Abstract: A riser installation method including the steps of providing a first vessel situated over a hydrocarbon well, supporting a hydrocarbon transfer duct from the first vessel by a first end that is attached to a lowering device on the first vessel, and attaching a second end of the hydrocarbon duct to a second vessel, at a position near the first vessel. The method also includes the steps of lowering the transfer duct, increasing the distance of the second vessel from the first vessel, pulling the transfer duct until the second vessel is near the third vessel, contacting a section of the transfer duct with the sea bed, displacing the second end of the transfer duct from the first vessel, returning the second end of the transfer duct to the mooring position, and bringing the second end of the hydrocarbon transfer duct in fluid communication with the third vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floating offshore structure anchored to the sea bed. The floating offshore structure comprises a hull having longitudinal sides and transverse sides, bow and stern anchoring points for mooring a tanker vessel alongside the offshore structure, a deck at a predetermined height above sea level, hydrocarbon storage and/or processing devices being placed on the deck, a spacer member attached to the structure and projecting transversely from the sides for contacting a tanker vessel moored alongside the structure. The anchoring points of the structure comprise of quick release members, wherein the bow and/or stern anchoring points of the structure are situated on a deck which projects transversely from the hull of the structure substantially at the heights of anchoring points of the tanker vessel.

Abstract: Method of supplying oil from a first floating structure to an offloading structure, includes providing a flexible duct extending between the two structures at a water depth of between 50 m and 500 m, the duct including a flexible elastomeric material and having an internal diameter of at least 600 mm and a length of between 1500 and 3000 m, providing at least one pump at the first structure and pumping the oil through the duct at a pressure between 5 bar and at a flow rate between 1000 and 50,000 m3/hr, providing a single flexible duct, and providing a wall thickness of the duct such that at water temperatures between 2° C. and 20° C., the oil has at the first structure an inlet temperature Tin and at the second structure an outlet temperature T0 that Tin-T0 is smaller that or equal to 15° C., preferably smaller than 5° C.

Abstract: Suction pile installation method comprising the steps of lowering a suction pile to the sea bed, while keeping a top end substantially closed providing openings in the suction pile near a lower end, the interior of the suction pile being in open fluid communication with the exterior via the openings, dropping the pile onto the sea bed, while allowing air to escape from the pile via said openings, and allowing the suction pile to penetrate into the sea bed driven substantially by its weight over such a distance that the openings become closed from the exterior, and pumping air from the suction pile for driving the pile further into the sea bed.

Abstract: Cryogenic transfer hose for hydrocarbons including an inner hose, an outer hose arranged around the inner hose in a concentric manner and a spacer member bridging an annular gap between the inner and outer hoses, a fibrous insulation material forming a three dimensional matrix of fibres being included in the annular gap, characterised in that the outer hose includes an elastomeric and/or a plastic material, the fibrous material being contiguous overall best a part of the length of the hoses with the inner and outer hose and forming a spacer member.

Abstract: A pipeline (20) that lies primarily in the sea and that is formed of multiple steel pipe sections connected in tandem at pipe joints, includes a protective coating around the pipe sections and around the pipe joints. Each pipe section is first covered, at an onshore facility, by an initial coating (30, 32) that extends along at least 80% of the pipe section length while leaving its ends uncovered, to leave gripping areas (40, 42) where the steel of the pipe is uncovered so the pipe can be clamped by tools such as those with steel jaws to position and slide it axially, or turn it, or prevent it from turning. After a pair of pipe sections are connected, a completion coating (50) is applied around the pipe joint to leave the pipeline with a coating around all of it.

