EP2640923B1 - Tower for exploiting fluid in an expanse of water and associated installation method - Google Patents

Tower for exploiting fluid in an expanse of water and associated installation method Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2640923B1
EP2640923B1 EP11796754.7A EP11796754A EP2640923B1 EP 2640923 B1 EP2640923 B1 EP 2640923B1 EP 11796754 A EP11796754 A EP 11796754A EP 2640923 B1 EP2640923 B1 EP 2640923B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
section
buoy
passage
water
intermediate section
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP11796754.7A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2640923A1 (en
Inventor
Ange Luppi
Gilles Cousin
Romain Vivet
René Maloberti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Technip Energies France SAS
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Technip France SAS
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Publication date
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Publication of EP2640923A1 publication Critical patent/EP2640923A1/en
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Publication of EP2640923B1 publication Critical patent/EP2640923B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/01—Risers
    • E21B17/012—Risers with buoyancy elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
    • B63B27/24—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of pipe-lines
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/01—Risers
    • E21B17/015—Non-vertical risers, e.g. articulated or catenary-type
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
    • E21B43/0107—Connecting of flow lines to offshore structures

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a fluid exploitation tower according to the preamble of claim 1:
  • Such towers are intended to convey fluid produced in the bottom of a body of water to the surface, across the body of water.
  • This fluid consists in particular of liquid and / or gaseous hydrocarbons and water collected in production wells formed in the bottom of the body of water.
  • Such a tower generally comprises a lower connecting pipe to the production assembly disposed on the bottom of the body of water, a substantially vertical riser, a buoy holding the riser in its upright position, and an anchor element of a lower point of the riser.
  • the tower further includes a flexible upper link pipe connecting the riser to a floating surface assembly.
  • the hydrocarbons produced by the bottom assembly are conveyed successively through the lower connecting pipe, the riser and the upper connecting pipe to a surface assembly such as a ship, a platform or a barge, where they can be recovered or transported.
  • This type of tower has a relatively simple structure, since its holding in vertical position is ensured exclusively by the anchoring element in the bottom of the expanse of water, and by the tension generated by the buoyancy of the buoy connected to the upper point of the riser.
  • a tower of the aforementioned type is for example described in GB 2,024,766 .
  • the upper flexible pipe is generally connected to the riser via a gooseneck-shaped connection section.
  • This connection is made in the body of water after installation and immersion of the buoy, which makes connection operations very complex.
  • An object of the invention is therefore to obtain a fluid transport tower through a body of water, simple structure, easy to install, especially in great depths, or when the body of water is agitated.
  • the subject of the invention is a tower according to claim 1.
  • the subject of the invention is also a process according to claim 10
  • the method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the features of claims 11 to 14
  • upstream and downstream refer to the normal direction of circulation of a fluid in a pipe.
  • a first fluid operating installation 10 in a body of water 12, installed by an implementation method according to the invention, is shown schematically on the Figure 1 .
  • This installation is intended to convey a fluid collected in the bottom 14 of the body of water 12 to the surface 16 of the body of water.
  • the collected fluid is for example a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon from a well (not shown) formed in the bottom 14 of the body of water.
  • the body of water 12 is a lake, a sea or an ocean.
  • the depth of the water extent 12, taken between the surface 16 and the bottom 14 opposite the installation 10 is greater than 30 m and is for example between 30 m and 3500 m.
  • the installation 10 comprises a fluid production assembly 18 situated on the bottom of the body of water, hereinafter referred to as the "bottom assembly", a first tower 20 according to the invention, and a surface assembly 22 intended to recover and store the fluid collected in the production assembly 18 conveyed through the tower 20.
  • the bottom assembly 18 comprises for example at least one wellhead and / or a production line (not shown) located on the bottom 14 of the body of water.
  • the surface assembly 22 is a floating assembly. It is for example formed by a ship, a barge, a floating platform, or a floating unit for the recovery, storage and treatment of hydrocarbons, designated by the acronym "FPSO”.
  • the surface assembly is alternatively a floating storage and regasification unit designated by the acronym "FSRU”.
  • the surface assembly 22 floats on the body of water in the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18.
  • the tower 20 comprises a fluid transport pipe 24 connecting the bottom assembly 18 to the surface assembly 22, an anchoring element 25 of the pipe 24, fixed in an anchoring region on the bottom 14, and a buoy 26 for holding under tension at least one intermediate section of the transport pipe 24 in a substantially vertical configuration in the body of water 12.
