Abstract: A spar-type offshore platform includes a buoyant upper hull structure having a lower end to which is detachably connected a buoyant lower module. A plurality of mooring line assemblies is connected to the lower module, the total weight of the mooring line assemblies being sufficient to sink the lower module. A method of separating the upper hull structure from the lower module includes disconnecting the lower module from the lower end of the upper hull structure, and then allowing the weight of the mooring line assemblies to sink the lower module.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 2008
Date of Patent:
December 7, 2010
Assignee:
Technip France
Inventors:
Manoj Ramachandran, James O'Sullivan, Anil Sablok, Jang W. Kim
Abstract: A curvature limiter for a hydrocarbon transferring subsea system comprising a flexible tubular member through which an intermediate portion of the flexible hydrocarbon pipe passes. The flexible tubular member has a plurality of successive, substantially cylindrical sections which are hingedly mounted with respect to each other. At a predetermined maximum displacement thereof, the tubular member defining a mean plane in such a way that the flexible tubular member forms a mean curvature having the predetermined curvature radius of this mean plane.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 27, 2006
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2010
Assignee:
Technip France
Inventors:
Roberto Jourdan De Aquino, Jean Paul Ferraz, Fred Laaf, Carlos Silveira, Mario A. Vignoles
Abstract: Applicants have created a method and system of deep sea mining comprising mining SMS deposits from the sea floor with a subsea miner, pumping the solids from the subsea miner through a jumper and pumping the solids from the jumper up a riser to a surface vessel. Further, applicants have created a method of deploying a deep sea mining system, comprising stacking a riser hangoff structure on top of a subsea pump module forming an assembly; picking up the assembly by a hanging mechanism, hanging the assembly on a moon pool, attaching a first riser joint; disconnecting the riser hangoff structure from the assembly; and attaching at least one second riser joint to form the riser.
Abstract: A flexible pipeline with multiple pipes, adapted for hydrocarbon transport, the pipeline comprising a flexible core element inside which flows hydrocarbon, an outer sheath around the flexible core element and at least one peripheral steel alloy pipe extending longitudinally in an annular space located between the outer sheath and the flexible core element, the annular space further comprising metal elements in contact with an aqueous medium containing oxygen and the metal elements is susceptible to being oxidized by fixing oxygen. The oxidizable metal elements and is peripheral pipe are maintained mutually spaced apart to be electrically decoupled.
Abstract: A flexible tubular conduit for transporting hydrocarbons comprising at least two metal sheathing covers which are separated by a plastic anti-wear layer. Each cover is produced by helically winding a metal longitudinal element. The anti-wear layer is produced by helically winding a plastic material strip. The plastic material comprises an amorphous polymer with a glass transition temperature ranging from 175 to 255° C.
Abstract: An assembly of support buoys for a flexible submarine pipeline which is designed for the transport of hydrocarbons. A plurality of buoys which can be installed gradually on at least one portion of the flexible submarine pipeline. A fixing device blocks translational movement of the buoys on the portion of the pipeline. The fixing device includes a hitching or coupling line which connects each of the buoys successively to one another. The translational movement of each of the buoys is gradually blocked on the coupling line. Connecting devices maintain the coupling line taut at locations along the portion of the pipeline.
Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible pipe for transporting hydrocarbons, comprising the following, from the inside towards the outside: a cylindrical structural set adapted in such a way that it can withstand radial stress and at least one first armure lap, said first armure lap comprising a plurality of armure threads wherein the armure threads consist of formed and flattened metal threads, the width of said armure I being greater than the thickness e when they are wound in parallel in the form of a spiral with a longitudinal pitch around the structure set, said threads forming an angle of less than 60° angle with the generators (G) of said structural set, and the width/thickness ratio of the armure threads is greater than 4.
Abstract: The invention relates to piping for use as a pyrolysis tube in a cracking furnace. The tube is formed such that it has at least one section whose centreline curves in three dimensions, to induce swirl flow in the tube. Preferably, the tube is formed as a helix, more preferably a low-amplitude helix.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2007
Date of Patent:
July 6, 2010
Assignee:
Technip France S.A.S.
Inventors:
Colin G. Caro, Philip L. Birch, William Tallis
Abstract: A method of fabricating a flexible pipe for conveyance of fluid, comprising: winding at least one metal element in a short pitch helix around an inner sealing sheath for withstanding radial forces in the inner sealing sheath; preshaping a metal strip to form at least one ply of tensile armor tendons; winding the ply of tensile armor tendons in a long pitch helix around the at least one metal element; and applying an external protective sealing sheath around the at least one ply of tensile armor tendons.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 18, 2010
Assignee:
Technip France
Inventors:
Alain Coutarel, Francois Dupoiron, Philippe Francois Espinasse
Abstract: An offshore oil-drilling rig comprising a deck mounted mobile on legs, each leg including a support base on the sea floor and a caisson open at its base and designed to penetrate into the sea floor. Each caisson is arranged inside the leg and is mobile along the axis of the leg between a retracted upper position and a projecting lower position at which it is anchored on the sea floor. The invention also concerns methods for installing such a rig on an oil-drilling site.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 26, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 6, 2010
Assignee:
Technip France
Inventors:
Pierre-Armand Thomas, Nicolas Tcherniguin
Abstract: Applicants have created a method and system of deep sea mining comprising mining SMS deposits from the sea floor with a subsea miner, pumping the solids from the subsea miner through a jumper and pumping the solids from the jumper up a riser to a surface vessel. Further, applicants have created a method of deploying a deep sea mining system, comprising stacking a riser hangoff structure on top of a subsea pump module forming an assembly; picking up the assembly by a hanging mechanism, hanging the assembly on a moon pool, attaching a first riser joint; disconnecting the riser hangoff structure from the assembly; and attaching at least one second riser joint to form the riser.