Abstract: Systems are provided for obtaining electrical energy from sea waves using deflectable material, especially EAP (electro-active polymers) type SSM (stretchable synthetic material) that generates electricity when an electrostatic charge is applied to the polymer and it is stretched. In one system (10), a buoyant element (12) has upper and lower parts (14, 22) connected by a quantity (36) of SSM, with the lower part anchored at a fixed height above the sea floor (24) and with the upper part movable vertically to stretch and relax the SSM as waves pass over. In another system (50) the buoy is rigid, but is anchored to the sea floor by at least one line (60) that includes, or is connected to at least a length (64) of SSM material. In still another system (160) a plurality of rigid buoys (162) that float on the sea surface, are connected in tandem by SMM (166, 172) that is stretched and relaxed as the buoys pivot relative to each other in following the waves.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon transfer system includes a first structure having a substantially vertical first arm hingingly connected to the first structure via a first articulation around a substantially horizontal axis and a second arm attached to the first arm in an articulation joint, the second arm having a connecting arm part carrying a releasable connector for connecting to a floating second structure and a restoring arm part carrying a counterweight for exerting a restoring force on the second structure that is connected to the second arm upon relative movement of the first and second structures, characterized in that damping elements are provided above water level, acting on the second arm for damping movement of the second arm around the articulation joint upon transition of the second arm from an operative position to an inoperative position after disconnecting the releasable connector from the second structure.

Abstract: System of a hydrocarbon transfer buoy and a vessel, the buoy having a length of at least 50 m and a length-to-width ratio of at least 10:1, and including a submerged buoyancy member having a length of at least 30 m and being situated at a depth of at least 10 m below water level, another support frame protecting above water level being connected to the top of the buoyancy member and carrying a support deck and a mooring buoy connector for attaching to a mooring arm connector of the vessel, which mooring arm connector is situated on an arm projecting outboard from the vessel's hull, the buoy being anchored to the sea bed via anchor lines which extend at an angle to a vertical direction, at least one hydrocarbon riser being attached to the buoy. The buoyancy member being connected to the sea bed via at least one substantially vertical taut tendon.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon transfer system includes a first structure with a length direction and a transverse direction having a frame carrying a vertical arm with at its end a fluid connecting member for connecting to a second structure which is moored alongside the first structure. The connecting member includes a winch and first guiding elements for engaging with second guiding elements on the second structure by connecting a wire to the winch on one end an to the second structure on the other end, and a tension device for moving the vertical arm away from the second structure for tensioning the wire.

Abstract: A flexible cryogenic transfer hose for connecting two cryogenic facilities, has a length of at least 20 m, and: an inner flexible hose with at least two segments, interconnected via at least two transverse inner connecting members, an outer hose surrounding the inner hose and including a watertight elastomeric or composite material, the outer hose having at least two segments mutually connected via two outer connecting members, the outer hose having a wall thickness of at least 2 cm, a bend radius of at least 2 m, and an internal diameter of at least 20 cm, the inner hose being kept at a distance from the outer hose via spacer elements bridging a distance between the outer wall of the inner hose and an inner wall of the outer hose, which distance is between 0.1 and 0.8 times the internal diameter dio of the inner hose.

Abstract: An installation vessel has upper and lower decks (40, 50) that are vertically spaced about 3 meters apart, with most of the lower deck covered by the upper one, but with a rear portion (60) of the lower deck being uncovered. The upper deck is used primarily for storage, while the lower deck is the one used for installation of anchor chains, wires, ropes, etc. that pass from a winch (81) to a stern roller (84) at the rear of the lower deck, so dangerous conditions of chains, wires, ropes, etc. moving along a deck during installation are confined to the lower deck. A main crane (72) that lies on one side of the vessel, lies forward of the rear end of the upper deck at a location wherein the crane can reach all portions of the uncovered lower deck portion and most of the upper deck.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floating offshore structure anchored to the sea bed. The floating offshore structure comprises a hull having longitudinal sides and transverse sides, bow and stern anchoring points for mooring a tanker vessel alongside the offshore structure, a deck at a predetermined hight above sea level, hydrocarbon storage and/or processing devices being placed on the deck, a spacer member attached to the structure and projecting transversely from the sides for contacting a tanker vessel moored alongside the structure. The anchoring points of the structure comprise of quick release members, wherein the bow and/or stern anchoring points of the structure are situated on a deck which projects transversely from the hull of the structure substantially at the heights of anchoring points of the tanker vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mooring system comprising a hydrocarbon storage and/or processing unit (1) anchored to or resting on the sea bed (2) at an off shore location, and a vessel (13) moored alongside the storage and/or processing unit (1), the storage and/or processing unit (1) comprising a hull and in a front part (26) and in a rear part (25) of the unit at least one support structure (7, 7?) and with another end to a quay member (10, 10?) suspended from the suspension member with one end attached to the support structure (7, 7?) and with another end to a quay member (10, 10?) suspended from the suspension member, the quay member (10, 10?) comprising a shock-absorber contacting the vessel.

