Pipe placement and support system

A method of installing a length of pipe across and expanse and supporting the length of pipe on the floor of the expanse comprising the steps of:

• installing a plurality of pairs of spaced apart piles in the floor of the expanse, each said pile having a seat at a bottom end thereof;
• installing a pipe saddle assembly between each pair of piles, the pipe saddle assembly comprising a support beam, a first pipe sleeve at a first end of the beam and a second pipe sleeve at a second end of the beam, each said sleeve dimension to engage a pile in a sliding arrangement, a pipe saddle for cradling the pipe on said beam and at least one U-bolt dimensioned to secure the pipe to the pipe saddle attachable to said beam;
• bracing the pipe saddle assembly above the floor of the expanse;
• positioning the length of pipe on the pipe saddles;
• attaching the length of pipe to the pipe saddles with the U-bolt;
• removing the bracing from the pipe saddle assembly;
• lowering the pipe saddle assemblies down the piles until the pipe sleeves engage the seat.

A method of installing a length of pipe under a body of water comprising the steps of:

• assembling a length of pipe by connecting a plurality of shorter sections of pipe, said assembling step performed at a site remote from the body of water;
• installing a plurality of pairs of spaced apart piles in the floor of the body of water, each said pile having a seat at a bottom end thereof;
• installing a pipe saddle assembly between each pair of piles, the pipe saddle assembly comprising a support beam, a first pipe sleeve at a first end of the beam and a second pipe sleeve at a second end of the beam, each said sleeve dimension to engage a pile in a sliding arrangement, a pipe saddle for cradling the pipe on said beam and at least one U-bolt dimensioned to secure the pipe to the pipe saddle attachable to said beam;
• bracing the pipe saddle assembly above the water line;
• positioning the preassembled length of pipe on the pipe saddles;
• attaching the length of pipe to the pipe saddles with the U-bolt;
• removing the bracing from the pipe saddle assembly;
• lowering the pipe saddle assemblies down the piles until the pipe sleeves engage the seat.

A piling system for the installation of a length of pipe over an expanse comprising;

• a plurality of pairs of spaced apart piles, each said pair of piles positioned in a substantially aligned arrangement to form a piling;
• a seat on a lower end of each pile;
• and
• a pipe saddle assembly between each pair of spaced apart piles;
• the pipe saddle assembly including, a support beam, a first substantially circular pile sleeve at a first end of the support beam and a second substantially circular pile sleeve at a second end of the support beam, each said sleeve dimensioned to engage a pile in a sliding arrangement whereby said pipe saddle assembly can be slidingly engaged between a pair of piles and positioned to abut said seats on said lower ends of said piles, and a pipe saddle for cradling the pipe on said beam said pipe saddle being disposed so as to elevate the pipe section above said beam at approximately a midpoint between said first and second ends.