Abstract: A submarine connection for interconnecting a riser pipe and a flexible pipe (26). The riser pipe has an upper end and the flexible pipe (26) has a lower end (30). A connection assembly includes a rigid fitting having a first limb (64) to be connected to the lower end (30) and a second limb (66) with a connector (67) on the end, and a body (36) having a head (42) and an opposing base (46) provided with an end piece (52) to be mounted on the upper end. The connection assembly also includes first guiding elements (60, 86) secured to the body (36), extending in a position at a distance from the axis of the end piece (52), and second guiding elements (76, 81) secured to the first limb (64), suitable for cooperating with the first guiding elements (60, 86).

Abstract: A facility and a method for connecting a bottom submarine pipe (14) and a riser submarine pipe. The riser submarine pipe has an upstream end (62) with a fitting (66) on the end thereof, while the bottom submarine pipe (14) has a downstream end (46) provided with a connecting end piece (50). The method includes the following steps: a) an anchoring support (38) is supplied; b) the upstream end (62) and the downstream end (46) are held, while the fitting (66) extends facing the connecting end piece (50); and c) the fitting (66) and the connecting end piece (50) are brought towards each other for connection. The fitting (66) of the upstream end (62) is held still in relation to the anchoring support (38), and the connecting end piece (50) is moved towards the fitting (66).

Abstract: A submarine connection for interconnecting a riser pipe and a flexible pipe (26). The riser pipe has an upper end and the flexible pipe (26) has a lower end (30). A connection assembly includes a rigid fitting having a first limb (64) to be connected to the lower end (30) and a second limb (66) with a connector (67) on the end, and a body (36) having a head (42) and an opposing base (46) provided with an end piece (52) to be mounted on the upper end. The connection assembly also includes first guiding elements (60, 86) secured to the body (36), extending in a position at a distance from the axis of the end piece (52), and second guiding elements (76, 81) secured to the first limb (64), suitable for cooperating with the first guiding elements (60, 86).

Abstract: A facility and a method for connecting a bottom submarine pipe (14) and a riser submarine pipe. The riser submarine pipe has an upstream end (62) with a fitting (66) on the end thereof, while the bottom submarine pipe (14) has a downstream end (46) provided with a connecting end piece (50). The method includes the following steps: a) an anchoring support (38) is supplied; b) the upstream end (62) and the downstream end (46) are held, while the fitting (66) extends facing the connecting end piece (50); and c) the fitting (66) and the connecting end piece (50) are brought towards each other for connection. The fitting (66) of the upstream end (62) is held still in relation to the anchoring support (38), and the connecting end piece (50) is moved towards the fitting (66).

Abstract: An underwater connection assembly, and a connection method, for connecting a riser (12) and a flexible pipe (26). The riser (12) has an upper connection end (52) and the flexible pipe (26) has a lower connection end (30). The connection assembly includes a longitudinal frame (36) having a foot (46) rigidly connected to the upper connection end (52) and a head (42) linked to a float (20). A connector (34), and a curved pipe (32) having two opposing ends (62, 64). The opposing end (62) is rigidly connected to the lower connection end (30), and the connector (34) is mounted to the other opposing end (64), to be able to pull the connector (34) towards the upper connection end (52) in a direction oriented from the head (42) to the foot (46).

Abstract: A method for installing a self-supporting tower at a sea bed. An anchoring mechanism (32) is installed on the bed. A float (18) and a tubular pipe (68) are submerged and then driven towards the bed (12) to attach to one of the ends (72) of the anchoring mechanism (32), while the float (18) is fastened to the other (70) of the ends keeping the pipe (68) vertical above the anchoring mechanism (32). The tubular pipe (68) and the float (18) are supplied separately. The float (18) is kept submerged at a distance away from the anchoring mechanism (32). The tubular pipe (68) is suspended from the float via the other (70) of the ends of the pipe.

