Patents Assigned to Technip
  • TOPSIDES LOAD-OUT TO BARGE CATAMARAN FOR FLOAT-OVER INSTALLATION
    Publication number: 20100221070
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and system for load-out of a topsides onto at least two float-over barges without requiring an intermediate transportation barge. The topsides and float-over barges create a catamaran system that can be used to install the topsides to an offshore structure, such as a Spar hull, using a float-over method. The load-out process offers several advantages and can be less time-consuming and less expensive than a typical procedure using the intermediate transportation barge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Michael Y.H. LUO, David EDELSON, Liyong CHEN
  • Flexible pipeline with multiple pipes protected against corrosion
    Patent number: 7784498
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Francois Dupoiron, Sébastien Jacquemin
  • System and method of utilizing monitoring data to enhance seafloor sulfide production for deepwater mining system
    Patent number: 7784201
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Chenteh Alan Yu, Yongming Cheng
  • Flexible tubular pipe with an anti-wear sheath
    Patent number: 7770603
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventor: Jean Hardy
  • Assembly of buoys for flexible submarine pipe
    Patent number: 7771245
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Sylvain Routeau, Jacques Millet
  • SPAR HULL BELLY STRAKE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION METHOD
    Publication number: 20100192829
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Michael Y. H. Luo, Harvey O. Mohr, Lixin Zhang
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANCHORING AN ELONGATE SUBSEA STRUCTURE TO A TERMINATION AND A FILLER MATERIAL THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20100196696
    Abstract: A method of anchoring one or more load carrying components of an elongate subsea structure, such as a flexible pipeline or umbilical, to a termination or end fitting, comprising the steps of: inserting said load carrying component(s) into or through a cavity or void within the termination; and filling said cavity or void with a filler material whereby said load carrying component(s) are embedded and anchored therein; wherein said filler material comprises spheroidal beads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Daniel Grayson, Christopher Jameson, Anthony Hanson
  • Stabilized flexible pipe for transporting hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 7766051
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Alain Coutarel, Fabrice Bectarte
  • PRELOADING TO REDUCE LOADS AND SAVE STEEL ON TOPSIDES AND GRILLAGE OF CATAMARAN SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20100186651
    Abstract: The present invention reduces loads and saves steel on topsides and grillage of a catamaran system by creating a lifting force from a barge to the topsides to offset a sagging bending moment of the self-weight on the topsides during transportation. The present invention can reduce the span of the supports on the topsides on the catamaran float-over barges and move the reaction forces toward inner edges of the float-over barges. The lifting force can cause a reduction of stress on the topsides' and grillage's members caused during the topside offloading and transportation. The stress reduction can result in the members withstanding the additional dynamic load caused by a catamaran system without increasing member sizes adequate for an offloading operation. The reduction results in a significant savings, given the size of a typical topsides for a Spar hull or other offshore structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventor: Michael Y.H. LUO
  • PRELOADING TO REDUCE LOADS AND SAVE STEEL ON TOPSIDES AND GRILLAGE OF CATAMARAN SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20100186650
    Abstract: The present invention reduces loads and saves steel on topsides and grillage of a catamaran system by creating a counteracting moment to offset a sagging bending moment of its self-weight on the topsides during transportation. The present invention can reduce the span of the supports on the topsides on the catamaran float-over barges and move the reaction forces toward inner edges of the float-over barges. The counteracting moment can cause a reduction of stress on the topsides' and grillage's members caused during the topside offloading and transportation. The stress reduction can result in the members withstanding the additional dynamic load caused by a catamaran system without increasing member sizes adequate for an offloading operation. The reduction results in a significant savings, given the size of a typical topsides for a Spar hull.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventor: Michael Y.H. Luo
  • Piping
    Patent number: 7749462
    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
  • Method for fabricating flexible pipe with armor tendons
    Patent number: 7716803
    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
  • Offshore oil-drilling rig and methods for installing same on an offshore oil-drilling site
    Patent number: 7690866
    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
  • Deep sea mining riser and lift system
    Patent number: 7690135
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Chenteh Alan Yu, Robert Schoenberg
  • Seal assembly for dividing an annular space in a double-walled pipeline
    Patent number: 7677579
    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
    Inventor: Michael Antoine Joseph Caroline Bell
  • Assembly and method for installation of an underwater structure
    Patent number: 7674075
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Didier Renard, Sylvain Routeau
  • System and method for installing a subsea pipeline
    Patent number: 7654773
    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
  • Method for processing a stream of LNG obtained by means of cooling using a first refrigeration cycle and associated installation
    Patent number: 7628035
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventor: Henri Paradowski
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD OF UTILIZING MONITORING DATA TO ENHANCE SEAFLOOR SULFIDE PRODUCTION FOR DEEPWATER MINING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20090284068
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Chenteh Alan YU, Yongming CHENG
  • Method for making a plated steel armouring wire for a flexible tubular pipe transporting hydrocarbons, and armoured pipe
    Patent number: 7615124
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Francois Dupoiron, Philippe Espinasse