Conduit displacement mitigation apparatus including springs, methods and systems for use with subsea conduits

A system for conveying fluids on a seabed, the system comprising:

• a. a conduit having an axis located on a seabed;
• and
• b. at least one movement resistor installed on the conduit, the movement resistor comprising:
• i. a sleeve having two ends, a sleeve diameter and an inner sleeve surface securely attached to the conduit in a fixed position with respect to the conduit;
• and
• ii. at least one resistor portion having a cross-sectional shape for resisting a force applied thereto, wherein the at least one resistor portion is attached to and extends radially from the sleeve and wherein the at least one resistor portion comprises at least one spring element therein;
• wherein the at least one spring element is capable of being compressed in length by a distance and in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the subsea conduit as a result of a force applied to the at least one resistor portion such that when compressed, the at least one resistor portion exerts a force proportional to the distance the at least one spring element is compressed in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the conduit.

A method for controlling displacement of a subsea conduit located on a seabed, the method comprising:

• a. installing at least one movement resistor on a subsea conduit having an axis, the movement resistor comprising:
• i. a sleeve having two ends, a sleeve diameter and an inner sleeve surface securely attached to the subsea conduit in a fixed position with respect to the conduit;
• and
• ii. a pair of resistor portions for resisting forces applied thereto wherein each of the resistor portions is attached at one of the two ends of the sleeve, respectively, and extends radially from the sleeve and wherein each of the resistor portions comprises at least one spring element therein;
• wherein the at least one spring element is capable of being compressed in length by a distance and in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the subsea conduit as a result of a force applied to each of the pair of resistor portions such that when compressed, each of the pair of resistor portions exerts a force proportional to the distance the at least one spring element is compressed in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the subsea conduit.

A method for installing a subsea conduit on the seabed comprising:

• a. installing at least one movement resistor on a conduit having an axis;
• and
• b. laying down the conduit on the seabed;
• wherein the movement resistor comprises:
• i. a sleeve having two ends, a sleeve diameter and an inner sleeve surface securely attached to the conduit in a fixed position with respect to the conduit;
• and
• ii. at least one resistor portion having a cross-sectional shape for resisting a force applied thereto, wherein the at least one resistor portion is attached to and extends radially from the sleeve and wherein the at least one resistor portion comprises at least one spring element therein;
• wherein the at least one spring element is capable of being compressed in length by a distance and in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the subsea conduit as a result of a force applied to the at least one resistor portion such that when compressed, the at least one resistor portion exerts a force proportional to the distance the at least one spring element is compressed in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the subsea conduit.