Method of towing and installing a pipe
AssigneeWellstream International Limited
InventorsBrian Cocksedge, Justin Tuchy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to the present invention, a solution is provided whereby rather than directly towing a pipe (30) from a tug (11), a cable (23) is suspended between two surface vessels (10, 11), and it is from this cable (23) that the pipe (30) itself is suspended at a plurality of points. By means of this arrangement, stress and fatigue is absorbed by the cable (23) rather than the pipe (30), such that the pipe (30) arrives at its installation point with a correspondingly smaller loss in fatigue life.
Claims20
A method of transporting a pipe through water, comprising the steps of:
- i. connecting opposite ends of a towing cable to a first surface vessel and to a second surface vessel respectively;
- ii. connecting said pipe at a plurality of points along the length thereof to a plurality of points along the length of said cable;
- and
- iii. displacing said first surface vessel and said second surface vessel towards the desired destination of said pipe, such that said cable and said pipe connected thereto are towed behind said first surface vessel towards said desired destination.
A method of installing a riser pipe comprising the steps of:
- transporting the riser pipe through water, the step of transporting comprising:
- connecting opposite ends of a towing cable to a first surface vessel and to a second surface vessel respectively;
- connecting said riser pipe at a plurality of points along the length thereof to a plurality of points along the length of said cable;
- and
- displacing said first surface vessel and said second surface vessel towards the desired destination of said riser pipe, such that said cable and said riser pipe connected thereto are towed behind said first surface vessel towards said desired destination;
- wherein said riser pipe is suspended from said cable;
- and
- sequentially disconnecting the or each connection between said riser pipe and said cable, starting with the connection nearest said first or said second surface vessel, such that one end of the riser pipe gradually approaches the desired location.
An apparatus for use in towing and installing a pipe, comprising a cable, said cable having a plurality of support elements extending therefrom, said elements being provided with means adapted for securement to said pipe.
A method of transporting a pipe through water substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.
An apparatus for use in towing and installing a pipe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.