Offshore well production riser

An offshore oil well riser system extending from a floating vessel on the sea surface to a sub-sea well equipment located on the sea floor, the riser system comprising:

• an elongated, substantially vertical section of pipe supported by the floating body and extending downward towards the sea floor;
• an elongated, substantially horizontal section of pipe connected to the sub-sea well equipment;
• an angled elbow section of pipe connecting the vertical pipe section to the horizontal pipe section such that the vertical and horizontal pipe sections resiliently flex in a direction generally perpendicular to their respective long axes in response to motion of the floating vessel. and,
• an elongated flexing portion of pipe disposed axially within at least one of the vertical and the horizontal pipe sections and arranged therein to resiliently flex in directions both generally perpendicular and parallel to its long axis in response to motion of the floating vessel.