  • the transport pipe 24 comprises, from bottom to top on the Figure 1 , a lower section 28 for connection to the bottom assembly 18, an intermediate section formed by a substantially vertical riser 30, a connection section 32 and an upper section 34 for connection to the surface assembly 22.
  • the transport pipe 24 is flexible over substantially its entire length, taken between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22, with the possible exception of the connecting section 32.
  • the lower section 28 is formed for example by a lower connecting hose 36 extending in a bent or inclined manner with respect to the bottom 14 of the body of water 12.
  • the lower hose 36 is connected upstream to the assembly of bottom 18, and is connected downstream to the riser 30.
  • the riser 30 extends substantially vertically along a vertical axis AA 'in the body of water 12, between a lower upstream point 38, connected to the anchoring element 25 and an upper downstream point 40, connected to the buoy 26.
  • the riser 30 is formed by a flexible pipe 41 over substantially its entire length.
  • the flexible pipe 41 may be a "bundle" type composite bundle comprising at least one fluid transport tube and a set of electrical or optical cables suitable for transporting electrical or hydraulic power, or information between the bottom 14 and the surface 16 of the body of water
  • a flexible pipe has a relatively small minimum bending radius ("MBR" or "bending radius”), for example a few meters, which makes it particularly suitable for being wound and unrolled in a reversible manner without deformation.
  • MRR minimum bending radius
  • the length of the riser 30, taken between the upper point 40 and the lower point 38 is greater than 20 m and is for example between 500 m and 3500 m.
  • connection means on the connection section 32 are for example formed by a connection flange intended to be fixed on a corresponding flange of the section 32.
  • the riser 30 is provided, in the vicinity of the downstream point 40, with a first guide member 42A from the upstream point in the buoy 26 and advantageously with a first stiffener 42B intended to prevent excessive torsion of the riser 30 during his commitment through the buoy 26.
  • the guide member 42A is mounted around the riser 30. It is formed for example by at least one vertebra fixed around the flexible pipe 41 forming the riser 30.
  • the stiffener 42B is releasably fixed around the flexible pipe 41 forming the riser 30. As will be seen below, it is adapted to engage the buoy 26 and to allow the sliding of the flexible pipe through the stiffener 42B.
  • connection section 32 is formed by a rigid pipe section. As will be seen below, this section 32 is carried by the buoy 26. It has a general shape of U returned or omega. It thus has an upstream end 44A provided with an upstream connecting means to the riser 30, in particular an upstream connection flange and a downstream end 44B provided with a downstream connection means to the upper section 34, in particular a flange. downstream connection.
  • the ends 44A, 44B are arranged opposite the buoy 26.
  • connection section 32 is formed by a flexible pipe as described above, provided for example with curvature limiters or buoyancy elements.
  • the connecting portion 32 is fully immersed in the body of water 12 under the surface 16, once the tower 20 is in place.
  • the upper portion 34 is formed by an upper hose 50 extending between the connector 32 and the surface assembly 22.
  • the upper hose 50 has a catenary configuration, substantially J.-shaped.
  • the upper hose 50 is deformable to absorb the movements of the surface assembly 22 due to disturbances of the body of water such as swell, current or wind.
  • the section 34 thus substantially prevents the transmission of these movements from the surface assembly 22 to the riser 30 whose downstream point 40 remains substantially immobile in the body of water.
  • the upper section 34 extends between an upstream end 51A fixed on the downstream end 44B of the connection section 32 and a downstream end 51B integral with the surface assembly 22.
  • the upper section 34 carries connecting means on the intermediate section 32 formed for example by a connecting flange.
  • the upper section 34 is provided with a second guide member 52A and a second stiffener 52B which are structures similar respectively to the structure of the first guide member 42A and that of the first stiffener 42B.
  • the lower section 28, the riser 30, the connection section 32, and the upper section 34 internally define a continuous fluid flow passage 54 extending between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22 to allow the transport of the fluid between these sets 18, 22.
  • the anchoring element 25 comprises an anchoring member 60 fixed in the anchoring region on the bottom 14 of the water body 12 and a flexible line 62 connecting the anchoring member 60 at the upstream point 38 of the riser.
  • the anchoring member 60 is for example formed by a battery housed in the bottom 14 of the body of water or by a suction anchor.
  • the flexible line 62 extends vertically along the axis A-A 'between the anchoring element 60 and the upstream point 38.
  • the anchoring element 25 is advantageously provided with a return member 64 of a flexible traction line.