Abstract: A seal assembly for dividing an annular space defined between an inner and an outer pipe in a double-walled pipeline. The seal assembly comprises an annular member fitted within the annular space and at least one longitudinal conveyor passing through the annular member, wherein the longitudinal conveyor communicates with the annular space on either side of the seal assembly. The longitudinal conveyor may comprise for example an electrical conductor or an optical fiber.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 2003
Date of Patent:
March 16, 2010
Assignees:
Technip France SA, Technip Offshore UK Limited
Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly for installation of an underwater structure on the sea floor, said sea floor being covered with particles capable of being driven in suspension in the water above said sea floor, the mounting of said underwater installation capable of being implemented by an underwater robot driven by propulsion means, said propulsion means being capable of displacing the sea floor water and said suspended particles around said installation; said assembly comprising means (22, 26) for covering said sea floor surrounding said installation with a protective blanket (10) adapted to confine said particles on said sea floor.
Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method for installing subsea equipment, such as a pipeline and equipment associated therewith in a target area, generally having restricted overhead access. An anchor can be installed in the seabed and can include one or more sheaves. A pipeline can be provided, which can include related equipment and/or one or more coupling devices situated remotely from the anchor relative to the target area. A winch wire can be provided and is adapted to be directly or indirectly coupled across at least a portion of the target area to the pipeline. A transfer sling having a pull wire and an initiation wire can be coupled between the winch wire and pipeline to assist the winch wire pulling the pipeline into the target area and transferring a pipeline force from the sheave to the anchor independent of the sheave.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 20, 2007
Date of Patent:
February 2, 2010
Assignee:
Technip France
Inventors:
Antoine Bastard, Kevin Legris, Julie LePocreau
Abstract: In this method, the LNG stream is cooled using a refrigerating fluid in a first heat-exchanger. The refrigerating fluid is subjected to a second semi-open refrigeration cycle which is independent of the first cycle. The method comprises a step for introducing the stream of sub-cooled LNG into a distillation column and a step for recovering a stream of gas at the top of the column. The second refrigeration cycle comprises a step for forming a stream of refrigerating fluid from a portion of the top stream of gas, a step for compressing the stream of refrigerating fluid to a high pressure, then a step for expanding a portion of the stream of compressed refrigerating fluid in order to form a substantially liquid sub-cooling stream. The substantially liquid stream is evaporated in the first heat-exchanger.
Abstract: A process for manufacturing plated-steel armor wires intended for reinforcement of flexible tubular pipes for transporting hydrocarbons, comprising a plating coating is intimately bonded, by high pressure, to a core made of hardenable steel with moderate mechanical properties, and then the plated wire obtained undergoes a rapid high-temperature hardening step followed by a tempering step.
Abstract: A method and an installation for loading and unloading compressed natural gas on ships, said ships being suitable for sea navigation and the ships having receivers. The compressed natural gas is storable in tubes, installed on the receivers. The installation comprises fixed containers for housing tubes, supports for holding a container supported above the sea surface at a given height, devices operable for lowering the receivers, such as to carry each receiver below a fixed container and to lift the receivers so as to lift the fixed container above the given height to support the containers on the receivers.
Abstract: A method and a device for installing a sub-sea riser for an offshore operation, between a base installation disposed on the sea bed and a sea installation protruding above the base installation. The sub-sea riser is provided with a first end and a second end. The method comprises the following stages in the following order: a) the first end of the riser is joined to the sea installation; b) the sub-sea riser is deployed; c) the second end of the riser is guided towards the base installation; d) the second end is coupled to the base installation by releasing the second end and the efforts of the recoil force exerted on the base installation are transferred; e) the second end and the base installation are connected to each other.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 27, 2004
Date of Patent:
October 13, 2009
Assignee:
Technip France
Inventors:
Sylvain Routeau, Ludwig Gross, Didier Renard
Abstract: A stiffener fixation assembly fixed to the outer cover of a flexible tube, the flexible tube being in contact with a stiffener in an I-tube, at the end of which a bell mouth may be fixed, whereby the stiffener fixation assembly is located between the outer surface of the flexible tube and the inner wall of a centralizer and comprises rotary pieces that are axially movable with respect to the inner wall of the I-tube and capable of eliminating the relative movement between the flexible tube and the stiffener.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 31, 2004
Date of Patent:
August 18, 2009
Assignee:
Technip France
Inventors:
Gaspar Cunha Xavier, Fred Laaf, Luiz Antonio De Araujo Duvivier de Albuquerque Mello, Jucimar Coelho Moza
Abstract: The invention concerns a device for upper connection connecting two terminal endpieces (9, 10) of two submarine fluid transporting pipelines (2, 4) used in offshore hydrocarbon exploitation, a riser supported by at least one buoyant element (6) and a second pipe connecting the riser to a production and/or storage installation located at the surface, the device comprising an intermediate linking pipe (8) mounted mobile relative to the terminal endpieces of the riser and the second pipe between an operational position wherein it is connected at its two ends to said endpieces of the riser (2) and the second pipe (4) and an intervening position wherein its ends are disconnected from said endpieces (9, 10).