GB1343202A - Method and apparatus for connecting a flowline to an offshore installation - Google Patents

Abstract

1343202 Laying submarine pipe-lines SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSOHAPPIJ NV 19 April 1971 [5 March 1970] 22941/71 Heading F2P In a method of connecting a submarine pipeline 23 to an offshore installation 10, the pipeline, which is initially lying at the surface 16, is terminated at a point 24 at a distance from the installation approximately equal to the water depth and is connected to a pivoting bending shoe 19 slidable on a track 17 to gradually submerge and bend the pipe-line into a vertical riser portion and a horizontal sea bed portion. As shown, the terminal end 24 is carried on a vessel 25 which also carries a line 37 and winch 38 to tension the pipe-line, and a supporting pivoted shoe 26. Another vessel (28) (Fig. 1, not shown) tensions a line 29 to which are connected lowering lines 32, 33 on floats 30, 31. The bending shoe 19, to which the pipe-line is attached initially by slip clamps 22, 22a, has a bending surface 21 and is pivoted at a slider 20. As the shoe 19 slides down the track 17 it rotates to bring the arcuate bending surface 21 into contact with the pipe-line. Further support floats 39, 40 are connected to the pipe-line by lines 41, 42 at the clamps 22, 22a. When it reaches the end of track 17, the shoe has rotated to a vertical position (Fig. 4, not shown) and the pipe is bent approximately through a right angle. The terminal end 24 may be finally attached to a platform 15 and the pipe-line riser section is secured by clamps 36 along a leg 11 of the installation, the clamps 22, 22a, 34, 35 being removed.