Multiple flexible seafloor-surface linking apparatus comprising at least two levels

A bottom-to-surface connection installation between a common floating support and the sea bottom, the installation comprising a plurality of flexible lines comprising flexible pipes between said floating support and the sea bottom where the flexible lines are connected to well heads, pieces of equipment, or the ends of undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom of said installation, said flexible lines being supported respectively by a plurality of support and guide elements of arch shape referred to as troughs, each trough lying between two pipe portions comprising a first flexible line portion in a double hanging catenary configuration between the floating support and said trough, and a second flexible line portion in a single catenary configuration between said trough and a point of contact between said flexible pipe and the sea bottom, the installation having at least one trough support structure comprising a bottom portion forming a base resting on and/or anchored to or embedded in the sea bottom and a top portion supporting at least two troughs comprising a bottom trough and a top trough arranged at different heights such that the low point of the hanging double catenary of the first flexible line portion passing via the bottom trough is situated below the low point of the hanging double catenary of said first flexible line portion passing via the top trough, wherein said flexible pipe is held in said trough by a retaining member.

A bottom-to-surface connection installation between a common floating support and the sea bottom, the installation comprising a plurality of flexible lines comprising flexible pipes between said floating support and the sea bottom where the flexible pipes are connected to well heads, pieces of equipment, or the ends of undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom of said installation, said flexible lines being supported respectively by a plurality of support and guide elements of arch shape referred to as troughs, each trough lying between two pipe portions comprising a first flexible line portion in a double hanging catenary configuration between the floating support and said trough, and a second flexible line portion in a single catenary configuration between said trough and a point of contact between said flexible pipe and the sea bottom, the installation having at least one trough support structure comprising a bottom portion forming a base resting on and/or anchored to or embedded in the sea bottom and a top portion comprising a rigid tower vertically extending from said base and rigidly secured to said base, said top portion supporting at least two troughs comprising a bottom trough and a top trough arranged at different heights such that the low point of the hanging double catenary of the first flexible line portion passing via the bottom trough is situated below the low point of the hanging double catenary of said first flexible line portion passing via the top trough, wherein said trough support structure is a rigid structure comprising a rigid tower rising above a said base resting on and/or anchored to the sea bottom to which it is rigidly secured.

A bottom-to-surface connection installation between a common floating support and the sea bottom, the installation comprising a plurality of flexible lines comprising flexible pipes between said floating support and the sea bottom where the flexible lines are connected to well heads, pieces of equipment, or the ends of undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom of said installation, said flexible lines being supported respectively by a plurality of support and guide elements of arch shape referred to as troughs, each trough lying between two pipe portions comprising a first flexible line portion in a double hanging catenary configuration between the floating support and said trough, and a second flexible line portion in a single catenary configuration between said trough and a point of contact between said flexible pipe and the sea bottom, the installation having at least one trough support structure comprising a bottom portion forming a base resting on and/or anchored to or embedded in the sea bottom and a top portion supporting at least two troughs comprising a bottom trough and a top trough arranged at different heights such that the low point of the hanging double catenary of the first flexible line portion passing via the bottom trough is situated below the low point of the hanging double catenary of said first flexible line portion passing via the top trough, wherein said trough support structure is a rigid structure comprising a rigid tower rising above a said base resting on and/or anchored to the sea bottom to which the base is rigidly secured, and wherein said base is a metal lattice structure extending horizontally and resting on the sea bottom, and said rigid tower is a metal lattice structure rising vertically and supporting at least two rigid support elements, a top support element and a bottom support element forming beams that extend on either side of the tower along at least two vertical levels, said troughs being fastened on top of the beams, said tower being fastened to said metal lattice structure of said base by sloping rigid connection and reinforcing elements.

