Method and apparatus for mounting distributed buoyancy modules on a rigid pipeline
AssigneeTechnip France
InventorsSylvain Denniel, Richard Alan Leslie Ross
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for mounting a buoyancy module onto a rigid pipe having a clamp. In one embodiment the clamp includes pads for clamping onto the outer surface or coating of the rigid pip, the pads having a teeth or serrations formed thereon for gripping the outer surface of the pipe. In a second embodiment, the clamp includes one or more coil springs formed from a resilient material adapted to be wound around the outer circumference of the pipe. The method for mounting a buoyancy module onto a rigid pipe includes the steps of reducing the outer diameter of the pipe at a location of the pipe to which a buoyancy module is to be attached and subsequently mounting a buoyancy module at such location.
Claims5
A buoyancy module and an apparatus for mounting the buoyancy module onto a rigid pipe configured to transport liquid or gas hydrocarbons, the apparatus comprising:
- one or more coils together defining a plurality of turns, each turn of the plurality of turns surrounding the rigid pipe, the one or more coils being configured such that the turns of the one or more coils contact and clamp onto an outer surface or coating of the rigid pipe so as to resist slippage of the one or more coils over the rigid pipe;
- and
- each coil formed from a resilient material and configured to be wound around an outer circumference of the rigid pipe such that each turn clamps onto the rigid pipe;
- and
- the buoyancy module is secured to the apparatus and positioned over the rigid pipe, the buoyancy module configured to provide a buoyant force to the rigid pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.