  • the organ the deflection 64 is for example formed by a pulley rotatably mounted on the anchoring member 60.
  • the buoy 26 is of substantially flat shape when the tower 20 is mounted in the body of water 12.
  • the buoy 26 thus has a substantially horizontal lower surface 66A, a substantially horizontal upper surface 66B and a peripheral surface 66C connecting the surfaces 66A, 66B to each other.
  • the buoy 26 has in particular a height H, taken along the axis A-A ', less than 1.5 times its maximum transverse dimension D, taken perpendicular to the axis A-A' between the surfaces 66A, 66B.
  • the buoy 26 is preferably cylindrical in shape of axis A-A '.
  • the height H of the buoy is advantageously less than 1.5 times, in particular less than or equal to 1 times the maximum transverse dimension of the buoy, which in this example is the diameter D of the cylinder.
  • the buoy 26 comprises a buoyancy chamber 70 internally defining at least one sealed compartment 72 adapted to be selectively filled with gas or liquid, and means 74 for selective filling of liquid and gas in the compartment 72.
  • the buoy 26 further comprises, in this example, means 76 for fixing the connecting section 32 to fix the section 32 on the upper surface 66B.
  • the buoyancy chamber 70 of the buoy delimits a first through-passage 78A into which the riser 30 is engaged and a second through-passage 78B into which the upper hose 50 is engaged.
  • Each passage 78A, 78B opens up into the upper surface 66B through a respective upper opening 80A, 80B.
  • Each passage 78A, 78B opens downward through a respective lower opening 82A, 82B, located at or below the lower surface 66A.
  • the passages 82A, 82B thus pass through the caisson 70 of the buoy 26 over the entire height of the buoy 26, taken between the lower surface 66A and the upper surface 66B.
  • the upper opening 80A of the first passage 78A opens opposite the upstream end 44A of the connection section 32.
  • the upper opening 80B of the second passage 78B opens opposite the downstream end 44B of the connecting section 32.
  • first passage 78A extends vertically, along the axis AA 'of the riser 30, parallel to the axis of the buoy 26.
  • the second In this example, passage 78B extends along an axis BB 'inclined relative to axis AA' of first passage 78A at an angle ⁇ , for example between 30 ° and 65 °.
  • first passage 78A and the second passage 78B are respectively formed in guide tubes 83A, 83B mounted in the casing 70.
  • Each tube 83A, 83B has an upper portion 84A, 84B of substantially constant section, in particular complementary to the section of the respective guide member 42A, 52A and a bottom portion 85A, 85B flared for receiving the respective stiffener 42B, 52B.
  • the lower portion 85A, 85B protrudes under the buoy 26 away from the lower surface 66A.
  • the tubes 83A, 83B are commonly called “I-tubes” or “I Tubes” in English.
  • Each compartment 72 extends into the box 70 around the passages 78A, 78B.
  • the filling means 74 are adapted to selectively introduce gas or liquid into the or each compartment 72 to selectively increase or decrease the buoyancy of the buoy 26.
  • the upper part of the riser 30 is engaged in the first passage 78A from bottom to top.
  • the first stiffener 42B is received in the flared lower portion 85A of the tube 83A and the first guide member 42A is received in the upper portion 84A of the tube 83A.
  • the downstream point 40 protrudes beyond the upper surface 66B from the first passage 78A to be connected to the upstream end 44A.
  • the upstream portion of the hose 50 is engaged from bottom to top in the second passage 78B.
  • the second stiffener 52B is received in the bottom 85B flared portion of the tube 83B.
  • the second guide member 52A is complementarily received in the upper portion 84B of the tube 83B.
  • the upstream end 51A of the hose 50 protrudes beyond the upper surface 66B out of the second passage 78B to be connected to the downstream end 44B of the connecting section 32.
  • the riser 30 passes through the buoy 26 from bottom to top between the lower opening 82A and the upper opening 80A of the first passage 78A and the hose 50 passes through the buoy 26 from bottom to top between the lower opening 82B and the upper opening 80B of the second passage 78B.
  • the riser 30 has a substantially vertical configuration along the axis A-A '.
  • the connection section 32 has a U-shaped configuration headed down.
  • the upper section 34 has a chain-shaped or U-shaped configuration directed upwards.
  • This method is implemented using a ship 90 for laying the transport pipe 24, and using at least one towing vessel 92A, 92B of the buoy 26, separate from the laying ship 90.
  • the process is carried out using two towing vessels 92A, 92B.
