Controlling buoyancy when towing, lowering and raising submerged structures
AssigneeAcergy France SAS
InventorMarcel Marco Landwehr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A subsea structure has an elongate articulated buoyancy string having a longitudinal series of buoyancy elements, and at least one elongate buoyancy holder that is fixed relative to the structure and is capable of housing the buoyancy string. The buoyancy of the structure can be altered by moving the buoyancy string along a transit path that extends along and within the buoyancy holder and through an end opening of the buoyancy holder. The buoyancy string passes through that end opening on being inserted into or withdrawn from the buoyancy holder.
Claims29
A combination of:
- a subsea structure, being a pipeline bundle;
- an elongate articulated buoyancy string comprising a longitudinal series of buoyancy elements;
- and
- at least one elongate tubular buoyancy holder that is capable of housing the buoyancy string, the buoyancy holder being fixed relative to, and extending along, the pipeline bundle, wherein the buoyancy holder defines a transit path for movement of the buoyancy string along and within the buoyancy holder;
- and
- wherein a side wall of the buoyancy holder is penetrated by one or more lateral openings.
A method of altering the buoyancy of a subsea structure being a pipeline bundle, the method comprising:
- moving an elongate articulated buoyancy string of buoyancy elements along a transit path extending along and within an elongate tubular buoyancy holder that extends along and is fixed relative to the pipeline bundle, wherein the transit path extends through an end opening of the buoyancy holder and the buoyancy string passes through that end opening;
- and
- flooding and equalising pressure in the buoyancy holder through one or more lateral openings that penetrate a side wall of the buoyancy holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.