Abstract: A method for installing an assembly (10) for recovering hydrocarbons escaping from an underwater facility (21), including a first bottom assembly (25) including a rigid canopy having a large surface area, and a second top assembly (26) for raising fluids up to a surface facility (13). The steps of towing the fluid-raising top assembly are carried out concurrently during the installation of the fluid-raising top assembly (26).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tower comprising a fluid transporting pipe (24) and an element (29) for anchoring a transporting pipe (24) to the bottom (14) of the expanse of water (12), which element is connected to an upstream point (38) of an intermediate section (30) of the pipe. The tower comprises a buoy (26) connected to a downstream point (40) of the intermediate section in order to keep the intermediate section (40) in a substantially vertical configuration. The buoy (26) has a height less than 1.5 times its maximum transverse direction and delimits a first through-passage (78A) in which the intermediate section (30) is fitted. The buoy (26) delimits a second through-passage (78B), separate from the first through-passage (78A), the second through-passage (78B) accepting the upper section (34). The tower (20) comprises a coupling section (32) that couples the connecting upper section (34) to the intermediate section (30).

Abstract: A method for installing an underwater riser between a seabed (52) and a surface (12), and a tubular pipe suspended from a float (24): The float (24) is weighted to be able to submerge it to drive one pipe end (28) toward the seabed (52) for connecting the tubular pipe at the seabed. Unwinding the flexible pipe (20) to extend it catenary fashion between the float (24) and a surface installation (10) so as to weight the float (24) with the unwound flexible pipe (20) and cause the submersion of the float (24), whereby the other pipe end (28) is driven toward the seabed (52).

Abstract: An underwater connection assembly, and a connection method, for connecting a riser (12) and a flexible pipe (26). The riser (12) has an upper connection end (52) and the flexible pipe (26) has a lower connection end (30). The connection assembly includes a longitudinal frame (36) having a foot (46) rigidly connected to the upper connection end (52) and a head (42) linked to a float (20). A connector (34), and a curved pipe (32) having two opposing ends (62, 64). The opposing end (62) is rigidly connected to the lower connection end (30), and the connector (34) is mounted to the other opposing end (64), to be able to pull the connector (34) towards the upper connection end (52) in a direction oriented from the head (42) to the foot (46).

Abstract: The disclosure provides an in-situ system and method for transferring a load from a tensioned flexible link between at least two bodies, such as between a buoyancy can and a subsea riser or between a moored offshore platform and a pile. The system and method provides a tether assembly having a hydraulic cylinder and/or a transfer assembly, where the hydraulic cylinder is configured upon actuation to decrease a distance between the two bodies; and the transfer assembly includes a mechanical interlock configured upon actuation to maintain the decreased distance between the two bodies independent of the hydraulic cylinder. The mechanical interlock can include various embodiments that can be selectively activated and deactivated position to allow the hydraulic cylinder to operate at various times in the transfer process. A support assembly can provide additional support to the flexible link independent of or in addition to the transfer assembly.

Abstract: An underwater fluid transport apparatus (10) to transport a fluid between a sea bed (12) and the surface (14) of the sea vertically above the sea bed. A riser (20) is connected to a flexible pipe (32) leading to the sea surface (14). A retaining float (24) is installed around the riser in order to maintain the riser (20) in a stretched suspended position between the sea bed (12) and a subsurface region situated between the sea bed and the surface (14) of the sea. The flexible pipe (32) extends in a catenary curve between the riser (20) and the sea surface. An additional float (28) is installed between the riser (20) and the sea surface (14). The riser (20) is attached to the additional float (28) to increase the buoyancy of the riser.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an assembly including a supporting buoy and an anchoring assembly (28) comprising a base (100) attached to the bed (12) of the expanse of water. The assembly comprises a flexible anchoring line (30) connecting the anchoring assembly (28) to the supporting buoy (26). The anchoring line (30) comprises a lower section (84) made of chain links (92). The anchoring assembly (28) comprises a device (110) for guiding the lower section (84). The lower section (84) is movably mounted in the guide device (110) relative to the base (100), between an extended configuration and a contracted configuration, and a locking member (114) which can be released from the anchor line (30) on the anchoring assembly (28).

