Patents Assigned to Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V.
  • Patent number: 8919737
    Abstract: A traction device for paying out and retrieving a flexible line including a line mover, wherein the line mover includes at least one movable friction surface, the friction surface in total defines at least two arc sections configured to move the line along with the arc sections, in use the line is wound around the friction surface such that the line has a first contact area being in contact with the first arc section and a second contact area being in contact with the second arc section, and the traction device includes a line controller coupled to the line between the first contact area and the second contact area and configured to control the velocity with which the line in use is fed to the second arc section, and also a method and use of the traction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Balder, Cornelis Van Zandwijk, Cornelis Benard
  • Publication number: 20130240076
    Abstract: A pipe element (1) for constructing a double walled pipeline includes an outer pipe element (3) and an inner pipe element (4) located inside the outer pipe element (3), the outer pipe element (3) has a substantially annular form in cross section and includes an inner surface (16). The inner pipe element (4) has a substantially annular form in cross section and includes s an outer surface (15), the diameter of the inner surface is larger than the diameter of the outer surface. The outer pipe element (3) is made from a metallic material, and the inner pipe element (4) is made from a non-metallic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Gerardus van der Graaf
  • Patent number: 8500366
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pipeline guide assembly for a pipeline laying vessel, the pipeline guide assembly comprising:—a plurality of segments (20) pivotably interconnected via hinges (38) in an end-to-end relationship, each segment comprising at least one pipeline support (34) constructed to support a pipeline, wherein the pipeline supports provide a firing line (24) along which a pipeline can be launched,—a curvature mechanism (32) comprising at least one actuator (68, 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d), the curvature mechanism constructed for pivoting each segment relative to the next segment such that in use the segments provide a curved firing line, wherein the pipeline supports limit the curvature of the pipeline as it is launched along said curved firing line. The present invention also relates to a vessel comprising the stinger. The present invention also relates to a method of laying a pipeline utilizing the stinger of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Gerardus Cornelius van Grieken, Maikel Hillenaar
  • Patent number: 8469632
    Abstract: A vessel (1) for laying a pipeline, the vessel comprising a hull structure (3) comprising one or more floaters (4), a tower (5) defining a firing line (6) when positioned in a pipelaying position, the tower (5) being pivotable relative to the hull structure (3) about a tower pivot axis (7), and an A & R means (8) for abandoning and/or recovering the pipeline, wherein the tower (5) is pivotable about said tower pivot axis (7) substantially independent from the A & R means (8) and the A & R means (8) is configured to operate while the tower (5) is pivoted about said tower pivot axis (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Maikel Hillenaar, Gerardus Cornelius van Grieken
  • Patent number: 8469633
    Abstract: A vessel (1) for laying a pipeline (2), comprising a tower (3) which comprises a firing line (4) and is connected to the vessel by a hinge assembly (5) comprising a tower pivot axis (6), wherein: the tower is pivotable relative to the vessel about the tower pivot axis, during pipelaying the tower comprises an upper end and a lower end and the pipeline moves relative to the vessel along the firing line in a laying direction from the upper end towards the lower end, and the tower pivot axis is located at a distance D1 from said upper end as viewed in the laying direction, a system for abandoning and recovering the pipeline, wherein: the system comprises at least one line for lowering and raising a member configured to be connected to the pipeline, and the at least one line is supported by the hinge assembly and/or by the tower at a distance of at least ? D1 from said upper end as viewed in the laying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Eugene Alexander Bajema, Walter Petrus Johannes Wassenaar
  • Patent number: 8465024
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing device that is configured to form a seal around a pipe by use of an air flow in order to prevent a fluid from passing the sealing device. The sealing device includes an air inlet for the inflow of compressed air and configured to be connected to a source of compressed air; one or more channels connected to the air inlet, the channels extending along a substantially annular trajectory and configured to—in use—extend substantially around the pipe; a plurality of outlet points or an annular outlet groove connected to the one or more channels, the outlet points being configured to blow the compressed air in the region of the pipe wall, in order to create an air flow about the pipe in order to prevent a fluid from passing the sealing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Berend Martijn Bouwman
