Abstract: The disclosure provides an installation method to safely and routinely deploy the flexible pipe below the water, utilizing supporting equipment without damage between a flexible pipe and intended connections. In addition, the method of connection and pull down can maintain control of the flexible pipe subsea throughout the method with limited or no surface intervention. This installation method reduces risk of damage to the flexible pipe and the connection elements during the installation and provides a safety redundancy as the connector approaches in a subsea connection in at least one embodiment. The method utilizes combinations of buoyancy elements, hand-off sequences, and pull down equipment, such as subsea winches and wire rope, to accomplish such connections with limited or no surface intervention.

Abstract: A suction pile comprising a cylindrical wall and a piston that is movable inside the cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall has one suction end suitable for sinking into an ocean floor. The piston delimits two chambers, one being able to be filled with water. The suction pile includes a pump for extracting the water from the one chamber and for causing the sinking of the suction end. The pump comprises a device for stopping the piston while the cylindrical wall has one water intake end to allow water to enter into the other chamber. The piston is alternatively stopped and driven in movement as the suction end sinks.

Abstract: A tensioner system for a top-tensioned riser in a floating platform includes a hydro-pneumatic tensioner assembly resiliently mounted to the floating platform, and a riser support conductor surrounding the riser coaxially, wherein the support conductor conveys a pull-type tensional force from the hydro-pneumatic tensioner assembly to the riser through a riser conductor coupling assembly that engages the tensioner assembly and the riser support conductor to convey the tensional force. A riser tension joint support assembly conveys the tensional force from the riser support conductor to a riser tension joint on the riser. The tensioner assembly compensates for relative platform motion including pitch, heave, and yaw. Also a reactive load assembly is mounted to the platform and reacts to a two-point dynamic bending moment imposed on the riser support conductor, while resisting riser support conductor rotation.

Abstract: A method and an installation for connecting a rigid submarine pipe and a flexible submarine pipe. The rigid pipe terminates in a free connection end. The flexible pipe has a flow-line portion and a suspended portion. The flow-line portion has an input end connected to the free connection end. The installation comprises an anchoring device to hold the flow-line portion anchored at an anchor point and to allow the flow-line portion to form an undulation. The anchoring device is suitable for holding the anchor point at a distance and close to the free connection end to form the undulation between the anchor point and the free connection end.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and system of a deep-draft semi-submersible hydrocarbon, such as for liquefied natural gas (LNG), floating production and storage vessel that can include a pontoon containing hydrocarbon tanks, fixed ballast at the bottom in a double-bottom portion, and segregated ballasted tanks with variable ballast located generally above the fixed ballast portion that can assist in keeping the pontoon submerged during various storage levels. Multiple vertical columnar supports can penetrate the pontoon from top to bottom and extend above the water surface to support a deck, including various topside structures. An intermediate double-deck on the top of the pontoon can provide access to the tanks, for example, through the vertical columnar supports. The double bottom structure, deck, and vertical columnar supports can provide overall structural integrity.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a tension leg platform (“TLP”) with a plurality of buoyant pontoons suitable for highly disturbed seas that can expand the stability of the tension leg platform by extending at least one buoyant pontoon beyond an intersection of two pontoons. In at least one embodiment, the location of the column can be decoupled from the customary end of the pontoon. The tendons can be located at the ends of the pontoons extending beyond the intersection. In some embodiments, such as four-column TLPs, the pontoons can be extended orthogonally relative to an adjacent pontoon. The extending pontoon increases a buoyancy of the pontoon, increases a pitch stability of the TLP, and increases quayside stability. The extended pontoon can be structurally intersected with the adjacent pontoon to strengthen the extended pontoon and reduce the failure mode of such structure.

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).

Abstract: A cracking furnace having a firebox provided with cracking coils is described. The cracking coils have at least one inlet, at least one inlet section, at least one outlet and at least one outlet section, and burners, and the parts of the coils are shielded. A process for cracking hydrocarbon feeds, and making use of a furnace with the thermal shielding are also described.

Abstract: An installation for and a method for driving a submarine pipeline scraper, wherein one of the ends of the pipeline has a launch device and the other end has a receiving device. The scraper defines an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber. It can be launched inside the pipeline from the launch device in the direction of the receiving device, allowing water to enter through the launch device in order to subject the upstream chamber to hydrostatic pressure. The receiving device is identical to the launch device, such that water can enter through the receiving device in order to balance the pressure of the two chambers, and also enables a fluid to be injected into the downstream chamber to drive the scraper toward the launch device.

Abstract: A flowline for hydrocarbon which is capable of being reeled and which is unreeled for being laid on the seabed using the reeled lay method is comprised of successive pipe sections having opposing ends which are joined by an anchor collar that is butt welded to the opposing ends. The pipe sections have a jacket on the exterior of the pipe sections, but the pipe sections are able to be reeled. Anchor collars are affixed by butt welding between the ends of adjacent pipe sections. Each anchor collar has a fixture or protrusion radially outward which has an outer diameter less than or at least not more than the outer diameter of the pipe section jacket. The flowline has the same inner diameter at the pipe sections and the collar, and the pipe has the same outer diameter as the collar, while the protrusion protrudes outward from the exterior of the collar.

