Marine flexible elongate element and method of installation
AssigneeCan Systems AS
InventorsArild Bech, Eirik Storvoll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible elongate element for installation in a body of water to extend between a seabed connection device and a unit arranged at the opposite end of the flexible elongate element. At least one lateral displacement device is connected to a portion of the flexible elongate element and configured to displace at least a portion of the flexible elongate element a lateral distance away from a first axis extending between the seabed connection device and the unit, the at least one lateral displacement device including a spring member. The flexible elongate element may be a flexible riser, umbilical, hose, or cable.
Claims17
A flexible elongate element installed in a body of water and extending between a seabed connection device and a first unit arranged at a first end of the flexible elongate element;
- the flexible elongate element being capable of a wave configuration in a vertical direction via at least one of a plurality of buoyancy members or inherent buoyancy of the flexible elongate element wherein at least a first_lateral displacement device is connected to a first portion of the flexible elongate element and configured to displace at least a portion of the flexible elongate element a lateral distance away from a first axis extending between the seabed connection device and the first unit such that the flexible elongate element exhibits a sideways wave in addition to a vertical wave, the at least a first lateral displacement device comprising a_spring and damper member, wherein the flexible elongate element further comprises at least a second lateral displacement device, wherein at least the first and second lateral displacement devices are connected to the first portion and a second portion of the flexible elongate element, respectively, and are configured to displace at least a portion of the flexible elongate element the lateral distance away from the first axis, wherein the first and second portions are offset longitudinally along the first axis.
A method of installing a flexible elongate element in a body of water, wherein a first flexible elongate element end is connected to a seabed connection device and second flexible elongate element end is connected to a first unit the flexible elongate element comprising buoyancy members or inherent buoyancy to provide a wave configuration in a verical vertical direction;
- the method further comprising:
- connecting at least one first lateral displacement device comprising a spring and damper member to a first portion of the flexible elongate element and operating the at_least one first lateral displacement device to displace at least a portion of the flexible elongate element a lateral distance away from a first axis extending between the seabed connection device and the first unit such that the flexible elongate element exhibits a sideways wave in addition to a vertical wave, wherein the method further comprises:
- connecting at least the first lateral displacement device and a second lateral displacement device to a first and second portion of the flexible elongate element so that the first and second portions are offset longitudinally along the first axis;
- and
- operating the at least the first and second lateral displacement devices to displace at least a respective portion of the flexible elongate element the lateral distance in generally opposite directions, away from the first axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.