# US 10,370,905 B2 · Marine flexible elongate element and method of installation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,905 B2 - Document ID: US10370905B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/079,036 - Filed: 2016-12-02 - Published: 2019-02-14 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-23 - Assignees: Can Systems AS - Applicants: Can Systems AS - Inventors: Arild Bech; Eirik Storvoll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370905B2 ## CPC - E21B 17/015: {Non-vertical risers, e.g. articulated or catenary-type} - B63B 21/20: Adaptations of chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like, or of parts thereof - B63B 21/50: Anchoring arrangements {or methods} for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers - E21B 17/012: {with buoyancy elements (E21B17/015 takes precedence)} - B63B 2021/203: {Mooring cables or ropes, hawsers, or the like; Adaptations thereof} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible elongate element of claim 1, wherein the at least a first and second lateral displacement devices are configured to act in generally opposite directions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flexible elongate element of claim 1, wherein the at least a first lateral displacement device is further configured to displace at least a portion of the flexible elongate element a vertical distance below the surface of the body of water. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible elongate element of claim 1, wherein the at least a first lateral displacement device further comprises a seabed anchor portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flexible elongate element of claim 1, wherein the flexible elongate element further comprises at least one support member, wherein at least a portion of the flexible elongate element is suspended above the seabed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The flexible elongate element of claim 5, wherein the at least one support member further comprises at least one buoyancy member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flexible elongate element of claim 1, wherein the at least a first lateral displacement device comprises tethers connecting the flexible elongate element and a seabed anchor portion via the spring and damper member, and the spring and damper member further comprise: a buoy submerged or floating in the body of water; and a clump weight. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flexible elongate element of claim 1, wherein the first unit is a plug, or a vessel floating in the body of water. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flexible elongate element of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the flexible elongate element is configured to curve the lateral distance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The flexible elongate element of claim 1, wherein the flexible elongate element is a flexible riser, a cable, an umbilical, or a hose. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The flexible elongate element of claim 1, wherein the spring and damper member comprises a spring and damper device dimensioned to provide a desired restoring force. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the device is operated to displace at least a portion of the flexible elongate element a vertical distance below the surface of the body of water. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the connection of a tether system between the flexible elongate element and a seabed anchor portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible elongate element comprises at least one support member, wherein the at least one support member is a buoyancy member, wherein at least a portion of the flexible elongate element is suspended above the seabed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first unit is a plug, or a vessel floating in the body of water. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the spring and damper member further comprise: a buoy submerged or floating in the body of water; and a clump weight.