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US 2023/0115844 A1Published application
Seafloor Pipeline Removal System and Method
AssigneeC-Dive, LLC
InventorsEdward Trahan, Philip Thibodeaux, Robert Champagne, Marc Olivier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and method for uncovering and removing pipeline from the seafloor using a subsea trenching system using pressurized water to uncover pipe, a subsea shear carried by a barge to cut lengths of the pipeline, and a grapple carried by a barge to lift cut lengths of pipeline for placement on a pipe haul and recovery barge.
Claims20
A subsea trenching device comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of rollers connected to a bottom side of said frame, wherein said plurality of rollers are configured to secure said subsea trenching device to a pipe by moving at least some of said plurality of rollers closer to said pipe, further wherein at least some of said plurality of rollers are configured to roll in response to hydraulic control,
- a manifold connected to said frame for receiving pressurized water;
- a plurality of spray pipes connected to said frame and fluidly connected to said manifold, wherein each of said plurality of spray pipes further comprises a plurality of nozzles, further wherein at least one of said plurality of spray pipes is located on a first side of said plurality of rollers and at least one of said plurality of spray pipes is located on a second side of said plurality of rollers, further wherein said plurality of spray pipes extend approximately to a bottom of said pipe;
- wherein said plurality of nozzles are located on a length of each of said plurality of spray pipes, wherein said length extends approximately to said bottom of said pipe.
2 more elements
A pipeline removal system for removing pipeline from a seafloor, comprising:
- a barge, a subsea trenching device, and a trenching device controller,
- wherein said trenching device controller is positioned on a surface of said barge;
- wherein said subsea trenching device is connected to said trenching device controller and said trenching device controller is capable of controlling said subsea trenching device;
- wherein said subsea trenching device comprises a plurality of spray pipes and each of said plurality of spray pipes further comprises a plurality of nozzles, further wherein said trenching device controller is configured to deliver pressurized water to said subsea trenching device by a pressurized water hose, and said subsea trenching device is configured to spray said pressurized water out of said plurality of nozzles, thereby excavating a trench around a length of pipe buried below a seafloor and exposing an uncovered portion of said pipeline.
1 more element
A method of performing subsea pipeline removal comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a barge, a subsea trenching device, and a trenching device controller to an offshore location;
- b. lowering said subsea trenching device into seawater and onto a pipe;
- c. moving said subsea trenching device along a length of said pipe;
- d. displacing seafloor using said subsea trenching device to unearth an uncovered portion of said pipe;
- wherein said trenching device controller is positioned on a surface of said barge;
- wherein said subsea trenching device is connected to said trenching device controller and said trenching device controller is capable of controlling said subsea trenching device;
- wherein said subsea trenching device is capable of excavating a trench around a length of said pipe buried below a seafloor, thereby exposing an uncovered portion of said pipe.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.