Abstract: Vortex-induced vibrations of unsupported segments of subsea pipelines are reduced by providing a shroud that can be lowered onto the subsea pipeline wherein the shroud creates turbulence that interferes with vortex shedding and thereby reduces the amplitude of vibrations are reduced. The preferred shroud comprises a plurality of rods supported in vertical planes along the sides of the pipeline. Installation can be performed without the use of divers.

Abstract: A diverless and guidelineless method to connect two subsea flowlines by a jumper assembly is provided. Pivotable stabs and fluid connection means are provided on each end of the jumper assembly. The stabs mate into receptacles located on the subsea flowline connections. The flowline is preferably lowered vertically and hinged over while sequentially landing the two pivotable stabs into their respective stab receptacles.

Abstract: A seismic float is made in two parts--an upper foam-filled fiberglass hull and a lower steel hull, thereby resulting in a more stable float of reduced dimensions.

Abstract: Pressure-triggering buoys are constructed of prebuckled pipe segments and attached to an offshore structure or pipeline under construction. The attached buoys move with the structure or newly added pipe segment toward the sea bottom, easing the descent. As the structure or segment of pipeline reaches a predetermined depth, the buoy attached thereto collapses, causing the structure or segment of pipeline to be heavier. In the instance of a pipeline, this collapse, in turn, causes the adjacent upper segment of pipeline to move lower, causing the next buoy to collapse, and so on.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for launching a towable body from onboard a towing ship while the towing ship is underway. Inasmuch as the towable body has a tendency to swing from side to side due to motion of the towing ship as the towable body is being lowered into the water, stabilizing apparatus which is attached to the towable body is lowered into the water first, the stabilizing apparatus tending to damp the side to side movement of the towable body.

Abstract: An end terminal is provided for an underwater electrical cable, the terminal having a booted seal and being field installable and repairable.

Abstract: Subsea pipelay is accomplished by flying the pipestring underwater with the use of wings which provide sufficient lift to maintain the pipestring off bottom as it is towed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an underwater seismic cable which has at least one tensile cable placed upstream in faired cross sectional arrangement. Located downstream of the tensile cable are placed other electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic cables and hoses, with the electrical cables being adjacent the tension cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for towing and steering a seismic subarray from onboard a tow vessel. The outboard reach of the seismic subarray, relative to the vessel, is controlled by an adjustable bridle connected to the seismic subarray, and turning of the subarray in coordination with turning of the vessel is done using both the bridle and a rudder located at the rear of the seismic subarray.

Abstract: The positions of seismic subarrays are determined using special hydrophones in a streamer cable which listen for acoustic signals generated from each seismic subarray.

Abstract: An oil containment boom system of two parallel, spaced-apart booms, with the forward boom designed to permit splashover of oil, a low pressure area between the booms functioning to retain the splashover oil.

Abstract: A connector for joining pipe ends is provided having heat expandable or contractable memory metal rods individually connecting a wedge ring and gripping wedge collet. Each ring and collet are in abutting relationship and coact to grip a pipe end.

Abstract: A pressure vessel is provided with a single use safety valve composed of a partially buckled, hollow chamber which is susceptible to further buckling at a preselected pressure. The chamber is mounted and elastomerically sealed in an opening in the vessel held in position by a support frame either interior to or exterior of the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pipeline connector which uses collected conical rings as a holding mechanism designed to penetrate a pipe surface as they are simultaneously flattened. Several rings are required to achieve the total required shear load transfer area. The penetrating rings preferably are separated by shorter, non-penetrating rings to increase the loading area, thus limiting the external pressure loading on the pipeline.

Abstract: A pressure-actuated release mechanism is assembled using a prebuckled pipe segment as a pressure-triggering mechanism. The trigger mechanism is employed to attach buoys to an offshore structure or pipeline under construction. The attached buoys move with the structure or newly added pipe string toward the sea bottom, easing the descent. As a preselected external pressure is sensed, the buckle in the pipe segment propagates and the trigger mechanism actuates, releasing buoys from the structure or pipeline as each buoy in turn reaches the same depth or pressure.

Abstract: A stable offshore platform for surface or undersea work is provided by connecting a semisubmersible trailer unit with a workboat. Preferably, two columns of the trailer are joined by a beam member or truss, and this assembly is linked to the workboat via a truss-like trailer tongue with a ball swivel joint. When in transit, the semisubmersible unit is deballasted to a shallow draft condition and towed by the workboat.

Abstract: An offshore oil spill cleanup system is provided which includes a barge arranged downstream of an oil spill to split the flow of oil to either side of the barge, two booms, each arranged on opposite sides of the barge to catch the diverted oil, and stationary skimmers working in the sheltered area behind the barge and within the booms to remove oil from the boom area to the barge. Diversionary booms are arranged upstream of the barge and chase skimming systems are located downstream of the barge and are functionable to move independently of the barge and recover any oil getting past the booms attached to the barge.

Abstract: Propagating buckle chambers, vessels or jugs are employed as in-line plugs in a pipeline. In order to test connectors before flooding the pipeline, the chambers, vessels or jugs are set to trigger at a pressure higher than test pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for positioning, aligning and interfacing a towed pipe segment to a previously installed pipe segment utilizing mating alignment sleds, one sled being attached to the trailing end of one incoming pipe segment and the other sled being attached to the leading end of the previously laid pipe segment, by connecting and drawing the alignment sleds together into a mating position and thereby aligning and connecting the two pipe segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for recovering a towed body to onboard a towing ship while the towing ship is underway. A saddle is employed in cooperation with a rudder to engage one end of the towed body and, subsequent to engagement, the saddle means is slid forward to engage the opposite end of the towed body.