Umbilical

HOSE CABLE

The present invention relates to a umbilical containing several of the functional elements for providing hydraulic transmission, transmission of electricity, signal transmission and transmission of a chemical substance, for example, to and from an underwater installation. Such umbilical is mainly used in offshore hydrocarbon production, however, it can also be used in other industries where the transmission of at least energy, signals and fluids should be combined preferably in one device.

A known umbilical is disclosed in XVO 2011/131969 and contains umbilical elements such as electrical cables, fiber optic cables and hoses, as well as elements that accept the load acting on the umbilical. The supporting elements in 9/0 2011/131969 are synthetic ropes containing high-strength organic fibers. Other disclosures of steel reinforced umbilicals are given, for example, in § 6,472,614; 9/0 93/17176; OV 2,316,990; 158 6,472,614; AUO 2005/124095; FROM 2007/0251694; OV 2,326,177; ΨΟ 2005/124095 and FM 6,472,614.

Known umbilicals, in particular, known from 9 / O 2011/131969, have a number of advantages, for example, they can be used at great depths, and / or with a greater or more severe dynamic load. They also have predominant mechanical properties, especially in the axial direction, and can provide simpler manufacture, installation and repair.

However, in particular, during the underwater installation of the barrier, several factors play an important role. Usually a umbilical, which is a complex layered system of pipes and cables, is installed from the mounting platform by unwinding from the storage device with a winch. It is also important to note that even during storage and transportation, unwanted stresses can affect the umbilical. During installation, the umbilical is subjected to various loads, for example, crushing loads caused by installation equipment, but also the loads created by wind and waves. In addition, it is known that the highest loads and, in particular, the highest tensile and bending loads occur in the upper part of the umbilical, that is, the sections in part from the mounting platform. These loads, combined with too high or too low flexibility of the umbilical, can adversely affect complex interactions between its layers and cause friction between these layers, which in turn can damage the umbilical.

In addition, the complex interactions that occur inside the umbilical and the requirements for it pose difficult challenges for design engineers. Increased demands, for example, for higher voltage, higher power, higher temperature and pressure, and lower weight, especially for deep-sea submarine umbilicals, can force engineers to design such systems with a large margin of safety, which in turn can lead to even more complex systems and / or higher cost.

Therefore, it is advisable to offer a umbilical less weighed down by the above disadvantages or without them at all. In particular, it seems necessary umbilical cord, which has optimal flexibility and can withstand various loads acting on it to achieve a favorable result under certain conditions. The umbilical seems to be necessary, which provides greater freedom in the choice of design, taking into account the specific requirements for it.

The present invention provides a umbilical containing several of the functional elements for providing hydraulic transmission, electricity transmission, signal transmission and chemical transmission, in which at least some of these functional elements contain a fibrous braid containing high strength polyolefin fibers. Preferably, all the functional elements providing hydraulic communication in the specified umbilical contain the specified fibrous braid, more preferably all of the specified functional elements contained in the umbilical contain the specified fibrous braid.

It has been found that the umbilical of the present invention, also referred to as the umbilical of the invention for simplicity, has the flexibility necessary to prevent the wear of the functional elements included in it during installation. In particular, it was found that the flexibility of the umbilical of the invention can be optimized so that the friction between the functional elements can be reduced below the wear threshold, while ensuring sufficient friction to ensure sufficient load distribution between the various umbilical elements required during installation of the umbilical.

Another advantage of the invention is that the umbilical can provide a safe and quick installation. After installation, the umbilical of the invention can show an optimal dynamic fatigue reaction, i.e. optimized load distribution between its various elements.

Various preferred embodiments of the umbilical of the invention are described below. In a preferred embodiment, at least some of the functional elements of the umbilical of the invention comprise a fibrous braid, wherein the% of the mass of fibrous braid from the functional element, calculated relative to the total mass of said element, is at least 0.1% by mass, more preferably at least 0 , 5% of the mass., Most preferably at least 1.0% of the mass .. Usually in the umbilical there is a difference between the mass of the various functional elements of the umbilical, for example, the mass of the functional elements providing hydraulic communication may differ from the mass of the functional elements providing the passage of the signal or power. It was found that greater freedom in the choice of design and optimal properties can be achieved by adjusting the% mass, fiber braid taking into account the functional affiliation of a particular functional element. Preferably, the mass% of the fibrous braid from the functional element, calculated relative to the total mass of said element, is not more than 25% by mass, more preferably not more than 10% by mass, most preferably not more than 5% by mass.