  • Publication number: 20130045056
    Abstract: A vessel for removal and/or installation of at least a part of a sea platform includes a support structure and a top side. The vessel includes a hull and two support arms located at a distance from each other and attached to the hull. In use, the support arms extend beyond the hull in a substantially horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Pim Joris MEEUWS
  • Publication number: 20130043448
    Abstract: A traction device for paying out and retrieving a flexible line including a line mover, wherein the line mover includes at least one movable friction surface, the friction surface in total defines at least two arc sections configured to move the line along with the arc sections, in use the line is wound around the friction surface such that the line has a first contact area being in contact with the first arc section and a second contact area being in contact with the second arc section, and the traction device includes a line controller coupled to the line between the first contact area and the second contact area and configured to control the velocity with which the line in use is fed to the second arc section, and also a method and use of the traction device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Balder, Cornelis Van Zandwijk, Cornelis Benard
  • Publication number: 20120318379
    Abstract: A method for constructing a riser assembly (1) for transporting a fluid from a vessel and on a seabed includes providing an elongate frame (4) having a first frame end (5) and a second frame end (6), where the first frame end is connected to the seabed (3) and the second frame end is connected to a buoy (7), providing at least one riser (9) for transporting a fluid, and connecting the at least one riser to the second frame end and/or the buoy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Benard, Cristian Rogier Koene, Eduard Wiersema, Frank Cornelis Lange
  • Publication number: 20120305543
    Abstract: A heating a pipe section on board a pipe-laying vessel includes at least one coil constructed to be arranged in a position surrounding the pipe section, the at least one coil being constructed to guide a strong electric current from at least one current source which—in use—is coupled to the at least one coil, where the at least one coil has a coil length which corresponds substantially to the length of the pipe section which is to be heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Robert Louis van Hoften, Dirk Victor Maria Vandoninck
  • Publication number: 20120234549
    Abstract: A method for removing a hydrocarbon production platform at sea, the production platform being connected to a hydrocarbon well, and including a support structure and an upper part being supported by the support structure, where the method includes the steps of; temporarily closing the well, removing at least part of the upper part from the support structure, positioning a well abandonment module on the support structure, which well abandonment module is constructed and arranged to perform well abandonment operations, performing abandonment operations from the well abandonment module to abandon the well, removing the well abandonment module from the support structure after the well abandonment operations are completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventor: Marinus Christiaan Lammertink
  • Patent number: 8251613
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pipeline laying vessel (1) for laying a pipeline (2) at a seabed (3) and comprising a tower (4) comprising a firing line (5) along which in use the pipeline is laid and at least one work station (6) for connecting a pipe section (7) to a suspended pipeline and a method of laying pipeline at a sea bed with such a pipe laying vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Robert Reinder Narold, Cornelis van Zandwijk, Coen Maarten Spanjers
  • Publication number: 20120199800
    Abstract: A hoisting assembly for lifting or lowering a heavy object includes an upper fixed block, an upper movable block being suspended from the upper fixed block by at least one first rope which is reeved into one or more first rope lengths between the upper fixed block and the upper movable block, a lower movable block being connected to the upper movable block by at least one second rope which is reeved into one or more second rope lengths between the upper fixed block and the upper movable block. The first and second ropes are reeved in such a way that in use the upper movable block can be positioned at a distance greater than zero from the upper fixed block and at a distance greater than zero from the lower movable block by controlling the lengths of the first and second ropes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventor: Wouter Johannes Slob
  • Publication number: 20120107050
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pipeline assembly and a method of installing a pipeline assembly, wherein the pipeline extends at least in part on a seabed and curves upwardly from the seabed along a curved section thereof, the pipeline extending toward a delivery end provided at the water surface, wherein a connecting device connects the pipeline at a coupling point to an anchoring device at the seabed for preventing the coupling point from moving upward. The invention further relates to a pipeline device comprising at least two pipeline assemblies which are interconnected at a substantial distance from the seabed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Rients WOLBERS, Ton COPPENS
