the second other reinforcement strip <NUM> to cover the other annular gap <NUM> in the second other reinforcement layer <NUM> and to define another annular gap <NUM> in the third other reinforcement layer <NUM>. In some embodiments, an outer sheath layer <NUM> may be disposed over the third other reinforcement layer <NUM> and, thus, cover (e.g., enclose) the other annular gap <NUM> in the third other reinforcement layer <NUM>.

In any case, in some instances, a pipe segment <NUM> may be deployed in an elevated pressure environment, for example, underwater in a subsea application. To improve the collapse and/or crush resistance of its tubing <NUM>, a carcass layer may be disposed within (e.g., under) the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>. In other words, in such instances, the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> may be disposed around (e.g., over) the carcass layer and, thus, the carcass layer may be the innermost layer of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

To help illustrate, an example of pipe segment tubing <NUM> that includes a carcass layer <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. To improve collapse and/or crush resistance, in some embodiments, the carcass layer <NUM> may be made from metal, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, super duplex stainless steel, or any combination thereof. Additionally, as depicted, the carcass layer <NUM> is an interlocked layer in the pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

In addition to the carcass layer <NUM>, as depicted, the pipe segment tubing <NUM> includes an internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and an outer sheath layer <NUM>. Furthermore, as depicted, the pipe segment tubing <NUM> includes intermediate layers <NUM> disposed between the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and the outer sheath layer <NUM> and, thus, in the annulus <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. As depicted, the intermediate layers <NUM> include at least a reinforcement layer <NUM> with one or more reinforcement strips <NUM> that define one or more annular gaps (e.g., fluid conduits and/or free space) <NUM> in the tubing annulus <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the intermediate layers <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> may include one or more tape layers, one or more intermediate sheath layers, one or more anti-wear layers, one or more insulation layers, or any combination thereof. Additionally, as described above, in some embodiments, pipe segment tubing <NUM> may include multiple reinforcement layers <NUM>, which each include one or more reinforcement strips <NUM>. In any case, in a pipeline system <NUM>, the tubing <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> may be secured and sealed in a pipe fitting <NUM>.

To help illustrate, a portion 42A of a pipeline system <NUM>, which includes an example of a pipe fitting <NUM> - namely a swaged pipe fitting 44A - and pipe segment tubing 22A, is shown in <FIG>. As in the depicted example, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> includes a fitting body <NUM>, which defines a body (e.g., fitting) bore, a fitting connector (e.g., flange or weldneck) <NUM>, and a fitting jacket <NUM>. The fitting connector <NUM> is secured to the fitting body <NUM> to enable the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to be connected to another pipeline component, such as a fluid source <NUM>, a fluid destination <NUM>, or another pipe fitting <NUM>.

Additionally, to facilitate securing a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to pipe segment tubing <NUM>, a fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is secured (e.g., welded) to its fitting body <NUM>. To facilitate securing the swaged pipe fitting 44A to the pipe segment tubing 22A, the fitting jacket 50A of the swaged pipe fitting 44A may be compressed radially inward such that an inner surface <NUM> of the fitting jacket 50A engages (e.g., grips) an outer surface <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22A, for example, via a swage machine secured to the swaged pipe fitting 44A. In other words, the fitting jacket 50A is shown in its swaged state in <FIG>. Before being swaged, a fitting jacket <NUM> may be in an unswaged state in which its inner surface diameter is larger than the outer surface diameter of corresponding pipe segment tubing <NUM>, thereby enabling the pipe segment tubing <NUM> to be inserted under (e.g., within) the fitting jacket <NUM>.

To help further illustrate, an example of a swage machine <NUM> and a portion 58B of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> are shown in <FIG>. As depicted, open space <NUM> is present between the inner surface <NUM> of the fitting jacket 50B and the outer surface <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22B, thereby enabling the pipe segment tubing 22B to be inserted (e.g., disposed) under (e.g., within) the fitting jacket 50B. In other words, the fitting jacket 50B is shown in its unswaged state in <FIG>.

To transition a fitting jacket <NUM> from its unswaged state to its swaged state, a swage machine <NUM> may include a grab plate <NUM> and a die plate <NUM>. The grab plate <NUM> may include a grab attachment <NUM> with an L-shaped axial cross-section profile, which may interlock with an end of the fitting body <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. In other words, the grab plate <NUM> of a swage machine <NUM> may generally facilitate securing the swage machine <NUM> to a swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

Additionally, as depicted, the die plate <NUM> of a swage machine <NUM> may have a set of die segments <NUM> loaded therein. In particular, the set of die segments <NUM> may be loaded into the die plate <NUM> such that the set of die segments <NUM> open toward the grab plate <NUM> of the swage machine <NUM>. When compressed against a fitting jacket <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> in an axial direction <NUM> toward the grab plate <NUM>, the die segments <NUM> may compress the fitting jacket 50inward in a radial direction <NUM> around the circumference, for example, such that the inner surface <NUM> of the fitting jacket <NUM> engages the outer surface <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> disposed thereunder.

To facilitate preserving the pipe bore <NUM> defined by pipe segment tubing <NUM> during a swaging operation, as in the depicted example, in some embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a support cylinder <NUM>, which is disposed directly adjacent to an innermost (e.g., carcass) layer of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. In the depicted example, the support cylinder 74B of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is disposed under (e.g., within) the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22B. To facilitate supporting pipe segment tubing <NUM> during a swaging operation, the support cylinder <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may extend beyond both ends of a corresponding fitting jacket <NUM>. Additionally, due to a fitting jacket <NUM> being swaged, one or more intermediate (e.g., reinforcement) layers <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> may be compressed between the fitting jacket <NUM> and the support cylinder <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, thereby anchoring the one or more intermediate layers <NUM> in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. Furthermore, due to swaging, the fitting jacket <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may engage the outer sheath layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> and, thus, block the ingress of external environmental fluids, such as seawater into the tubing annulus <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>, thereby sealing the outer sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>.

Moreover, as will be described in more detail below, in some embodiments, the support cylinder <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include threading on its outer surface. In particular, in such embodiments, the threading on the outer surface of the support cylinder <NUM> may threadingly interlock with the inner surface of the carcass layer <NUM> of a corresponding pipe segment <NUM>. Thus, in such embodiments, the support cylinder <NUM> may anchor the carcass layer <NUM> in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, the support cylinder <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include threading, for example, instead having a smooth, knurled, serrated or other outer surface condition.

In any case, as will be described in more detail below, in other embodiments, the support cylinder <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be integrated with its fitting connector <NUM> or its fitting body <NUM>, for example, instead of being a separate component. Alternatively, as will be described in more detail below, in other embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include a support cylinder <NUM>, for example, when a support cylinder tool is used instead.

To compress a set of die segments <NUM> against a fitting jacket <NUM> in an axial direction <NUM>, as depicted, a swage machine <NUM> may include one or more swaging actuators <NUM>. In the depicted example, the swage machine <NUM> includes a first swaging actuator 76A and an Nth swaging actuator 76N. In some embodiments, one or more swaging actuators <NUM> in a swage machine <NUM> may be a fluid actuator, such as a hydraulic actuator or a pneumatic actuator. Each swaging actuator <NUM> of the swage machine <NUM> includes an actuator cylinder <NUM> and an actuator piston <NUM>, which selectively extends out from the actuator cylinder <NUM> based at least in part on the supply of fluid (e.g., liquid and/or gas) to the actuator cylinder <NUM> and/or selectively retracts into the actuator cylinder <NUM> based at least in part on the extraction of fluid from the actuator cylinder <NUM>.

