Hanging-off elongate elements during offshore operations
AssigneeSubsea 7 do Brasil Servicos Ltda
InventorsGuilherme Pereira Magalhães, João Luiz Vaz Coelho
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Abstract
A hang-off system comprises support blocks that are movable toward a launch axis for engagement with an elongate element such as a flexible pipeline being laid from a vessel into water. Each support block comprises an array of plates that together define an engagement face of the support block and are movable relative to each other to conform a contour of the engagement face to a contour of the element.
Claims33
A hang-off system comprising at least two support blocks that are each movable forwardly toward a launch axis for engagement with an elongate element being laid from a vessel into water, wherein:
- each support block comprises an array of plates that together define an engagement face of the support block and are movable relative to each other to conform a contour of the engagement face to a contour of the element;
- each plate comprises mutually parallel upright side faces joined by an upper face that is narrower than either of the side faces of that plate;
- and
- the upper faces of the plates together define an upper face of each support block.
A method of hanging-off an elongate element being laid from a vessel into water, the method comprising:
- advancing first and second portions of at least two support blocks in parallel planes into contact with the element beneath an outwardly-projecting formation of the element, wherein the first and second portions of each support block are advanced in respective inward directions toward a launch axis, the inward directions being parallel to said parallel planes;
- effecting relative displacement between said portions of each support block in said parallel planes to conform a contour of each support block to an abutting contour of the elongate element;
- and
- hanging-off the element from said portions of each support block in contact with an underside of the outwardly-projecting formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.