Stabilising of submarine elongate structures

A submarine elongate structure extending across a seabed having a section thereof sloping, the elongate structure being anchored against axial movement with respect to the seabed adjacent the upper end of the sloping seabed section by a first anchoring means and also anchored against axial movement with respect to the seabed adjacent the lower end of the sloping seabed section by a second anchoring means, the section of the elongate structure extending between the two anchoring means being buoyant to maintain the said section above the sloping seabed section, each anchoring means comprising a restraint structure adapted to be installed on the seabed and an anchoring collar adapted to be secured on the submarine elongate structure for engagement with the restraint structure for restraining the elongate structure against said axial movement.

A stabilisation system for stabilising a section of a submarine elongate structure, the stabilisation system comprising an end anchoring means at each end of said section for anchoring the respective end to the seabed, a buoyancy means for providing buoyancy to an extent of said section between the two anchoring means, each end anchoring means comprising a restraint structure for controlling curvature of the elongate structure at the anchoring means.

A buoyancy structure for providing buoyancy to a section of a submarine elongate structure, the buoyancy structure comprising a shell adapted to be installed on said X section of the submarine elongate structure to define a buoyancy space about said section of the submarine elongate structure, the shell having opposed ends adapted for sealingly engagement with said section of the submarine elongate structure, the shell being supported on said section of the submarine elongate structure at intervals along the extent thereof.

A method of stabilising a section of a submarine elongate structure, the method comprising installing a restraint structure on the seabed adjacent each end of said section of submarine elongate structure, securing an anchoring collar on the submarine elongate structure at each end of said section thereof, establishing engagement between the restraint structure and the anchoring collar for restraining the respective end of said section against movement in the longitudinal directional of the elongate structure, and providing buoyancy to an extent of said section between the two ends of said section.

A method of stablising a section of a submarine elongate structure, the method comprising anchoring the ends of said section to the seabed, providing buoyancy to an extent of said section between the two ends thereof, and controlling curvature of the elongate structure at each end of said section at which it is anchored to the seabed.

-37. (canceled)