Preferably, at least a portion of the functional elements, more preferably all functional elements comprising a fiber braid, have an outer surface that is formed by a fiber braid. In other words, usually a functional element, such as, for example, a power cable, has a wall containing a layered structure. Preferably, the outer wall layer of the functional element comprises a fiber braid.

The fibrous braid of the functional elements of the umbilical of the invention can also be coated and / or impregnated with various materials that improve the various properties of said fibrous braid, or even ensure their functionality. Any material suitable for coating or impregnation can be used in accordance with the present invention, such as, for example, melts of polymeric materials such as thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics and elastomers, in particular polyolefins and polyolefin copolymers such as polypropylenes and polyethylenes, for example low density polyethylene (LDPE); liquid crystal polymers; acryl onitrile butadiene styrene copolymers (ABS); styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers; polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) polyacrylates; polyamides; polybutadiene; epoxy resins; polyimides; silicone and fluorosilicone rubbers, etc. A liquid formulation may also be used, such as suspensions of various solids in a liquid medium. Preferably, the liquid medium is water. Suitable examples of solid materials suitable for the manufacture of these suspensions, and in particular water-based suspensions, include polyurethanes, epoxies, waxes, rubbers and silicone-based materials.

The fiber braid used in accordance with the present invention contains high strength polyolefin fibers. Preferred polyolefin fibers are fibers made from homopolymers or copolymers of polypropylene or polyethylene. More preferably, the polyolefin is polyethylene, most preferably ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (INM \ URE). By INMHUR in the description is meant polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 3 dl / g, more preferably at least 4 dl / g, most preferably at least 5 dl / g. Preferably, the IV is not more than 40 dl / g, more preferably not more than 25 dl / g, more preferably not more than 15 dl / g. IV can be determined in accordance with A8TM 01601 (2004) at 135 ° C in decalin, the dissolution time is 16 hours, BHT (bottled hydroxytoluene) as an antioxidant in an amount of 2 g / l in solution, extrapolation of viscosity, measured at various concentrations on zero concentration. The INMHURE fiber is preferably a gel-formed fiber, i.e. fiber made by gel molding. Examples of gel molding processes for manufacturing INMHURE fibers are described in numerous publications, including EP 0205960 A, EP 0213208 A1, 118 4413110, CB 2042414, OV-A-2051667, EP 0200547 B1, EP 0472114 B1, \ UO 01/73173 A1, EP 1,699,954 and, at Abuapse, геге 8ρΐηηϊη§ есесЪпоо1§,, Εά. T. Iacacsta Σίά. (1994), Ι8ΒΝ 185573 182 7.

By fiber in the description is meant an elongated body having a length dimension and a transverse dimension, for example, width and thickness, and the length dimension is much larger than the transverse dimensions. The term fiber also includes various variants, for example, filament (filament), braid, strip, tape, etc. having a uniform or non-uniform cross section. The fiber may have a continuous length, also known as filament, or be of a discrete length, and in this case refers to staple fiber in the art. A preferred fiber for use in accordance with the invention is a filament having a substantially rounded cross section. The yarn used for the purposes of the invention is an elongated body containing many fibers.

The high strength polyolefin fibers used in accordance with the invention are preferably fibers having a tensile strength of at least 0.5 GPa, more preferably at least 1.2 GPa, more preferably at least 2.5 GPa, more preferably at least 3.5 GPa. When the polyolefin fibers are INMU / PE fibers, said υΗΜλΫΡΕ fibers preferably have a tensile strength of at least 1.2 GPa, more preferably at least 2.5 GPa, most preferably at least 3.5 GPa. Preferably, the polyolefin fibers have a tensile modulus of at least 30 GPa, more preferably at least 50 GPa, more preferably at least 60 GPa. Preferably, the polyolefin fibers are HGNMU / PE fibers having a tensile modulus of at least 50 GPa, more preferably at least 60 GPa, most preferably at least 80 GPa.

Denier polyolefin fibers and, in particular, INM \ URE fibers used in the invention is preferably from 0.5 to 20, more preferably from 0.7 to 10, most preferably from 1 to 5 denier per filament (άρί). If yarn containing said fibers is used to make a fiber braid, the denier of said yarn is preferably from 100 to 3000 den, more preferably from 200 to 2500 den, most preferably from 400 to 1000 den.