In the depicted example, the actuator cylinder <NUM> of each swaging actuator <NUM> is secured to the die plate <NUM> of the swage machine <NUM>. Additionally, in the depicted example, the actuator piston <NUM> of each swaging actuator <NUM> extends through the die plate <NUM> and is secured to the grab plate <NUM> of the swage machine <NUM>. As such, to perform a swaging operation, one or more swaging actuators <NUM> in the swage machine <NUM> may be operated to pull the grab plate <NUM> toward the die plate <NUM> via one or more reverse (e.g., retracting) strokes such that the fitting jacket 50B moves through the set of die segments <NUM> loaded in the die plate <NUM>. In this manner, a swage machine <NUM> may be operated to transition a fitting jacket <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> from its unswaged state to its swaged state and, thus, securing the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to pipe segment tubing <NUM> inserted under the fitting jacket <NUM>.

However, it should be noted that the techniques described in the present disclosure are not limited to a specific configuration of a swage machine <NUM>. For example, in other embodiments, a swage machine <NUM> may include fewer than two (e.g., one) swaging actuators <NUM> or more than two (e.g., three, four, or more) swaging actuators <NUM>. Additionally, in other embodiments, a swage machine <NUM> may be operated to push its die plate <NUM> toward its grab plate <NUM> via one or more forward (e.g., extending) strokes such that a corresponding fitting jacket <NUM> moves through the set of die segments <NUM> loaded in the die plate <NUM>. Furthermore, in other embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be swaged as a whole. Moreover, to improve securement strength, in some embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a grab sleeve, which may be disposed between the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and an intermediate layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> before a fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is swaged around the pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

To help illustrate, an example of a grab sleeve <NUM>, which may be included in a swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, is shown in <FIG>. As mentioned above, a grab sleeve <NUM> may be disposed between the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and an intermediate (e.g., reinforcement) layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>. In some embodiments, the grab sleeve <NUM> may be made from material that is more rigid than material used to make the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. For example the grab sleeve <NUM> may be made from metal, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, super duplex stainless steel, or any combination thereof.

Additionally, as depicted, the grab sleeve <NUM> includes a slit <NUM> along its longitudinal axis. Thus, during swaging, the grab sleeve <NUM> may contract radially inward and engage the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>. Due to the resulting increased thickness, the grab sleeve <NUM> may facilitate anchoring an intermediate layer <NUM> (e.g., reinforcement layer <NUM>) of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> between the grab sleeve <NUM> and a fitting jacket <NUM> of a corresponding swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

To facilitate contraction around the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, in some embodiments, a grab sleeve <NUM> may include a crumple zone <NUM>. The crumple zone <NUM> may include multiple openings <NUM> formed through the grab sleeve <NUM>. To facilitate insertion between the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and an intermediate layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, in some embodiments, a grab sleeve <NUM> may include a first tapered end 90A and a second tapered end 90B.

However, in other embodiments, a grab sleeve <NUM> may not include a tapered end <NUM> or include a single tapered end <NUM>. Additionally, in other embodiments, a grab sleeve <NUM> may not include a dedicated crumple zone <NUM>. Alternatively, in other embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include a grab sleeve <NUM>.

In any case, returning to the swaged pipe fitting 44A of <FIG>, after the support cylinder 74A is inserted and the fitting jacket 50A is swaged, the fitting connector 46A may be secured to the fitting body 48A. As in the depicted example, in some embodiments, the fitting connector <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be secured to a corresponding fitting body <NUM> via one or more threaded fasteners <NUM>, such as a bolt or a screw.

However, in other embodiments, the fitting connector <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be secured to a corresponding fitting body <NUM> via fewer than two (e.g., one) threaded fasteners <NUM> or more than two (e.g., three, four, or more) threaded fasteners <NUM>. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the fitting connector <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be secured to a corresponding fitting body <NUM> via hot tooling, such as welding or brazing.

In any case, to facilitate sealing pipe segment tubing <NUM> therein, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include fitting seals. The fitting seals of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include one or more face seals <NUM>, which may be compressed between components of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. For example, a face seal 94A of the swaged pipe fitting 44A may be compressed between its fitting connector 46A and its fitting body 48A.

In addition to a face seal <NUM>, in embodiments, the fitting seals of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> include one or more internal pressure sheath seals <NUM>, which are compressed against the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM>, thereby sealing the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and, thus, block fluid flow between the pipe bore <NUM> and the tubing annulus <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>. For example, an internal pressure sheath seal 95A of the swaged pipe fitting 44A may be compressed against the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22A due to compression between the fitting body 48A and the fitting connector 46A of the swaged pipe fitting 44A. To enable an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> to be compressed against an outer surface <NUM> of the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, as in the depicted example, the outer sheath layer <NUM> and each intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> may be cut back relative to the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>, for example, while the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> is cut back relative to the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, one or more fitting seals in a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be made from metal. For example, a fitting seal in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may made from carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, super duplex stainless steel, or any combination thereof. However, in other embodiments, one or more fitting seals in a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be made from a non-metallic material. For example, in such embodiments, a fitting seal in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may made from a polymer, rubber, and/or plastic.

In any case, as described above, one or more intermediate layers <NUM> in a pipe segment <NUM> may define one or more annular gaps (e.g., fluid conduits and/or free space) <NUM> in its tubing annulus <NUM>. To facilitate venting the annulus <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, as in the depicted example, in some embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include one or more vent valves <NUM>. As in the depicted example, a vent valve <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be fluidly connected to the annulus <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> via a fluid path <NUM> formed through the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

However, in other embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include a vent valve <NUM> or include more than one (e.g., two, three, or more) vent valve <NUM>. In other words, it should be appreciated that the various examples described in the present disclosure may or may not include a vent valve <NUM>. Additionally, as will be described in more detail below, in other embodiments, an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may have a different geometry, such as a J-shaped axial cross-section profile, and/or disposed under a fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. Furthermore, in other embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a carcass ring - namely a carcass isolating ring, which electrically isolates the carcass layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, or a carcass anchoring ring, which anchors the carcass layer <NUM> in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

To help illustrate, a portion 42C of a pipeline system <NUM>, which includes another example of a swaged pipe fitting 44C and pipe segment tubing 22C, is shown in <FIG>. Similar to <FIG>, as depicted, the swaged pipe fitting 44C of <FIG> generally includes a fitting body 48C, a fitting connector 46C, a fitting jacket 50C, which is shown in its swaged state, a support cylinder 74C, and fitting seals - namely a face seal 94C and an internal pressure sheath seal 95C.

