Patent ID: 8776611

Claim:
A monitoring system for an underwater tubular member having a first alignment post and a second alignment post, each of the alignment posts having a plurality of locating features and a tubular section, the monitoring system comprising: a sensor assembly configured to measure strain on the tubular member, the sensor assembly including a first end comprising a first mount configured to couple and decouple with the first alignment post and a second end comprising a second mount configured to couple and decouple with the second alignment post; wherein each mount comprises an aperture and a plurality of alignment features, each of the alignment features configured to engage a corresponding one of the locating features of a corresponding one of the first and second alignment posts; an alignment tool configured to be manipulated by a remotely operated vehicle and to couple with the sensor assembly, the alignment tool having, a first opening, and a second opening, the first opening configured to receive the first end of the sensor assembly and the second opening configured to receive the second end of the sensor assembly; wherein, when the first end of the sensor assembly is received in the first opening of the alignment tool and each of the alignment features of the first mount are engaged with a corresponding one of the locating features of the first alignment post, the aperture of the first mount is substantially aligned with the tubular section of the first alignment post, thereby facilitating engagement of a first fastener between the aperture of the first mount and the tubular section of the first alignment post, the first fastener configured to secure the first end of the sensor assembly to the underwater tubular member; and wherein, when the second end of the sensor assembly is received in the second opening of the alignment tool and each of the alignment features of the second mount are engaged with a corresponding one of the locating features of the second alignment post, the aperture of the second mount is substantially aligned with the tubular section of the second alignment post, thereby facilitating engagement of a second fastener between the aperture of the second mount and the tubular section of the second alignment post, the second fastener configured to secure the second end of the sensor assembly to the underwater tubular member.