Process and device for laying submarine pipelines
AssigneeC. G. Doris (Compagnie Generale pour les Developpements Operationnels des Richesses Sous-marines)
InventorJacques Edouard Lamy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
For laying a submarine pipeline, hauling of the same is exerted by means of a force distribution cable which extends over the full length of the submerged part of the pipeline and which is attached to it by hangers, preferably in conjunction with heavy chains acting as guide ropes and anchoring blocks.
Claims17
In a method of laying a pipeline on the bed of a body of water while forming the pipeline with a plurality of pipe sections initially stored ashore, comprising the steps of advancing a first one of said pipe sections towards the body of water, connecting a forward end of a second one of said pipe sections to a rear end of said first pipe section, further advancing said first and second pipe sections towards the water body, connecting a forward end of a third one of said pipe sections to a rear end of said second pipe sections, and so on, each advancing step comprising applying a hauling force to a pipeline portion of substantial length to haul the same towards the body of water, the improvement comprising distributing the hauling force into a plurality of traction forces, and applying the traction forces to respective points spaced along said pipeline portion.
Apparatus for hauling a buoyant pipeline in a body of water in order to lay the pipeline on the bed of the body of water, comprising a traction-force-distributing cable extending below and along the pipeline, a plurality of hangers respectively connecting a plurality of points spaced along the cable to respective locations spaced along the pipeline, weighting means connected to the cable for providing the pipeline, hangers and cable assembly with a negative buoyancy, and means for applying a hauling force to the cable.
Apparatus for hauling a buoyant pipeline in a body of water in order to lay the pipeline on the bed of the body of water, comprising an elongated member extending below and along the pipeline, a plurality of hangers respectively connecting a plurality of points spaced along the elongated member to respective locations spaced along the pipeline, the overall system including said pipeline, elongated member and hangers having a negative buoyancy, and means for applying a hauling force to the elongated member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.