However, as depicted in <FIG>, the swaged pipe fitting 44C includes a carcass anchoring ring 100C, which is secured to the outer surface <NUM> of the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22C. In some embodiments, the carcass anchoring ring <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be threaded and/or welded onto an outer surface of a corresponding carcass layer <NUM>, which is an interlocked metal layer. Thus, to anchor the carcass layer <NUM> in some embodiments, the carcass anchoring ring <NUM> may be made from metal, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, super duplex stainless steel, or any combination thereof. Additionally, to enable a carcass anchoring ring <NUM> to be secured to the outer surface <NUM> of the carcass layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, as in the depicted example, the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> may be cut back relative to the carcass layer <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the fitting connector 46C of the swaged pipe fitting 44C accommodates the carcass anchoring ring 100C. Thus, the carcass anchoring ring 100C may be secured to the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22C before the fitting connector 46C is secured to the fitting body 48C. After the fitting connector 46C is secured to the fitting body 48C, the carcass anchoring ring 100C, which is secured to the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22C, may be trapped between the fitting connector 46C and the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22C. Since the carcass layer <NUM> is anchored by the carcass anchoring ring 100C, in some embodiments, the support cylinder 74C may have a smooth, knurled, or serrated outer surface, for example, instead of threading. In any case, in this manner, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may separately anchor the carcass layer <NUM> of corresponding pipe segment tubing <NUM> in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

Nevertheless, in some embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44C may include one or more vent valves <NUM> and corresponding fluid paths <NUM> formed in its fitting body 48C. Additionally, in other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44C may not include a support cylinder 74C, for example, when a support cylinder tool is used instead. Furthermore, in other embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a seal flange, which is secured between its fitting connector <NUM> and its fitting body <NUM>, for example, to improve sealing integrity of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. Moreover, in such embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may trap its carcass anchoring ring <NUM> between its fitting connector <NUM> and its seal flange, for example, to improve anchoring strength.

To help illustrate, a portion 42D of a pipeline system <NUM>, which includes a further example of a swaged pipe fitting 44D and pipe segment tubing 22D, is shown in <FIG>. Similar to <FIG>, as depicted, the swaged pipe fitting 44D of <FIG> generally includes a fitting body 48D, a fitting connector 46D, a fitting jacket 50D, which is shown in its swaged state, a support cylinder 74D, an carcass anchoring ring 100D, and fitting seals - namely face seals 94D and an internal pressure sheath seal 95D.

However, as depicted in <FIG>, the swaged pipe fitting 44D includes a seal flange <NUM>, which is secured between its fitting connector 46D and its fitting body 48D, for example, via one or more threaded fasteners <NUM>, such as a bolt or a screw. As in the depicted example, the seal flange <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be secured to a corresponding fitting body 48D such that a face seal <NUM> is compressed therebetween and secured to a corresponding fitting connector <NUM> such that another face seal <NUM> is compressed therebetween. Additionally, as in the depicted example, the seal flange <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be secured to a corresponding fitting body <NUM> such that an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> is compressed against the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

Nevertheless, similar to <FIG>, as depicted in <FIG>, the fitting connector 46D accommodates the carcass anchoring ring 100D. However, as depicted in <FIG>, after the fitting connector 46D is secured to the seal flange <NUM>, the carcass anchoring ring 100D is trapped between the fitting connector 46D and the seal flange <NUM>. , for example, instead of between the fitting connector 46D and the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22D. Since the seal flange <NUM> is generally made from material, such as metal, that is more rigid than the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, at least in some instances, implementing and/or deploying a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> in this manner may improve the strength with which the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> is anchored in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. Additionally, since the carcass layer <NUM> is anchored by the carcass anchoring ring 100D, in some embodiments, the support cylinder 74D may have a smooth, knurled or serrated outer surface, for example, instead of threading.

In any case, is some embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44D may include one or more vent valves <NUM> and corresponding fluid paths <NUM> formed in its fitting body 48D. Additionally, in other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44D may not include a support cylinder 74C, for example, when a support cylinder tool is used instead. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the seal flange <NUM> may be secured to the fitting body 48D via a first one or more threaded fasteners <NUM> while the fitting connector 46D is secured to the seal flange <NUM> via a second one or more threaded fasteners <NUM>. Moreover, in other embodiments, the carcass anchoring ring <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be disposed under a fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. Additionally, as mentioned above, in other embodiments, an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may have a different geometry, such as a J-shaped axial cross-section profile.

To help illustrate, a portion 42E of a pipeline system <NUM>, which includes another example of a swaged pipe fitting 44E and pipe segment tubing 22E, is shown in <FIG>. Similar to <FIG>, as depicted, the swaged pipe fitting 44E of <FIG> generally includes a fitting body 48E, a fitting connector 46E, a fitting jacket 50E, which is shown in its unswaged state, a support cylinder 74E, a carcass anchoring ring 100E, and fitting seals - namely a face seal 94E and an internal pressure sheath seal 95E.

However, as depicted in <FIG>, the carcass anchoring ring 100E of the swaged pipe fitting 44E is disposed under its fitting jacket 50E. Nevertheless, as depicted, the carcass anchoring ring 100E is secured to the outer surface <NUM> of the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22E. For example, the carcass anchoring ring 100E may be secured to the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> at least in part by welding and/or threading the carcass anchoring ring 100E to the outer surface <NUM> of the carcass layer <NUM>.

Moreover, as depicted in <FIG>, the internal pressure sheath seal 95E of the swaged pipe fitting 44E is disposed under the fitting jacket 50E and has a J-shaped axial cross-section profile, for example, instead of a wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile. In other words, as depicted, the internal pressure sheath seal 95E includes a hook portion <NUM> and a leg portion <NUM>. The hook portion <NUM> of the internal pressure sheath seal 95E matingly interlocks with a retainer lip <NUM> on the carcass anchoring ring 100E to secure the internal pressure sheath seal 95E to the carcass anchoring ring 100E.

Additionally, as depicted, the leg portion <NUM> of the internal pressure sheath seal 95E slants against the pipe segment tubing 22E. To enable an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> to slant against pipe segment tubing <NUM>, as in the depicted example, the outer sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> may be cut back relative to each intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> while each intermediate layer <NUM> may be cut back relative to the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. Since disposed under the fitting jacket 50E, when the fitting jacket 50E is swaged, the internal pressure sheath seal 95E may be compressed radially inward against the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22E, thereby sealing the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44E may include one or more vent valves <NUM> and corresponding fluid paths <NUM> formed in its fitting body 48E. Additionally, in other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44E may not include a support cylinder 74C, for example, when a support cylinder tool is used instead. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the fitting body <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be integrated with a corresponding fitting connector <NUM>, such as a flange. Furthermore, in other embodiments, an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may have a different geometry, such as a U-shaped axial cross-section profile, and/or be compressed between the fitting body <NUM> and the support cylinder <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

To help illustrate, a portion 42F of a pipeline system <NUM>, which includes a further example of a swaged pipe fitting 44F and pipe segment tubing 22F, is shown in <FIG>. Similar to <FIG>, as depicted, the swaged pipe fitting 44F of <FIG> generally includes a fitting body 48F, a fitting connector 46F, a fitting jacket 50F, which is shown in its swaged state, a support cylinder 74F, and fitting seals - namely face seals 94F and an internal pressure sheath seal 95F.

