Apparatus and method for deploying an object or a load on a seabed
OwnerFrançois Bernardinventor
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus, for deploying an object or a load on the seabed, the object or the load being coupled to a hoist, such as a hoisting wire in order to enable the object or the load to be lowered to the seabed from a vessel, the apparatus including a body having parts for releasably securing the object or the load to the body and propulsion for moving the body when submerged, whereby the propulsion is positioned offset from the parts for releasably securing the object or the load, in order to be able to induce rotational control on the hoist, when the propulsion is in use.
Claims17
Apparatus (50) for deploying a load (43) on the seabed (4), the load (43) being coupled to hoisting means, such as a hoisting wire (42), in order to enable the object or the load (43) to be lowered to the seabed from a vessel (40), the apparatus (50) comprising a body (53) having means (57, 58) for releasably securing the load (43) to the body (53) and propulsion means (56) for moving the body when submerged, the propulsion means including a first set of thrusters, positioned offset from the means (57, 58) for releasably securing the load (43), wherein said apparatus is provided with a sensor (89) to provide data regarding the orientation of the apparatus and allow to drive said thrusters of said first set of thrusters to provide torque control in order to prevent turning of the load (43) without using guide wires,
- wherein said first set of thruster comprises a first thruster and a second thruster positioned at opposites sides of the means (57, 58) for releasably securing the object or the load (43), the apparatus being provided with means to adjust the distance between the first and second thrusters in order to improve torque control and to minimize stress cycles in the overall structure.
Apparatus (50) for deploying a load (43) on the seabed (4), the load (43) being coupled to hoisting means, such as a hoisting wire (42), in order to enable the object or the load (43) to be lowered to the seabed from a vessel (40), the apparatus (50) comprising a body (53) having means (57, 58) for releasably securing the load (43) to the body (53) and propulsion means (56) for moving the body when submerged, the propulsion means including a first set of thrusters, positioned offset from the means (57, 58) for releasably securing the load (43), wherein said apparatus is provided with a sensor (89) to provide data regarding the orientation of the apparatus and allow to drive said thrusters of said first set of thrusters to provide torque control in order to prevent turning of the load (43) without using guide wires,
- wherein the thrusters can be actuated from a first position mainly within the apparatus to a position in which the thrusters project out of the apparatus.
Apparatus for deploying a load on the seabed, the load being coupled to a hoist in order to enable the load to be lowered to the seabed from a vessel, the apparatus comprising:
- a body having means for releasably securing the load to the body and propulsion means for moving the body when submerged,
- the propulsion means including a first set of thrusters, positioned offset from the means for releasably securing the load;
- a sensor to provide data regarding the orientation of the apparatus and allow to drive said first set of thrusters to provide torque control in order to prevent turning of the load without using guide wires,
- said first set of thrusters comprising a first thruster and a second thruster positioned at opposite sides of the means for releasably securing the object or the load;
- and
- means to adjust the distance between the first and second thrusters in order to improve torque control and to minimize stress cycles in the overall structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.