In a special embodiment, the polyolefin fibers used in accordance with the invention are ribbon-shaped, or, in other words, said polyolefin fibers are polyolefin tapes. Preferably, said polyolefin tapes are INMU / PE tapes. The tape (or flat tape) for the purposes of the present invention is a fiber with a cross-sectional ratio, i.e. a ratio of width to thickness, preferably at least 5: 1, more preferably at least 20: 1, more preferably at least 100: 1, and most preferably at least 1000: 1. The tape preferably has a width of from 1 to 600 mm, more preferably from 1.5 to 400 mm, more preferably from 2 to 300 mm, more preferably from 5 to 200 mm and most preferably from 10 to 180 mm. The tape preferably has a thickness of from 10 to 200 microns and more preferably from 15 to 100 microns. By the ratio of cross-sectional dimensions in the description is meant the ratio of width to thickness.

In a preferred embodiment, the fiber braid used in accordance with the invention comprises a fabric comprising a high strength polyolefin fiber. Said fabric may be any weave known in the art, for example woven, knitted, plated, woven or non-woven material, or a combination thereof. Knitted fabrics can be crocheted, for example, single-knitted knitted fabric or double-knitted knitted fabric, or warp knitted. An example of a nonwoven fabric is felt or fabric, in which the fibers extend substantially along a general direction, generally in parallel. Further examples of woven, knitted or non-woven materials, as well as the methods used for their manufacture, are described in Knockout on Tesla 1 TechSez, 8-8 978-1-59124-651-0 in Chapters 4, 5 and 6, their disclosure is incorporated by reference. Description and examples of woven fabrics are described in the same Guide in chapter 11 and, in particular, in paragraph 11.4.1, their disclosure is included in the description by reference.

Said fabric is most preferably woven. Preferred implementations of woven materials include smooth weave, elastic weave, matting, twill weaving, panama weaving, crow's weave and satin weaving, although more complex weaves such as three-dimensional weaving can also be used. More preferably, the woven material is a smooth weave fabric, most preferably the woven material is a matted weave fabric. In one embodiment, the fibers used to make the woven material are tapes. It has been found that a fibrous braid containing such a woven material can also reduce the breakage of a umbilical, for example due to excessive deformation of various elements in it, and can also improve the stability of the umbilical. In particular, a umbilical can be produced giving fewer bends, loops and kinks.

The hose of the invention may also contain reinforcing elements, hereinafter referred to as primary reinforcing elements. The primary reinforcing elements in the umbilical are designed to accept the load and, in particular, the axial load acting on the specified umbilical. The primary reinforcing elements can be, for example, cables running along the umbilical, such as those disclosed in UO 2011/131969, or so-called casings, for example, a mesh around the umbilical. Such primary reinforcing elements preferably also comprise polyolefin fibers, more preferably INMAUR fibers.

The hose cable of the invention can be used in various applications and can provide the following advantages:

ζ. Fewer incidents during transportation and / or installation;

P. Optimum reliability and safety.

C. It can provide fewer design flaws and increase freedom in the design and optimization, for example, a smaller, simpler and lighter design, which in turn can lead to an increase in service life.

The hose of the invention is preferably an underwater umbilical, i.e. used to control underwater structures from the offshore platform, floating base, from the shore. Underwater umbilicals provide various functional connections between the indicated platform, underwater equipment and the shore.

The umbilical of the invention can also be used as a downhole umbilical, i.e. umbilical used to control downhole equipment or surface-controlled underground equipment, such as safety valves.

Other specific umbilicals of the invention may be electro-hydraulic umbilicals for multiplex systems; control electro-hydraulic umbilicals; umbilicals control the introduction of chemicals; umbilicals of a production well; electro-optical umbilicals; umbilical guns; control umbilicals; umbilical isolating valve umbilicals (88GU); power umbilicals; umbilicals of the upper part of the platform; umbilical overhaul wells; serving umbilicals; emergency umbilicals; completion umbilicals; and umbilicals of the device with remote control (KOU).

Measurement methods

Mechanical tensile properties, i.e. the strength and elastic modulus of polyolefin fibers were determined on multifilament yarns, as specified in A8TM Ώ885Μ, using a nominal measuring base of 500 mm fiber, a crosshead speed of 50% / min and clamps ΙηδΐΓοη 2714, of type Pieg Opr O5618C. To calculate the strength, the measured tensile forces are divided by the titer determined by weighing 10 m of fiber; values ​​in GPa are calculated taking into account the usual density of the polymer, for example, for INM \ URE 0.97 g / cm³.

Tensile mechanical properties of polyolefin tapes: tensile strength and tensile modulus are determined and measured at 25 ° C on tapes 2 mm wide in accordance with standard ϋ882, using a nominal measuring base of the tape 440 mm, crosshead speed 50 mm / min.