However, as depicted in <FIG>, the internal pressure sheath seal 95F of the swaged pipe fitting 44F has a U-shaped axial cross-section profile, for example, instead of a wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile or a J-shaped axial cross-section profile. Additionally, as depicted, the support cylinder 74F of the swaged pipe fitting 44F includes a flange <NUM>, which extends radially outward, for example, instead of into the fitting connector 46F. As depicted, the internal pressure sheath seal 95F is compressed against the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22F due to compression between the flange <NUM> of the support cylinder 74D and the fitting body 48F of the swaged pipe fitting 44F, for example, instead of due to compression directly between the fitting body 48F and the fitting connector 46F of the swaged pipe fitting 44F.

Additionally, as in the depicted example, to anchor the carcass layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> in a swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, in some embodiments, a support cylinder <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include threading <NUM> that extends outwardly along its outer surface <NUM>. As in the depicted example, the threading <NUM> on the support cylinder <NUM> may threadingly engage an inner surface <NUM> of the carcass layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, thereby securing the support cylinder <NUM> to the carcass layer <NUM>. In other words, in such embodiments, the support cylinder <NUM> may be disposed under the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> at least in part by rotating the support cylinder <NUM> relative to the carcass layer <NUM>. In fact, due to the threading engagement, internal pressure sheath seal 95F may be activated at least in part by securing the support cylinder 74F to the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22F.

However, in other embodiments, the support cylinder 74F of the swage pipe fitting 44F may have a smooth, serrated or knurled outer surface. Thus, in such embodiments, the internal pressure sheath seal 95F may be activated at least in part by securing the fitting connector 46F to the fitting body 48F, for example, due to the flange <NUM> of the support cylinder 74F being disposed therebetween.

In any case, as in the depicted example, to improve securement strength, in some embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include teeth (e.g., serrations) <NUM> that extend radially inward from the inner surface <NUM> of its fitting jacket <NUM>. Additionally, as in the depicted example, in addition to a face seal <NUM> compressed between its fitting connector <NUM> and its fitting body <NUM>, in some embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include another face seal <NUM> disposed between the fitting body <NUM> and a fitting jacket <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44F may include one or more vent valves <NUM> and corresponding fluid paths <NUM> formed in its fitting body 48E. Additionally, in other embodiments, the internal pressure sheath seal 95F may have a wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile, for example, instead of a U-shaped axial cross-section profile. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the support cylinder <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be integrated with the fitting connector <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

To help illustrate, a portion <NUM> of a pipeline system <NUM>, which includes another example of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> and pipe segment tubing <NUM>, is shown in <FIG>. Similar to <FIG>, as depicted, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> of <FIG> generally includes a fitting body <NUM>, a fitting connector <NUM>, a fitting jacket <NUM>, which is shown in its swaged state, and fitting seals - namely a face seal <NUM> and an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM>.

However, as depicted in <FIG>, a support cylinder feature <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is integrated with its fitting connector <NUM>. In other words, to support pipe segment tubing <NUM> during swaging, in such embodiments, the fitting connector <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be inserted into the pipe segment tubing <NUM> before a fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is swaged (e.g., conformally deformed) around the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. Nevertheless, in some such embodiments, the fitting connector <NUM> may be secured to the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> after the fitting jacket <NUM> is swaged around the pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include one or more vent valves <NUM> and corresponding fluid paths <NUM> formed in its fitting body <NUM>. Additionally, in other embodiments, the support cylinder <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be integrated with the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

To help illustrate, a portion <NUM> of a pipeline system <NUM>, which includes a further example of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> and pipe segment tubing <NUM>, is shown in <FIG>. Similar to <FIG>, as depicted, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> of <FIG> generally includes a fitting body <NUM>, a fitting connector <NUM>, a fitting jacket <NUM>, which is shown in its swaged state, and fitting seals - namely a face seal <NUM> and an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM>.

However, as depicted in <FIG>, a support cylinder feature <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is integrated with the fitting body <NUM>. In other words, to support pipe segment tubing <NUM> during swaging, in such embodiments, the fitting body <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be inserted into the pipe segment tubing <NUM> before a fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is swaged (e.g., conformally deformed) around the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. Additionally, as depicted, the support cylinder feature <NUM> includes a carcass support section <NUM>, which supports the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>, and an internal pressure sheath support section <NUM>, which supports the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. To enable the internal pressure sheath support section <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to support the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, as in the depicted example, the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> may be cut back relative to the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>.

In fact, since internal pressure sheath support section <NUM> is disposed directly under the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>, swaging the fitting jacket <NUM> around the pipe segment tubing <NUM> may compress the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> against the internal pressure sheath support section <NUM>, thereby sealing the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>. To improve sealing integrity, in some embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may nevertheless include a discrete internal pressure sheath seal <NUM>, which may be compressed between the internal pressure sheath support section <NUM> and the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>. In some such embodiments, the discrete internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> may be an O-ring seal or a belt (e.g., flat) seal. However, in other embodiments, the discrete internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> may be obviated by the seal provided between the internal pressure sheath support section <NUM> and the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and, thus, not be included in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

To anchor the carcass layer <NUM> in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, in some embodiments, the carcass support section <NUM> may include threading on its outer surface, for example, which threadingly engages an inner surface <NUM> of the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. Additionally, to anchor the pipe segment tubing <NUM> in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, in some embodiments, the internal pressure sheath support section <NUM> may include teeth on its inner surface, for example, which engages the inner surface <NUM> of the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, the carcass support section <NUM> may have a smooth outer surface, the internal pressure sheath support section <NUM> may have a smooth outer surface, or both.

In any case, in other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include one or more vent valves <NUM> and corresponding fluid paths <NUM> formed in its fitting body <NUM>. Additionally, to account for thickness difference, in some embodiments, the fitting jacket <NUM> may have a stepped geometry such that the portion of the fitting jacket <NUM> that overlaps with the carcass support section <NUM> may be thinner while the portion of the fitting jacket <NUM> that overlaps with the internal pressure sheath support section <NUM> may be thicker. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the fitting body <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be integrated with a corresponding fitting connector <NUM>, such as a weldneck. Alternatively, in other embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include a fitting connector <NUM>. Moreover, in other embodiments, the internal pressure sheath support section <NUM> and the carcass support section <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be separate components.

To help illustrate, a portion 42I of a pipeline system <NUM>, which includes another example of a swaged pipe fitting 44I and pipe segment tubing 22I, is shown in <FIG>. Similar to <FIG>, as depicted, the swaged pipe fitting 44I of <FIG> generally includes a fitting body 48I, a fitting connector 46I, a fitting jacket 50I, which is shown in its swaged state, and fitting seals - namely a face seal 94I and an internal pressure sheath seal 95I.

However, as depicted in <FIG>, the carcass support section 112I of the support cylinder feature 74I is implemented using a separate carcass support cylinder <NUM>, for example, instead of being integrated with the internal pressure sheath support section 114I and the fitting body 48I of the swaged pipe fitting 44I. In other words, to support pipe segment tubing <NUM> during swaging, in such embodiments, the carcass support cylinder <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be inserted into the pipe segment tubing <NUM> followed by the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> before a fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is swaged (e.g., conformally deformed) around the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. Nevertheless, similar to <FIG>, to enable the internal pressure sheath support section 114I of the swaged pipe fitting 44I to support the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22E, as depicted in <FIG>, the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22E is cut back relative to the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>.