Abstract: A pipe stalk for a pipe-in-pipe pipeline, said pipe stalk including an outer pipe and at least one inner pipe located within the outer pipe, and having retaining assembly moveable between a first configuration for preventing axial movement of the inner pipe with respect to the outer pipe in a downwards direction and a second configuration for allowing axial movement of the outer pipe with respect to the inner pipe, whereby axial movement of the inner pipe with respect to the outer pipe can be prevented when the outer pipe is held during welding to an adjacent pipe stalk. CAPEX and OPEX are reduced by reducing the time taken to join the ends of adjacent pipes and reducing the total number of welds required, and by avoiding the need for the use of half shells.

Abstract: A complementary locking system for locking legs to the deck of a jack-up offshore drilling platform is disabled. The system includes at each leg, at least one assembly comprising plates forming two counter-racks that engage with a leg rack and, on one side of the plates, at least one internal element for connecting the internal edges of the plates, at least one external element for connecting the external edges of the plates and at least one intermediate member for connecting said at least one internal element to said at least one external element. Methods of installing said complementary locking system on the legs of a jack-up offshore drilling platform are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved design for a pull tube sleeved stress joint and associated pull tube for managing stresses on a catenary riser for a floating offshore structure. The pull tube sleeve stress joint includes at least one sleeve surrounding a length of the pull tube with an annular gap between the sleeve and pull tube and a link ring therebetween. For embodiments having a plurality of sleeves, a first sleeve can be spaced by an annular first gap from the pull tube and coupled thereto with a first ring between the pull tube and the first sleeve, and a second sleeve can be spaced by an annular second gap from the first sleeve and coupled thereto with a second ring between the first sleeve and the second sleeve. Both pull tube and sleeves can be made with regular pipe segments welded together with regular girth welds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible tubular duct for transporting gases under high pressure in the field of offshore oil exploitation. The duct is of the unlinked and smooth passageway type, and comprises from inside to outside an inner polymer tube, a pressure vault formed by the short-pitch rolling of at least one wire, a first inner pair of crossed traction armor plies, an intermediate polymer sleeve, a second outer pair of crossed traction armor plies and an outer polymer sleeve. The inner pair of traction armor plies is wound with a helical angle of less than 35° and the outer pair of traction armor plies is wound with a helical angle substantially equal to 55°.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an efficient system to obtain a pile from a storage location on a vessel and shift the pile across the vessel without significant rotation of the pile. The pile can be transferred into an assembly that can lower the pile and launch the pile. The disclosure provides a method of translating and launching a pile for a marine application, comprising: storing at least a first pile on a rack located on a vessel; transporting the pile to an installation site; lifting the pile from the rack with a cart; supporting the pile on the cart; shifting the cart and the pile to a launch arm assembly; transferring the pile from the cart to a first portion of the launch arm assembly adjacent a side of the vessel; lowering the first portion with the pile; and releasing the pile from the first portion into a marine environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved method and system for loading a topsides onto an offshore structure by functional modules. A module support frame forms a supporting structure to which production modules can be assembled. The production modules are adapted to extract or process hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon well in an offshore location. One production module is a well bay production module to which other production modules can be coupled, including a drilling support production module, separation production module, export module, and utility module. The module support frame can be loaded onto floating barges and other modules assembled thereto to allow the barges to provide incremental and controlled support during the loading process and for the floatover installation. The barges can be floated out to the offshore structure and loaded onto the offshore structure by methods including a floatover method or with a heavy-lift crane vessel.

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.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a subsea overload release system and method. The disclosure provides a releasable connection system than can be overridden during an overload condition, and is resettable in a subsea location in situ. During normal operation, a collet sleeve is slidably engageable with a collet having one or more fingers that can releasably couple a first member with a second member. During an overload condition, an overload piston acting on fluid in an overload reservoir causes an overload pressure and a rupture or other release of fluid through an overload pressure member, causing the overload reservoir to at least partially collapse. The collapse allows the system to extend and force open the fingers to disengage the second member from the first member. When the overload symptom is rectified, the overload reservoir can be reset and the overload pressure member reset or replaced without requiring repairs above sea surface.

Abstract: A process for producing a hydrogen-containing product gas by catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reforming with an overall steam-to-carbon molar ratio between 1.5 and 2.4 for the process. The process stream is reacted in at least two prereformers prior to reaction in catalyst-containing tubes in a top-fired reformer furnace. The process stream is reacted adiabatically in the first prereformer, while the process stream is heated prior to being introduced into the second prereformer and/or the second prereformer is heated. The process avoids carbon formation on the catalyst in the catalyst-containing tubes in the primary reformer.

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.