Abstract: This method comprises connecting a downstream point (40) of a pipe (24) to a buoy (26) and completely submerging the buoy (26). It comprises deploying in the body of water (12) an intermediate section (30) of the pipe (24) from the downstream point (40) to at least as far as an upstream point (38), anchoring the upstream point (38), and tensioning the intermediate section (30) to keep it vertical. The connecting step includes activating a traction unit (96) to raise the downstream point (40) on the buoy (26). During the connecting step, the buoy (26) is carried in the body of water (12) virtually exclusively by its own floatability.

Abstract: A method for installing a self-supporting tower at a sea bed. An anchoring mechanism (32) is installed on the bed. A float (18) and a tubular pipe (68) are submerged and then driven towards the bed (12) to attach to one of the ends (72) of the anchoring mechanism (32), while the float (18) is fastened to the other (70) of the ends keeping the pipe (68) vertical above the anchoring mechanism (32). The tubular pipe (68) and the float (18) are supplied separately. The float (18) is kept submerged at a distance away from the anchoring mechanism (32). The tubular pipe (68) is suspended from the float via the other (70) of the ends of the pipe.

Abstract: A suspension device (14) for suspending an oil pipe on an underwater float (12) between a seabed and a sea surface and a method for installing such a device. The device (14) includes two hitching members (16,18) that respectively comprise a connection end (22, 22) and an attachment end (24, 24). The hitching members are respectively attached to the float (12) and to the coupling end (10) of the pipe by the fastener thereof while the connection ends (24, 24) are connected by connectors (20, 20). The connection end (22, 22) of each hitching member (16, 18) comprises two hooks (44, 46, 44, 46). The connectors include two independent links (20) for parallel adjustment so as to connect, two by two, the hooks (44, 46, 44?, 46?) of the two hitching members (16, 18).

Abstract: This method comprises connecting a downstream point (40) of a pipe (24) to a buoy (26) and completely submerging the buoy (26). It comprises deploying in the body of water (12) an intermediate section (30) of the pipe (24) from the downstream point (40) to at least as far as an upstream point (38), anchoring the upstream point (38), and tensioning the intermediate section (30) to keep it vertical. The height of the buoy (26) is less than 1.5 times its greatest transverse dimension. The method comprises moving the buoy (26) between a remote position and an installed position in line with an anchoring region, keeping the buoy (26) partly submerged on the surface (16) of the body of water.

Abstract: A method for installing an underwater riser between a seabed (52) and a surface (12), and a tubular pipe suspended from a float (24): The float (24) is weighted to be able to submerge it to drive one pipe end (28) toward the seabed (52) for connecting the tubular pipe at the seabed. Unwinding the flexible pipe (20) to extend it catenary fashion between the float (24) and a surface installation (10) so as to weight the float (24) with the unwound flexible pipe (20) and cause the submersion of the float (24), whereby the other pipe end (28) is driven toward the seabed (52).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tower comprising a fluid transporting pipe (24) and an element (29) for anchoring a transporting pipe (24) to the bottom (14) of the expanse of water (12), which element is connected to an upstream point (38) of an intermediate section (30) of the pipe. The tower comprises a buoy (26) connected to a downstream point (40) of the intermediate section in order to keep the intermediate section (40) in a substantially vertical configuration. The buoy (26) has a height less than 1.5 times its maximum transverse direction and delimits a first through-passage (78A) in which the intermediate section (30) is fitted. The buoy (26) delimits a second through-passage (78B), separate from the first through-passage (78A), the second through-passage (78B) accepting the upper section (34). The tower (20) comprises a coupling section (32) that couples the connecting upper section (34) to the intermediate section (30).

Abstract: A method includes the positioning of a rising column (22) in a vertical configuration and the total immersion of a buoy for retaining the rising column (22). The method includes the insertion of a male connecting member (62) borne by the buoy in a female connecting member (64) borne by the rising column (22) and the immobilization of the male connecting member (62) in a receiving passage (92) defined by the female connecting member (64). The female connecting member (64) includes at least one surface (98) for guiding the male connecting member (62) towards the receiving passage (92). The insertion step including the guiding of the male connecting member (62) towards the receiving passage (92) by contact with a guiding surface (98) of the female connecting member (64) which has a vertical section diverging away from the receiving passage (92) towards the male connecting member (62).