To improve sealing integrity, in some embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44I may nevertheless include a discrete internal pressure sheath seal 95I, which may be compressed between the internal pressure sheath support section 114I and the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>. In some such embodiments, the discrete internal pressure sheath seal 95I may be an O-ring seal or a belt (e.g., flat) seal. However, in other embodiments, the discrete internal pressure sheath seal 95I may be obviated by the seal provided between the internal pressure sheath support section 114I and the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and, thus, not be included in the swaged pipe fitting 44I.

In any case, to anchor the carcass layer <NUM> in the swaged pipe fitting 44I, in some embodiments, the carcass support cylinder <NUM> may include threading on its outer surface, for example, which threadingly engages an inner surface <NUM> of the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22I. Additionally, to anchoring the pipe segment tubing 22I in the swaged pipe fitting 44I, in some embodiments, the internal pressure sheath support section 114I may include teeth on its inner surface, for example, which engages the inner surface <NUM> of the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, the carcass support section 112I may have a smooth outer surface, the internal pressure sheath support section 114I may have a smooth outer surface, or both.

Additionally, in other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44I may include one or more vent valves <NUM> and corresponding fluid paths <NUM> formed in its fitting body 48I. Furthermore, to account for thickness difference, in some embodiments, the fitting jacket 50I may have a stepped geometry such that the portion of the fitting jacket 50I that overlaps with the carcass support section 112I may be thinner while the portion of the fitting jacket <NUM> that overlaps with the internal pressure sheath support section 114I is thicker. Moreover, although support cylinders <NUM> disposed under the carcass layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> are described above, in other embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a support cylinder <NUM>, which is disposed around (e.g., over) the carcass layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

To help illustrate, a portion 42J of a pipeline system <NUM>, which includes a further example of a swaged pipe fitting 44J and pipe segment tubing 22J, is shown in <FIG>. Similar to <FIG>, as depicted, the swaged pipe fitting 44J of <FIG> generally includes a fitting body 48J, a fitting connector 46J, a fitting jacket 50J, which is shown in its swaged state, a support cylinder 74J, and face seals 94J.

However, as depicted in <FIG>, the support cylinder 74J of the swaged pipe fitting 44J is disposed around (e.g., over) the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22J, for example, instead of under the carcass layer <NUM>. In other words, the support cylinder 74J may be inserted (e.g., disposed) between the carcass layer <NUM> and the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22J. To facilitate insertion, as in the depicted example, in some embodiments, the support cylinder <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a tapered end <NUM>.

Additionally, as depicted, inserting the support cylinder 74J under the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22J may produce a flared section <NUM> in the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and a flared section <NUM> in each intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22J. As depicted, a flared section <NUM> in the outer sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22J also overlaps with the support cylinder 74J. In some embodiments, the flared section <NUM> in the outer sheath layer <NUM> may also be produced by insertion of the support cylinder 74J under the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>.

However, in other embodiments, the flared section <NUM> in the outer sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22J may be produced using a separate installation sleeve. In such embodiment, before the support cylinder 74J is inserted, the installation sleeve may be inserted (e.g., disposed) between the outer sheath layer <NUM> and an intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22J to produce the flared section <NUM> in the outer sheath layer <NUM>. The flared section <NUM> of the outer sheath layer <NUM> may then be cut off from a remaining portion of the outer sheath layer <NUM> and the installation sleeve may be removed to enable the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and each intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing 22J to expand radially outward to produce flared sections therein when the support cylinder 74J is inserted under the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>. Before the fitting jacket 50J is disposed around the pipe segment tubing 22J, in such embodiments, the flared section <NUM> of the outer sheath layer <NUM> may be reattached (e.g., poly welded) to the remaining portion of the outer sheath layer <NUM>. In fact, to improve fitting integrity, as in the depicted example, the fitting jacket <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be implemented to extend beyond a flared section <NUM> in the outer sheath layer <NUM> of corresponding pipe segment tubing <NUM> and, thus, beyond the location the flared section <NUM> of the outer sheath layer <NUM> is reattached to the remaining portion of the outer sheath layer <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, the fitting jacket 50J may not extend beyond the flared section <NUM> in the outer sheath layer <NUM>.

However, in other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44J may include one or more vent valves <NUM> and corresponding fluid paths <NUM> formed in its fitting body 48J. Additionally, in other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting 44J may anchor the carcass layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> therein via a carcass ring <NUM> similar to <FIG>. Furthermore, as mentioned above, in other embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include a support cylinder <NUM>.

To help illustrate, a portion <NUM> of a pipeline system <NUM>, which includes another example of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> and pipe segment tubing <NUM>, is shown in <FIG>. Similar to <FIG>, as depicted in <FIG>, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> generally includes a fitting body <NUM>, a fitting connector <NUM>, a fitting jacket <NUM>, which is shown in its swaged state, a vent valve <NUM>, and fitting seals - namely a face seal <NUM> and an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM>.

However, as depicted in <FIG>, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> does not include a permanent support cylinder <NUM>. Instead, in such embodiments, a support cylinder tool may be used to support pipe segment tubing <NUM> during swaging. In such embodiments, the support cylinder tool may be inserted into the pipe segment tubing <NUM> while in a contracted state and, subsequently, transitioned to an expanded state such that an outer surface of the support cylinder tool expands (e.g., is compressed) against and, thus, directly abuts an inner surface of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. After swaging, the support cylinder tool may then be transitioned from its expanded state back to its contracted state and withdrawn from within the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. In other words, in such embodiments, the support cylinder tool may act as a temporary support cylinder <NUM>. For example, in some such embodiments, the support cylinder tool used with a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be an inflatable packer. However, in other such embodiments, the support cylinder tool used with a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be a special-purpose tool.

To help illustrate, an example of a special-purpose support cylinder tool <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. As depicted, the support cylinder tool <NUM> generally includes a threaded shaft <NUM>, multiple support cylinder sections <NUM> disposed circumferentially around the threaded shaft <NUM>, metallic elastic bands <NUM> disposed circumferentially around the support cylinder sections <NUM>, an outer stationary nut <NUM> disposed around the threaded shaft <NUM>, and an activation nut <NUM> disposed around the threaded shaft <NUM>. Although partially obfuscated from view, the support cylinder tool <NUM> includes an activation collar <NUM>, which is disposed between the support cylinder sections <NUM> and the activation nut <NUM>, as well as a stationary collar, which is disposed between the outer stationary nut <NUM> and the support cylinder sections <NUM>.