  • Patent number: 8123437
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pipeline assembly and a method of installing a pipeline assembly, wherein the pipeline extends at least in part on a seabed and curves upwardly from the seabed along a curved section thereof, the pipeline extending toward a delivery end provided at the water surface, wherein a connecting device connects the pipeline at a coupling point to an anchoring device at the seabed for preventing the coupling point from moving upward. The invention further relates to a pipeline device comprising at least two pipeline assemblies which are interconnected at a substantial distance from the seabed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Rients Wolbers, Ton Coppens
  • Publication number: 20110286801
    Abstract: A pipeline laying vessel includes a J-lay system which defines a firing line. The J-lay system includes at least one lowering device for lowering a pipe section or pipeline in the firing line from an upper position to a lower position. The vessel further includes a first pipe-moving device and a second pipe-moving device, where the first pipe-moving device is configured for moving a pipe section from a first remote position remote from the firing line to a firing line position in the firing line, and the second pipe-moving device is configured for moving a pipe section from a second remote position remote from the firing line to the firing line position in the firing line. A method for laying a pipeline uses the above mentioned pipeline laying vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Gerardus Cornelius Van Grieken, Walter Petrus Johannes Wassenaar
  • Publication number: 20110250019
    Abstract: A pipeline laying vessel (1) for laying a pipeline (2) on a seabed, said vessel (1) comprising a J-lay system (4) defining a firing line (5) along which the pipeline (2) is laid, the J-lay system (4) comprising an alignment device (6) for aligning a pipe section (7) with the pipeline (2) suspended from the J-lay system (4) with a sufficient level of accuracy to allow the pipe section (7) to be welded to the pipeline (2), the alignment device (6) being constructed to maintain the alignment during at least a part of the welding operation of the pipe section (7) to the pipeline (2), wherein the alignment device (6) is movable between a first position (10) in the firing line (5) and a second position (11) outside the firing line (5), and the alignment device (6) is constructed to engage a pipe section (7) in the second position (11) and to be moved into the first position (10) together with the engaged pipe section (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Gerardus Cornelius Van Grieken, Timotheus Johannes Rutten
  • Publication number: 20110226373
    Abstract: A J-lay system constructed to be positioned on board a pipeline-laying vessel, comprising a fixed pipeline support (12) and a movable pipeline support (12) configured for supporting a pipeline (10) which is suspended form the pipeline-laying vessel,—the movable pipeline support (12) comprising:—at least a first movable support member (20A) configured for engaging a first collar (16A) on the pipeline (10),—at least a second movable support member (20B) configured for engaging a second collar (16B) on the pipeline (10),—the fixed pipeline support (12) comprising:—at least a first fixed support member (20A) configured for engaging a third collar on the pipeline (10),—at least a second fixed support member (20B) configured for engaging a fourth collar on the pipeline (10), wherein the first (20A) and second fixed support member (20B) configured for engaging a fourth collar on the pipeline (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Gerardus Cornelius van Grieken, Jean Louis Antoine de Grave, Erwan Karyadi
  • Publication number: 20110108786
    Abstract: The invention relates to an axial displacement device (3) to be used in conjunction with a rotary winch (2), said winch comprising a drum (7) being rotatable about an axis of rotation (a-a), said axial displacement device to be arranged stationary with respect to said winch and comprising one or more guiding elements (23), said one or more guiding elements being configured to displace a winding of said line in an axial direction parallel to said axis of rotation with at least the diameter of said line, so that a part of said winding being in contact with said drum runs in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Peter Marius Meijer
  • Publication number: 20110079584
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement system constructed and arranged to measure geometrical data from two pipe end bevels of two pipes that need to be joined. The measurement system being provided with a measuring device, wherein the measurement system is constructed and arranged so that the measuring device is moveable in between the two pipe end bevels and the measuring device has a part of a different one of the two pipe end bevels within its measurement angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V.
    Inventor: Stefan Willem Hees