Abstract: A pipelaying vessel comprises storage (502) for a number of pipe units to be assembled into a pipeline and S-lay apparatus (312, 314, 316) for fabricating and paying out of a pipeline by repeated addition of new sections (506). The end of said pipeline being laid is held aligned with a fabrication axis closer to horizontal than vertical, the S-lay apparatus including a stinger (312) for supporting the pipeline in an arcuate path to a departure axis which is more vertical than horizontal. Auxiliary apparatus (318/810) is provided for use in fitting singular items to one end of the pipeline. The supporting structure (320/802) of said auxiliary apparatus is located above a lower end of the stinger of the S-lay apparatus, substantially aligned with said departure axis, so as to facilitate handing over of the suspended pipeline and singular item from one of said apparatuses to the other. The auxiliary apparatus may be an A-frame (810) or a complete J-Lay apparatus (318-322) for additional laying tasks.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for laying of elongate articles from a vessel. The vessel includes a tower (2), on which is supported tensioning means (20,21), straightening means (19), and a hold-off clamp (14). The hold-off clamp (14) is mounted independently of the tower on a trolley (13) which can be moved into and out of alignment with the laying axis of the tower while supporting the elongate article under laying tension. This enables the pipe string to be moved out of the line of the tower (2) for the fitting of equipment such as mid-line connectors and PLETs. Methods are disclosed for using the apparatus for fitting a connection to the elongate article being laid using cranes etc provided on the vessel to move the trolley (13) and hold the laid pipe string or connection.

Abstract: The disclosed method & apparatus are for forming a fluid connection or tap through the wall of a pipeline, particularly intended for “hot tapping” of subsea pipelines. The method comprises fitting a connecting piece having a mounting surface which extends around the tap location and at least partially over the tap location and a connecting wall (2h) which surrounds the tap location to provide an opening adapted for subsequent connection of a conduit to complete a fluid connection. The connecting piece is bonded to the pipeline by friction stitch welding performed inside said opening. The material at the tap location is removed (AC indicates after cutting) to define an aperture and provide said fluid connection surrounded closely by the weld between the connecting piece and the wall.

Abstract: Equipment and method for lowering equipment (10) to the seabed from a vessel (12) using man made fibre rope (16) and a winch (20) employing wire rope (24), the fibre rope being paid out (or when lifting, drawn in) in sections by repeated operation of the winch (20) and wire rope (24). This is preferably done by holding the fibre rope (16) with holding means (32), while the wire rope (24) is detached for connection to a next section. The holding means (32) may be arranged to engage an attachment point (18) between adjacent rope sections but distinct from that engaged by the hoist platform (22).

Abstract: A single-module deployable bolted flange connection apparatus (10) makes up standard flange joints (24, 32) for various pipeline tie-in situations, such as spool piece connection and flowline-tree connections, without the use of divers and auxiliary multiple pieces of equipment. An outer Flange Alignment Frame (FAF) (14), carries one or more claws (38) for grabbing the pipe/spool to provide flange alignment. The claws are suspended and driven by a novel arrangement of five hydraulic rams (412-420) A crash-resistant inner frame (148) houses complete connection tooling (150, 152 etc.) The tooling performs the final alignment steps, inserts the gasket and studs, applies the required tension, and connects the nuts. Studs and nuts are stored separately from the tooling in an indexed carousel, to permit multiple operations, reverse operations (disconnection), and re-work of failed steps, all without external intervention.

Abstract: A seabed anchor (20) is fixed to and deployable from an ROV (10) for positively anchoring the ROV (10) to the seabed (100). The seabed anchor (20) comprises three nested telescoping tubes (26, 28, & 30). The upper end of the oute (26) is fixed to the ROV (10). A rotary drill bit (38) is carried on the output shaft of a motor (34) that is mounted o of the innermost tube (30). The nested assembly of three telescopic tubes (26, 28, 30) can be controllably extended and retracted b controlled operation of a hydraulic ram or other linear actuator coupled between the outer tube (26) and the inner tube (30). Each the tubes (26, 28 & 30) carries a respective one or two pairs of inflatable packets (40, 42, & 44) that are normally un quiescent within respective recesses in the sides of the tubes where the packers do not interfere with telescopic relative movements of the tubes.