To more clearly illustrate, an example of a support cylinder tool <NUM> disposed within pipe segment tubing <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. As depicted, open space <NUM> is present between an inner surface <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> and an outer surface <NUM> of the support cylinder sections <NUM> of the support cylinder tool <NUM>. In other words, in <FIG>, the support cylinder tool <NUM> is shown in a contracted state, which enables the support cylinder tool <NUM> to be relatively freely inserted into and/or withdrawn from the pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

To facilitate transitioning a support cylinder tool <NUM> between its contracted state and its expanded state and, thus, controlling its activation state, as depicted, the activation collar <NUM> of the support cylinder tool <NUM> has a wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile and, thus, a conical outer surface <NUM> while the stationary collar <NUM> also has a wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile and, thus, a conical outer surface <NUM>. Additionally, as depicted, a first end <NUM> of the support cylinder sections <NUM> has a conical inner surface (e.g., female taper) <NUM>, which can slide along the conical outer surface (e.g., male taper) <NUM> of the stationary collar <NUM>, while the conical outer surface (e.g., male taper) <NUM> of the activation collar <NUM> can slide along a conical inner surface (e.g., female taper) <NUM> at a second (e.g., opposite) end <NUM> of the support cylinder sections <NUM>. Furthermore, as depicted, the stationary collar <NUM> is trapped between and, thus, held in place on the threaded shaft <NUM> of the support cylinder tool <NUM> via an outer stationary nut <NUM> and an inner stationary nut <NUM>.

Thus, to transition the support cylinder tool <NUM> from its contacted state toward its expanded state, the activation nut <NUM> may be rotated on the threaded shaft <NUM> to push more of the activation collar <NUM> under the support cylinder sections <NUM>, thereby pushing the support cylinder sections <NUM> radially outward. To support the pipe segment tubing <NUM> during swaging, the activation collar <NUM> may continue to be pushed under the support cylinder sections <NUM> until the outer surface <NUM> of the support cylinder sections <NUM> expands against the inner surface <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. On the other hand, to transition the support cylinder tool <NUM> from its expanded state toward its contracted state, the activation nut <NUM> may be rotated on the threaded shaft in an opposite direction to enable the pipe segment tubing <NUM> to push more of the activation collar <NUM> out from under the support cylinder sections <NUM> while contracting radially inward against the support cylinder sections <NUM>.

In other embodiments, a support cylinder tool <NUM> used with a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include fewer than two (e.g., one) or more than two (e.g., three, four, or more) metallic elastic bands <NUM> disposed around its support cylinder sections <NUM>. Furthermore, in other embodiments, a support cylinder tool <NUM> used with a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include fewer than three (e.g., two) support cylinder sections <NUM> or more than three (e.g., four, five, or more) support cylinder sections <NUM>. In any case, in this manner, a support cylinder tool <NUM> may be implemented and/or operated to support pipe segment tubing <NUM> during a swaging operation used to secure a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to the pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

Returning to the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> of <FIG>, similar to <FIG>, after the fitting jacket <NUM> is swaged around the pipe segment tubing <NUM>, the fitting connector <NUM> may be secured to the fitting body <NUM>, for example, after a support cylinder tool <NUM> is removed from within the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. As in the depicted example, in some embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a carcass isolating ring <NUM>, which electrically isolates the carcass layer <NUM> of corresponding pipe segment tubing <NUM> from the remainder of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. To facilitate electrically isolating the carcass layer <NUM>, the carcass isolating ring <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be made from an electrical insulative material, such as a polymer and/or plastic.

Furthermore, as in the depicted example, in some embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a spacer ring <NUM>. As depicted in the depicted example, the spacer ring <NUM> may directly abut the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> and, thus, supports the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>, for example, to reduce the likelihood of a blow through in the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> occurring within the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. In other words, the spacer ring <NUM> may bridge the structural support provided to the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> by the one or more intermediate (e.g., reinforcement) layers <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> and the structural support provided by the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

Additionally, as in the depicted example, the spacer ring <NUM> in a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may directly abut an intermediate (e.g., reinforcement) layer <NUM> in the annulus <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM>, for example, to enable the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to provide electrical continuity and, thus, cathodic protection to the intermediate layer <NUM>. To provide electrical continuity, the spacer ring <NUM> may be made from the same type of metal as the intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. For example, the spacer ring <NUM> and the intermediate layer <NUM> may both be made of carbon steel while the fitting body <NUM> is made of stainless steel. Moreover, to facilitate providing cathodic protection in a swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, as in the depicted example, an electrical terminal <NUM> may be connected to the spacer ring <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> through its fitting body <NUM>, for example, to enable an anode to be electrically connected to the intermediate layer <NUM> of corresponding pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

In fact, as in the depicted example, to facilitate improving electrical connection with and/or structural support of corresponding pipe segment tubing <NUM>, in some embodiments, the spacer ring <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include an extension <NUM>, which is disposed under the intermediate layer <NUM>. In other words, as in the depicted example, the extension <NUM> on the spacer ring <NUM> may be inserted (e.g., disposed) between the intermediate layer <NUM> and the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM>. Furthermore, as in the depicted example, to enable the annulus <NUM> of pipe segment tubing <NUM> to be vented, in some embodiments, a fluid path <NUM> may be formed through the spacer ring <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> such that the fluid path <NUM> can be fluidly connected to another fluid path <NUM> that is formed in the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> and fluidly connected to a vent valve <NUM>.

However, in other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include a vent valve <NUM> or include more than one (e.g., two, three, or more) vent valves <NUM>. Additionally, in other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include a spacer ring <NUM> or an electrical terminal <NUM>. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the spacer ring <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include an extension <NUM>. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include a carcass isolating ring <NUM>. In any case, in this manner, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be implemented and/or deployed (e.g., installed) at pipe segment tubing <NUM>.

To help further illustrate, an example of a process <NUM> for installing a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> at a pipe segment <NUM> is described in <FIG>. Generally, the process <NUM> includes cutting back a tubing layer of a pipe segment (process block <NUM>), disposing a support cylinder directly adjacent to an innermost layer of the pipe segment (process block <NUM>), and disposing a fitting jacket circumferentially around an outer sheath layer of the pipe segment (process block <NUM>). Additionally, the process <NUM> generally includes conformally deforming the fitting jacket around the pipe segment (process block <NUM>) and securing a fitting connector to a fitting body that is secured to the fitting jacket (process block <NUM>).

In other embodiments, a process <NUM> for installing a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> at a pipe segment <NUM> may include one or more additional blocks and/or omit one or more of the depicted blocks. For example, some embodiments of the process <NUM> may include reattaching a cut back portion of an outer sheath layer of the pipe segment to a remaining portion of the outer sheath layer (process block <NUM>) while other embodiments of the process <NUM> do not. As another example, some embodiments of the process <NUM> may include disposing a grab sleeve between an internal pressure sheath layer and an intermediate layer of the pipe segment (process block <NUM>) while other embodiments of the process <NUM> do not. As a further example, some embodiments of the process <NUM> may include disposing a spacer ring directly adjacent to the intermediate layer of the pipe segment (process block <NUM>) while other embodiments of the process do not.

As another example, some embodiments of the process <NUM> may include disposing an internal pressure sheath seal around the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segment (process block <NUM>) while other embodiments of the process <NUM> do not. As a further example, some embodiments of the process <NUM> may include securing a seal flange to the fitting body (process block <NUM>) while other embodiments of the process <NUM> do not. As another example, some embodiments of the process <NUM> may include securing a carcass ring to a carcass layer of the pipe segment (process block <NUM>) while other embodiments of the process <NUM> do not. As a further example, some embodiments of the process <NUM> may include removing a support cylinder tool from the pipe segment (process block <NUM>) while other embodiments of the process <NUM> do not. Moreover, in other embodiments, one or more of the depicted blocks may be performed in a different order, for example, such that the fitting jacket is disposed around the outer sheath layer of the pipe segment before the support cylinder is disposed directly adjacent to the innermost layer of the pipe segment.

