DW RUPE: A New Deepwater Pipeline Repair Capability for the Gulf of Mexico and Other Deepwater Regions

摘要

Described herein is a chronology for developing a deepwater pipeline repair system and cooperative ownership group for affecting emergency repairs of damaged pipelines. Using a Joint Industry Project (JIP) funding model, technology development started in 2004, and continued as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit in 2005, and resulted in the formation of DW RUPE - Pipelines Co-Ownership Group in May of 2007. Included in this paper is a description of the repair methods developed, and repair tools being procured and developed for affecting 10 to 24 inch ANSI pipeline repairs in 1,000 to 10,000 feet of water. A recently-developed spreadsheet-based pipe lifting analysis laptop computing tool is described for use in planning pipe lifting and cutting operations for a specific emergency pipeline repair operation in deep water.