A bottom-to-surface connection installation between a common floating support and the sea bottom, the installation comprising a plurality of flexible lines comprising flexible pipes between said floating support and the sea bottom where the flexible lines are connected to well heads, pieces of equipment, or the ends of undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom of said installation, said flexible lines being supported respectively by a plurality of support and guide elements of arch shape referred to as troughs, each trough lying between two pipe portions comprising a first flexible line portion in a double hanging catenary configuration between the floating support and said trough, and a second flexible line portion in a single catenary configuration between said trough and a point of contact between said flexible pipe and the sea bottom, the installation having at least one trough support structure comprising a bottom portion forming a base resting on and/or anchored to or embedded in the sea bottom and a top portion supporting at least two troughs comprising a bottom trough and a top trough arranged at different heights such that the low point of the hanging double catenary of the first flexible line portion passing via the bottom trough is situated below the low point of the hanging double catenary of said first flexible line portion passing via the top trough, wherein said trough support structure is a hinged structure comprising at least two rigid support elements, a top element and a bottom element, forming beams arranged one above the other and connected together by first flexible connection elements, said bottom trough support element being connected to said base by second flexible connection elements, said first flexible connection elements comprising first stays, and said second flexible connection elements comprising second stays, said top element and said bottom element being held one above the other and above said base by at least one submerged buoyancy element fastened to at least one said top element suitable for tensioning said first and second stays.

A bottom-to-surface connection installation between a common floating support and the sea bottom, the installation comprising a plurality of flexible lines comprising flexible pipes between said floating support and the sea bottom where the flexible lines are connected to well heads, pieces of equipment, or the ends of undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom of said installation, said flexible lines being supported respectively by a plurality of support and guide elements of arch shape referred to as troughs, each trough lying between two pipe portions comprising a first flexible line portion in a double hanging catenary configuration between the floating support and said trough, and a second flexible line portion in a single catenary configuration between said trough and a point of contact between said flexible pipe and the sea bottom, such that only one instance of a double catenary portion precedes the single catenary portion between each trough and the floating support, the installation having at least one trough support structure comprising a bottom portion forming a base resting on and/or anchored to or embedded in the sea bottom and a top portion supporting at least two troughs comprising a bottom trough and a top trough arranged at different heights such that the low point of the hanging double catenary of the first flexible line portion passing via the bottom trough is situated below the low point of the hanging double catenary of said first flexible line portion passing via the top trough.

A bottom-to-surface connection installation between a common floating support and the sea bottom, the installation comprising a plurality of flexible lines comprising flexible pipes between said floating support and the sea bottom where the flexible lines are connected to well heads, pieces of equipment, or the ends of undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom of said installation, said flexible lines being supported respectively by a plurality of support and guide elements of arch shape referred to as troughs, each trough lying between two pipe portions comprising a first flexible line portion in a double hanging catenary configuration between the floating support and said trough, and a second flexible line portion in a single catenary configuration between said trough and a point of contact between said flexible pipe and the sea bottom, the installation having at least one trough support structure comprising a bottom portion forming a base resting on and/or anchored to or embedded in the sea bottom and a top portion supporting at least two troughs comprising a bottom trough and a top trough arranged at different heights such that the low point of the hanging double catenary of the first flexible line portion passing via the bottom trough is situated below the low point of the hanging double catenary of said first flexible line portion passing via the top trough, and wherein the point of contact with the sea floor of the flexible line passing via the bottom trough is closer to said base than is the point of contact with the sea floor of the flexible line passing via the top trough.

A bottom-to-surface connection installation between a common floating support and the sea bottom, the installation comprising a plurality of flexible lines comprising flexible pipes between said floating support and the sea bottom where the flexible lines are connected to well heads, pieces of equipment, or the ends of undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom of said installation, said flexible lines being supported respectively by a plurality of support and guide elements of arch shape referred to as troughs, each trough lying between two pipe portions comprising a first flexible line portion in a double hanging catenary configuration between the floating support and said trough, and a second flexible line portion in a single catenary configuration between said trough and a point of contact between said flexible pipe and the sea bottom, the installation having at least one trough support structure comprising a bottom portion forming a base resting on and/or anchored to or embedded in the sea bottom and a top portion supporting at least two troughs comprising a bottom trough and a top trough arranged at different heights such that the low point of the hanging double catenary of the first flexible line portion passing via the bottom trough is situated below the low point of the hanging double catenary of said first flexible line portion passing via the top trough, wherein said top portion of the trough support structure is other than a float and/or is not rigidly attached to a float.