In any case, as described above, one or more tubing layers of a pipe segment <NUM> at which a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is to be deployed may be cut back. As such, deploying a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> at a pipe segment <NUM> may generally include cutting back one or more tubing layers of the pipe segment <NUM> (process block <NUM>). As described with regard to <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the outer sheath layer <NUM> and each intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> may be cut back relative to the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>, for example, to enable an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to be compressed against the outer surface <NUM> of the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> (process block <NUM>).

Additionally, as described above, in some embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a carcass ring <NUM>, which is secured to the carcass layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> to anchor the carcass layer <NUM> in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. In particular, as described above with regard to <FIG>, the carcass ring <NUM> may be secured (e.g., welded and/or threaded) to the outer surface <NUM> of the carcass layer <NUM>. As described above, to enable the carcass ring <NUM> to be secured to the outer surface <NUM> of the carcass layer <NUM>, in such embodiments, the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> may be cut back relative to the carcass layer <NUM> (process block <NUM>).

Furthermore, as described with regard to <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the outer sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> may be cut back relative to an intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> (process block <NUM>). In particular, as described with regard to <FIG>, in some such embodiments, the outer sheath layer <NUM> may be cut back relative to the intermediate layer <NUM> to enable the leg portion <NUM> of an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM>, which has a J-shaped axial cross-section profile, to slant against the tubing <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>. Alternatively, as described with regard to <FIG>, in some such embodiments, the cutoff portion of the outer sheath layer <NUM> may be a flared section <NUM>, for example, which may be produced by inserting a temporary installation sleeve under the outer sheath layer <NUM>. Moreover, as described with regard to <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> may be cut back relative to the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>, for example, to enable an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to be compressed against the inner surface <NUM> of the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and/or the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to support the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> during a swaging operation (process block <NUM>).

In any case, as described above, to support tubing <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> while a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is being swaged thereto, a support cylinder <NUM> may be disposed directly adjacent to the innermost (e.g., carcass or internal pressure sheath) layer of the pipe segment <NUM>. As such, deploying a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> at a pipe segment <NUM> may generally include disposing a support cylinder <NUM> directly adjacent to (e.g., under or over) the innermost layer of the pipe segment <NUM> (process block <NUM>). As described above, in some embodiments, the support cylinder <NUM> may be a component (e.g., feature) of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

More specifically, as described above with regard to <FIG> and <FIG>, the support cylinder <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be disposed under (e.g., within) the carcass layer <NUM> of a corresponding pipe segment <NUM> (process block <NUM>). As described with regard to <FIG>, in some such embodiments, a support cylinder feature of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be integrated with its fitting connector <NUM> and, thus, disposing the support cylinder <NUM> under the carcass layer <NUM> may include inserting the fitting connector <NUM> under the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>. Alternatively, as described above with regard to <FIG> and <FIG>, a support cylinder feature of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be integrated with its fitting body <NUM> and, thus, disposing the support cylinder <NUM> under the carcass layer <NUM> may include inserting the fitting body <NUM> under the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>.

However, as described above with regard to <FIG>, the support cylinder <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be inserted between the carcass layer <NUM> and the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of a corresponding pipe segment <NUM> (process block <NUM>). In other words, in such embodiments, the support cylinder <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be disposed under (e.g., within) the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and each intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> to produce a flared section <NUM> along the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and flared sections <NUM> along each intermediate layer <NUM>. In such embodiments, the cut back portion (e.g., flared section <NUM>) of the outer sheath layer <NUM> may then be reattached (e.g., poly welded) back to the remaining portion of the outer sheath layer <NUM> to cover the flared section <NUM> in each intermediate layer <NUM> and the flared section <NUM> in the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> (process block <NUM>).

However, as described above, in other embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may not include a support cylinder <NUM>. Instead, in such embodiments, a support cylinder tool <NUM> may be used to temporarily support the tubing <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> while the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is being swaged thereto. In particular, the support cylinder tool <NUM> may be inserted into the pipe bore <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> while in its contracted state and, subsequently, transitioned from its contracted state to its expanded state such that the outer surface <NUM> of its support cylinder sections <NUM> of the support cylinder tool <NUM> expands against the inner surface of an innermost layer of the pipe segment <NUM> (process block <NUM>). For example, the support cylinder tool <NUM> may be operated to transition from its contracted state to its expanded state at least in part by rotating an activation nut <NUM> to push more of a corresponding activation collar <NUM> under the support cylinder sections <NUM> of the support cylinder tool <NUM>.

To facilitate securing a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to a pipe segment <NUM>, a fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be disposed circumferentially around the outer sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> (process block <NUM>). As described above, a fitting jacket <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be secured (e.g., welded) to the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. As such, disposing the fitting jacket <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> circumferentially around the outer sheath layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> may include disposing the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> adjacent to the pipe segment <NUM> (process block <NUM>).

However, in some embodiments, the fitting body <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be made from a different type of metal as compared to an intermediate layer <NUM> of a corresponding pipe segment <NUM>. For example, the fitting body <NUM> may be made of stainless steel while solid material in the intermediate layer <NUM> is made of carbon steel. To facilitate providing electrical continuity (e.g., to provide cathodic protection) to the intermediate layer <NUM>, in some such embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a spacer ring <NUM>, which is made from the same type of metal as the intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> and can be disposed directly adjacent to the intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>. Thus, in such embodiments, deploying the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> at a pipe segment <NUM> may include disposing a spacer ring <NUM> directly adjacent to an intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>, for example, at least in part by inserting an extension <NUM> on the spacer ring <NUM> under the intermediate layer <NUM> (process block <NUM>). To bridge the gap between structural support provided to the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> by the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> and the structural support provided by one or more reinforcement layers <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>, the spacer ring <NUM> may be disposed directly adjacent to the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM>, for example, at least in part by inserting an extension <NUM> on the spacer ring <NUM> between the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and the one or more reinforcement layers <NUM> (process block <NUM>).

The fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may then be conformally deformed (e.g., swaged) around the tubing <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> such that the inner surface <NUM> of the fitting jacket <NUM> engages the outer surface <NUM> of the pipe segment tubing <NUM> and, thus, facilitates securing the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to the pipe segment <NUM> as well as sealing the pipe segment tubing <NUM> within the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> (process block <NUM>). In some embodiments, a fitting jacket <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be swaged using a swage machine <NUM>. As described above, a swage machine <NUM> may generally include a grab plate <NUM>, which may facilitate securing the swage machine <NUM> to the fitting body <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, for example, via a grab attachment <NUM> that has an L-shaped axial cross-section profile. Furthermore, as described above, a swage machine <NUM> may generally include a die plate <NUM>, which may enable a set of die segments <NUM> to be loaded in the swage machine <NUM> such that the set of die segments <NUM> compress a fitting jacket <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> inwardly in a radial direction <NUM> when moved over the fitting jacket <NUM> in an axial direction <NUM>. Thus, in such embodiments, conformally deforming the fitting jacket <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> around a pipe segment <NUM> may include securing a grab plate <NUM> of a swage machine <NUM> to the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> (process block <NUM>) and moving a die plate <NUM> of the swage machine <NUM> over the fitting jacket <NUM> (process block <NUM>).

