Pipeline storage

A method of storing a length of pipeline, comprising the steps of:

• providing a closed loop of rail track lying on a substantially horizontal plane;
• mounting a plurality of rail bogies on said track such that said bogies are distributed around said loop, said bogies adapted to receive and retain a plurality of turns of a continuous length of a pipeline extending around said loop;
• securing a first end of a pipeline to one of said bogies;
• and
• driving said bogies along said track in synchronism with one another such that said pipeline extends around said loop, supported by said bogies;
• wherein said pipeline is loaded onto and offloaded from said bogies along a substantially horizontal pipe approach path which is approximately tangential to said loop at a point of loading/offloading.

A pipeline storage apparatus comprising:

• a closed loop of rail track;
• a plurality of rail bogies mounted on said track and distributed around said loop, each of said rail bogies being adapted to retain at least one turn of a length of pipeline;
• a motor which drives said rail bogies around said loop in synchronism;
• and
• a roller box which guides said pipeline to and from said storage apparatus in a substantially horizontal pipe approach path approximately tangential to said loop.

A method of storing a length of pipeline, said method comprising the acts of:

• mounting said pipeline on rail bogies, said rail bogies being mounted on a closed horizontal loop;
• driving said bogies around said loop in synchronism with one another so that said pipeline extends around said loop, supported by said bogies;
• and
• guiding said pipeline onto or off of said rail bogies along a substantially horizontal pipe approach path that is approximately tangential to said loop.