Abstract: Coupling structure includes: a first and a second pipe section each having a metal wall and a flexible pipe section interconnecting the first and second sections, a hinging support frame including a first set of arms to the first pipe section, a support ring around the flexible pipe section hingingly attached to the first set of arms, the first set of arms being pivotable around a first axis, and a second set of arms to the second pipe section and hingingly attached to the support ring, the second set of arms being pivotable around a second axis transverse to the first axis, the base ends of the first aid second set of arms are connected to the first and second pipe sections via at least one connector member extending transversely to the respective pipe section, at a predetermined distance from the pipe section metal wall, the arms extending along the respective pipe sections over a predetermined length such that a gap between the pipe section metal wall and the arm is defined over the length.

Abstract: Suction pile installation method includes the steps of lowering a suction pile to the sea bed, while keeping a top end substantially closed, providing openings in the suction pile near a lower end, the interior of the suction pile being in open fluid communication with the exterior via the openings, dropping the pile onto the sea bed, while allowing air to escape from the pile via the openings, allowing the suction pile to penetrate into the sea bed driven substantially by its weight over such a distance that the openings become closed from the exterior, and pumping air from the suction pile for driving the pile further into the sea bed.

Abstract: A cryogenic transfer system includes: a cryogenic fluid storage and/or processing structure, an off shore loading and/or offloading structure having a base and a reel element rotatable relative to the base around an axis, a transfer duct extending from the fluid storage and/or processing structure to the loading and/or offloading structure, a flexible hose windable around the reel element, connectable with a first end to the duct, and with a second end to a floating structure. The transfer duct includes a first and a second duct, each having an end part at or near the loading and/or offloading structure, the flexible hose being with the first end connectable to the end part of at least the first or the second duct. The loading and/or offloading structure includes lifting elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a subsea pipeline system for connecting two hydrocarbon production, storage and/or processing structures. The subsea pipeline has a first duct section supported on the seabed, a bridging duct section extending across a lower seabed part, at a distance from the sea bed, and a second duct section supported on the sea bed. The first and second duct sections are connected to the bridging duct section via an articulation joint allowing movement of the bridging duct section in a length direction of the first and second duct sections. A first tensioning element exerts an upward force on the bridge duct sections and a second tensioning element exerts a downward force on the bridge duct section. The first and second tensioning elements include a mutual angle to exert a horizontal pulling force on the bridging duct section.

Abstract: A riser connector connects the upper portion of a riser (12) having a latching enlargement (32) to a receptacle (14) on a vessel (16), so the riser upper end (22) can connect to a fluid coupling (42) leading to a conduit (40) on the vessel. A double-click mechanism (88), with parts on the enlargement and on the receptacle, turns a load ring on the enlargement to latch the enlargement in place when it is lifted to an upper position and lowered to a latched position, and releases it by again lifting and lowering. A cable coupling (24) is temporarily mounted on the top of the riser to enable the riser to be lifted by a cable (26), the cable coupling being later removed to connect the riser upper end to the fluid coupling on the vessel.

Abstract: A vessel for exploration of hydrocarbons includes one or more risers extending from the vessel to the seabed, a hydrocarbon processing unit connected to the one or more risers and to a storage or transport structure for storing the processed hydrocarbons. The vessel is anchored to the seabed, the vessel includes a lifting member for lowering risers vertically towards the sea bed and for connecting a riser with a first end to a subsea hydrocarbon structure, which riser includes a connector on a second end, the vessel having a connector for attaching to the riser connector and for placing the riser in fluid connection with the processing unit.