System and method for carrying out operations along an annular junction portion of a pipeline and laying vessel comprising said system

A system comprising:

• a frame comprising:
• a C-shaped structure selectively clampable about a pipeline extending along a longitudinal axis at a distance from an annular junction portion of the pipeline, and
• a driving device arranged along an arc of an annular path and coupled to the C-shaped structure;
• a support arm positionable on the pipeline and connected to the C-shaped structure to maintain a laying plane of the driving device substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
• a carriage slideably coupled to the driving device;
• and
• an operating device configured to carry out an operation along the annular junction portion of the pipeline, the operating device being cantilever supported by the carriage.

A laying vessel comprising:

• a system configured to carrying out an operation along an annular junction portion of a pipeline extending along a longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
• a frame comprising:
• a C-shaped structure selectively clampable about the pipeline at a distance from the annular junction portion of the pipeline, and
• a driving device arranged along an arc of an annular path and coupled to the C-shaped structure;
• a support arm positionable on the pipeline and connected to the C-shaped structure to maintain a laying plane of the driving device substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
• a carriage slideably coupled to the driving device;
• and
• an operating device configured to carry out the operation along the annular junction portion of the pipeline, the operating device being cantilever supported by the carriage.

A method comprising:

• clamping a C-shaped structure of a frame about a pipeline at a distance from an annular junction portion, wherein the pipeline extends along a longitudinal axis and the frame comprises a driving device arranged along an arc of an annular path and coupled to the C-shaped structure;
• positioning a support arm coupled to the C-shaped structure on the pipeline to maintain a laying plane of the driving device substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
• moving a carriage slideably coupled to the driving device;
• and
• carrying out an operation along the annular junction portion by an operating device cantilever supported by the carriage.