Abstract: This installation comprises an upper structure (12), and a flexible hose (16) capable of moving through the expanse of water (11 B) between an upper connected configuration and a lower disconnected configuration. The installation comprises a lower structure (14) having a base (60) extending at a distance from the bottom (11A) of the expanse of water (11 B). The upper structure (12) is capable of moving relative to the lower structure (14) between an extraction position and an evacuation position. The base (60) defines a passage (68) for travel of the flexible hose (16) as it moves between the upper connected configuration and the lower disconnected configuration and a stop (74) for retaining a connection head (92) of the hose (14), disposed in the travel passage (68), to keep the connection head (92) at a distance from the bottom (11A) of the expanse of water (11 B) in the lower disconnected configuration.

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: Methods of reel-laying a mechanically lined pipe (MLP) are described. These include the steps of: spooling the MLP (12) onto a reel (10) in the complete or substantial absence of internal pressure above ambient pressure in the MLP; spooling off the MLP from the reel; aligning and straightening the spooled off MLP, in the complete or substantial absence of internal pressure above ambient pressure, to provide an MLP for laying; and/or the steps of: spooling the MLP (12) onto a reel (10) resulting in the formation of wrinkles in the spooled MLP; spooling off the MLP from the reel; aligning and straightening the unspooled MLP to provide an MLP for laying having wrinkles <4 mm high, removing wrinkles, if any, while performing the hydrotest which is used to check fluid tightness of the line.

Abstract: The present invention increases the heave resistance rate of a barge system from wave motion, as the system is used to install a topsides to offshore structures. One or more heave plates can be coupled at a location below the water surface to one or more barges to change the period of motion of the barge(s) relative to the period of wave motion to better stabilize the barge(s) and resist the heave. A heave plate can be coupled between the barges, or on end(s) or side(s) of the barge(s). In at least another embodiment, each barge can have a heave plate and the heave plates can be releasably coupled to each other. Further, the heave plate can be rotated to an upward orientation during transportation of the topsides to the installation site to reduce drag, and then rotated to a submerged position during the installation of the topsides.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an installation (10) that includes a floating top structure (20) and a fully submerged bottom structure (22). The top structure is mobile between a production position and an evacuation position. The installation (10) retains the top structure (20) in its production position which includes at least one rigid rod (90) carried by the top structure (20), at least one rod abutment (92) carried by the rigid rod (90) in the vicinity of its lower end and at least one complementary abutment (94) secured to a base (60) of the bottom structure (22). Each rod abutment (92) and each complementary abutment (94) are mobile in rotation relative to one another between an engaged configuration in which urging of the rigid rod (90) towards its top position (20) retains the top structure in its production position, and a disengaged configuration releasing the top structure (20) from the bottom structure (22).

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: The disclosure provides a method and system of installing subsea well trees, comprising: creating a glory hole having a depth below a seabed at a well location of a hydrocarbon reservoir; moving a floating offshore platform coupled with a foundation, the platform having a topsides and a caisson with downwardly extending walls defining an inner volume between the walls, the foundation coupled to the caisson walls, and the caisson walls having adjustable buoyancy; lowering the offshore platform with the foundation into the glory hole; drilling from the topsides into the hydrocarbon reservoir below the foundation to create a well; installing a well tree on the well, the well tree being disposed in the glory hole below the height of the seabed; coupling the well tree to a flow line; releasing the offshore platform from the foundation; and reusing the offshore platform to install other foundations at other predetermined well locations.

Abstract: An umbilical for deep water applications, which includes a plurality of power cables and other elements bundled together within a sheath. The umbilical further includes an end termination at some or all of the power cables, the termination including a resin ferrule disposed around the cable to provide a connection between the cable and an installation to which the umbilical is connected.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus to be mounted on a vessel for laying a marine pipeline having accessories on the end of the pipeline and/or at one or more intermediate locations along the pipeline, the apparatus including a launch ramp having a guide for guiding and controlling the movement of a pipeline along a pipeline firing line in the direction of the seabed, a clamp downstream of the guide for selectively clamping and supporting the launched pipeline, wherein the launch ramp is provided with an opening downstream of the guide and upstream of the clamp for passage of an accessory between a storage position and an installation location in the pipeline firing line to allow the accessory to be connected to an end of the pipeline supported by the clamp.

Abstract: A method of spooling a marine pipeline (90) including a plurality of bi-metallic pipe sections (10) (66) onto a reel (60) including at least the steps of: (a) filling a first pipe section with a fluid (12); (b) spooling the first pipe section onto the reel; (c) filling a second pipe section with a fluid (78); (d) joining the first pipe section with the second pipe section wherein at least one of the first and second pipe sections maintains the fluid (12,78) therein; and (e) spooling the second pipe section onto the reel.

Abstract: An umbilical for use, for example, in deep water applications includes a plurality of power cables and may include other elements bundled together and within a sheath. An end termination at each of the power cables or at a plurality of the power cables includes a resin ferrule around the cable at the end termination and provides a connection between the cable and an installation to which the umbilical is connected.