To improve securement (e.g., anchoring) of an intermediate layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> therein, as described above, in some embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a grab sleeve <NUM>, which may be disposed between the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and the intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>. In such embodiments, deploying the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> at a pipe segment <NUM> may include disposing a grab sleeve <NUM> between the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> and an intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> before a fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is disposed around the outer sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> (process block <NUM>). The grab sleeve <NUM> may include a slit <NUM> that enables the grab sleeve <NUM> to grab onto the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> when the fitting jacket <NUM> is swaged such that the intermediate layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> is compressed between the grab sleeve <NUM> and the fitting jacket <NUM> and, thus, anchored in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, swaging a fitting jacket <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may compress one or more intermediate (e.g., reinforcement) layers <NUM> of a corresponding pipe segment <NUM> between the fitting jacket <NUM> and a support cylinder <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, thereby anchoring the one or more intermediate layers <NUM> in the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

In any case, as described above, in some embodiments, a support cylinder tool <NUM> may be temporarily used to support the tubing <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> during a swaging operation. Thus, in such embodiments, after conformally deforming the fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, the support cylinder tool <NUM> may be removed from within the pipe segment <NUM> (process block <NUM>). As described above, in such embodiments, the support cylinder tool <NUM> may be operated to transition from its expanded state to its contracted state and withdrawn from within the pipe segment <NUM> while in its contracted state (process block <NUM>). The support cylinder tool <NUM> may be operated to transition from its expanded state to its contracted state at least in part by rotating an activation nut <NUM> to enable the pipe segment <NUM> to push more of a corresponding activation collar <NUM> out from under the support cylinder sections <NUM> while contracting radially inward against the support cylinder sections <NUM>.

Furthermore, as described, in some embodiments, an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be disposed under a fitting jacket <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. In such embodiments, the internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> may have a J-shaped axial cross-section profile that includes a hook portion <NUM>, which interlocks with a carcass ring <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, and a leg portion <NUM>, which may slant against the tubing <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM>. Thus, when the fitting jacket <NUM> is conformally deformed around the pipe segment tubing <NUM>, in such embodiments, the internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> may be compressed against the pipe segment tubing <NUM>, thereby activating the internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> (process block <NUM>).

However, as described above, in other embodiments, an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may be compressed against the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>. Thus, in such embodiments, installing the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to a pipe segment <NUM> may include disposing an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> around the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> after (e.g., behind) the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> (process block <NUM>). In some such embodiments, the internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> may be compressed between the fitting body <NUM> and a seal flange <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>.

In other words, in such embodiments, installing the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to a pipe segment <NUM> may include securing a seal flange <NUM> to the fitting body <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> (process block <NUM>), for example, such that a corresponding internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> is compressed against the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> due to compression between the fitting body <NUM> and the seal flange <NUM> and, thus, activated (process block <NUM>). In some such embodiments, a seal flange <NUM> may be secured to a corresponding fitting body <NUM> via one or more threaded fasteners <NUM>, such as a bolt or a screw. However, in other embodiments, a seal flange <NUM> may be secured to a corresponding fitting body <NUM> via hot tooling, such as welding and/or brazing.

In any case, as described above, the fitting connector <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may then be secured to its fitting body <NUM> (process block <NUM>). In some embodiments, the fitting connector <NUM> may be secured to a seal flange <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM>, which is secured to the fitting body <NUM>. More specifically, in some such embodiments, a fitting connector <NUM> may be secured to a corresponding seal flange <NUM> and a corresponding fitting body <NUM> via one or more threaded fasteners <NUM>, such as a bolt or a screw. However, in other embodiments, a fitting connector <NUM> may be secured to a corresponding seal flange <NUM> via hot tooling, such as welding and/or brazing.

In embodiments, the fitting connector <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is secured directly to a corresponding fitting body <NUM>, for example, via one or more threaded fasteners <NUM>, such as a bolt or a screw, and/or hot tooling, such as welding and/or brazing. In fact, in such embodiments, an internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> of a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> is compressed between its fitting body <NUM> and its fitting connector <NUM>. Accordingly, in such embodiments, securing the fitting connector <NUM> to the fitting body <NUM> compresses the internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> therebetween such that the internal pressure sheath seal <NUM> is compressed against the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> and, thus, activated (process block <NUM>).

To facilitate anchoring the carcass layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM> therein, in some embodiments, a swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may include a carcass anchoring ring <NUM>, which may be secured to the carcass layer <NUM>, and the fitting connector <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> may accommodate the carcass ring <NUM>. In such embodiments, installing the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> to a pipe segment <NUM> may include securing a carcass ring <NUM> to the carcass layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM>, for example, at least in part by welding and/or threading the carcass ring <NUM> onto the outer surface <NUM> of the carcass layer <NUM> (process block <NUM>). Additionally, in such embodiments, securing the fitting connector <NUM> to the fitting body <NUM> may include disposing the fitting connector <NUM> over a carcass ring <NUM>, which is secured to the carcass layer <NUM> of a pipe segment <NUM>, for example, such that the carcass ring <NUM> is trapped between the fitting connector <NUM> and the internal pressure sheath layer <NUM> of the pipe segment <NUM> or between the fitting connector <NUM> and a seal flange <NUM> of the swaged pipe fitting <NUM> (process block <NUM>). In this manner, the present disclosure provides techniques for implementing and/or deploying a swaged pipe fitting.

Claim 1:
A system comprising:
pipe segment tubing (<NUM>), wherein the pipe segment tubing (<NUM>) comprises:
a carcass layer (<NUM>);
an internal pressure sheath layer (<NUM>) disposed around the carcass layer (<NUM>);
a reinforcement layer (<NUM>) disposed around the internal pressure sheath layer (<NUM>); and
an outer sheath layer (<NUM>) disposed around the reinforcement layer (<NUM>); and
a swaged pipe fitting (<NUM>) secured to the pipe segment tubing (<NUM>), wherein the swaged pipe fitting (<NUM>) comprises:
a fitting body (<NUM>) that defines a bore;
a fitting connector (<NUM>) secured to the fitting body (<NUM>) to enable the swaged pipe fitting (<NUM>) to be connected to another pipeline component (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
an internal pressure sheath seal (<NUM>) configured to seal the internal pressure sheath layer (<NUM>) of the pipe segment tubing (<NUM>) within the swaged pipe fitting (<NUM>); and
a fitting jacket (<NUM>) secured to the fitting body (<NUM>), wherein the fitting jacket (<NUM>) is conformally deformed around the pipe segment tubing (<NUM>) to anchor the reinforcement layer (<NUM>) of the pipe segment tubing (<NUM>) in the swaged pipe fitting (<NUM>)
characterized in that the internal pressure sheath seal (<NUM>) of the swaged pipe fitting (<NUM>) is compressed against the internal pressure sheath layer (<NUM>) of the pipe segment tubing (<NUM>) due to compression between the fitting connector (<NUM>) and the fitting body (<NUM>) of the swaged pipe fitting (<NUM>).