Abstract: A spar hull for a floating vessel can include a hard tank having a belly portion, a fixed strake coupled to the outer surface of the tank and a folding strake coupled to the belly portion of the tank, the folding strake having one or more strake panels and one or more support frames. A method for installing folding belly strakes on a spar hull may include providing a floating spar hull having a hard tank with a belly side, rotating the spar so that the belly side is in a first workable position, coupling at least one folding strake to the belly side of the spar, and coupling the strake in a folded position for transport. The method may include positioning the spar hull offshore in a transport position, upending the spar hull, unfolding the strake, fixing the strake in the unfolded position and installing the spar hull.

Abstract: A facility for producing and processing fluids, including a boat with a system for rotatable single-point mooring via a turret pivotably mounted in a shaft which extends vertically through the hull of the boat. The turret includes an upper portion having a rotary device for receiving and supporting incoming fluid-transfer pipes, and an upper bearing, smaller in diameter than the shaft, positioned between a head portion of the upper portion of the turret and a supporting structure connected to the hull of the vessel. The upper bearing of the turret is located above the rotary device for receiving and supporting the incoming fluid-transfer pipes.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a semi-submersible offshore platform with columns having an enlarged base on the bottom of each column with pontoons coupled between the columns. The enlarged column base can be at least as high as a height of the pontoon and on at least embodiment can be about 50% of the draft of the platform. The enlarged base can change a current flow shape around the base and columns for lower VIM. An outside corner of the base can be trimmed at an angle. Alternatively, the lower portions of the columns can be extended horizontally outward to form an effectively enlarged base having similar characteristics. In some embodiments, the pontoon volume can be reduced inversely proportional to the base enlargement to have comparable total buoyancy.

Abstract: A method and a facility for manufacturing rigid tubular pipes having a double casing for hydrocarbon transport. The pipes include an inner rigid tube (42, 242, 342, 442) that is inserted into an outer rigid tube (16, 216, 316, 416). The facility includes a supporting frame (12, 212, 312, 412) for an inlet end of the outer rigid tube and a movable apron (22, 222, 322, 422). The apron includes a catch (38, 238, 338, 438) for catching the rigid tube and inserting it in the outer rigid tube. The apron includes storage members (68, 268, 368, 468) for receiving stored heating cables (69, 269, 369, 469) and the driving force of the apron makes it possible to deploy a portion having the length of the stored heating cables (69, 269, 369, 469) so as to be able to apply the deployed portion, having the length of the heating cables, along the inner rigid tube (42, 242, 342, 442).

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and system of coupling end-to-end at least two existing mooring lines (12A, 12B) that are already deployed from the floating platform (56) to the seabed or other connecting structure to create a single shared line from the two lines. The shared lines then form a single looped line with both ends deployed to the subsea connections. The shared length provides enough payout of line to loosen one line sufficiently, while the other line becomes correspondingly tighter using the catenary length of the tight line. In part, the line can be loosened while the other is tightened because the lines are generally in the same overall direction to the seabed, such as in a same quadrant around the platform. Thus, the lines share their available lengths to provide the necessary payout for the repairs.

Abstract: A device for transporting and placing a bridge (1) of an offshore oil rig onto a floating or stationary mounting structure (3). The device has two parallel floating barges (10) for mounting the bridge (1). Each barge has a set of vertical movement rams (11) that move the bridge between a position of bearing on the barges (10) and a position of bearing on the structure (3). Each barge (10) has at least one assembly (15) for controlling the roll of each barge (10) in relation to the bridge (1) during the placement of the bridge onto the mounting structure (3). The assembly includes at least two rams (16) that are carried by the barge (10) and are located on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the barge (10). Each ram (16) is connected to the bridge (1) by a connecting member (17) that has rigid pull and flexible compression.

Abstract: This method comprises cooling the feed natural gas in a first heat exchanger and introducing the cooled, feed natural gas into a first separation flask. It comprises the dynamic expansion of a turbine supply flow in a first expansion turbine and introducing the expanded flow into a separation column. This method comprises removing, at the head of the separation column, a head flow rich in methane and removing a first recirculation flow from the compressed head flow rich in methane. The method comprises forming at least a second recirculation flow obtained from the head flow rich in methane downstream of the separation column and forming a dynamic expansion flow from the second recirculation flow.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a flexible underwater pipe intended for transporting fluids, notably hydrocarbons, comprising at least one layer comprising a polymeric resin comprising at least one polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane chemically bound to the polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a riser pipe installation that comprises a flexible duct of the non-bound type, the duct being vertically arranged between a mechanical connection with a submerged buoy at the stub on the one hand, and a mechanical connection with the seabed at the bottom on the other hand, wherein fluid connections are provided at the stub and at the bottom for connecting the riser pipe with surface equipment on the one hand and bottom equipment on the other hand; the bottom of the pipe is located at a depth of at least 1000 m where it is submitted to a computable maximum reverse bottom effect F, while the buoy is oversized in order to generate at the bottom of the riser pipe a reaction tension T higher than at least 50% or even 100% of the computable maximum reverse bottom effect F applied at the bottom of the pipe.