  • the pipe members 36, 42 for forming the conveying pipe 24 are brought into the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18 by means of the laying ship 90 and the pipe element 50 is brought to the assembly. surface 22.
  • the lower hose 36 and the flexible pipe 41 are transported by the laying ship 90 being for example wound on a laying drum or in a basket.
  • the anchoring element 25 is installed in the bottom 16 of the body of water 12 in the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18.
  • the anchoring member 60 is fixed in the bottom 14 of the water body 12.
  • the buoy 26 is towed by being partially submerged, with its upper surface 66B located outside the water extent 12 and its submerged lower surface 66A, between a position remote from the anchoring element 25 and a positioning position located substantially opposite and above the anchoring element 25.
  • the buoy 26 extends substantially horizontally with its vertical axis A-A '.
  • the buoy 26 having a substantially flat shape, it is very insensitive to the movements of the surface 16 of the body of water 12, and in particular to the swell, the currents or the winds, so that it can be transported from safe manner by being only partially immersed in the body of water 12, with towing vessels 92A, 92B. It is also a workstation thanks to its large flat upper surface 66B.
  • the towing distance of the buoy 26, which horizontally separates the position remote from the positioning position is greater than several hundred meters, or even several hundred kilometers.
  • the buoy 26 is embarked on a partially submersible barge, then is immersed in water by immersion of the barge, before being towed.
  • buoy 26 occupies its positioning position represented on the Figure 2 it is maintained in a horizontal position by the towing vessels 92A, 92B using deployable mooring lines 94.
  • a traction device 96 is then mounted on the buoy 26, for example on its upper surface 66B.
  • This traction device 96 comprises for example a winch 96 provided with a deployable line 98 traction.
  • the distance between the laying ship 90 of the buoy 26 being relatively high, for example greater than 50 m, the radius of curvature of the flexible pipe 41 in this configuration is high to prevent damage to the flexible pipe 41.
  • the stiffener 42B then stalls in the lower portion 85A of the tube 83A.
  • the stiffener 42B is released from the flexible pipe 30.
  • the rise of the downstream point 40 continues by sliding of the flexible pipe 30 in the stiffener 42B.
  • the guide member 42A and the downstream point 40 thus rise along the first passage 78A from the lower opening 82A to the upper opening 80A of the first passage, before the downstream point 40 is extracted from the first passage 78A through the upper opening 80A.
  • the downstream point 40 is then fixed on the upstream end of the connecting section 32, either by screwing and / or bolting the flanges together, or by arranging a clamp around the flanges.
  • the pulling line 98 is then disconnected from the downstream point 40.
  • the winch 96 is then moved in the vicinity of the upper opening 80B of the second passage 78B.
  • another winch 96 is present in the vicinity of the second passage 78B.
  • the winch 96 is then activated to bring the downstream end 51A of the buoy 26, retracting an increasing length of the line 98 on the winch 96. Simultaneously, an increasing length of the upper hose 50 is deployed out of the entire surface 22.
  • the hose 50 adopts a substantially catenary or U-shaped shape between the surface assembly 22 and the buoy 26.
  • the ends 44B, 51A are then fixed to one another for example by screwing and / or bolting the flanges together, or by placing a clamp.
  • connection of the hose 50 on the section 32 is carried out directly on the buoy 26, taking advantage of the working surface offered by the upper surface 66B of the buoy 26.
  • the buoy 26 Given its size, the buoy 26 is also extremely stable which makes the operations on the buoy 26 very safe.
  • connection steps being performed above the surface 16 of the body of water 12 at the surface, the mounting of the tower 20 is therefore very simple to implement.
  • the seal of the connection can be tested on the surface, before immersion of the buoy 26, which does not require to raise the buoy 26 when the seal is not adequate.
  • the pulling line 98 is then disconnected from the downstream end 51A and the winch 96 is advantageously dismounted away from the buoy 26.
  • the upstream point 38 is fixed on the anchoring element 25, for example by a method of the type described in the patent application. WO 2009/118467 of the Applicant.
  • the upstream point 38 is lowered into the body of water 12 until the intermediate section 30 occupies a substantially vertical configuration.
  • the upstream point 38 is connected to a traction line 100 deployed from the laying ship 90.
  • the traction line 100 is engaged around the deflection member 64. It thus has a first vertical section 102 extending between the upstream point 38 and the deflection member 64 and a second inclined section 104 extending between the deflection member 64 and the laying ship 90.
  • the mooring lines 94 are released and the filling means 74 are activated to introduce liquid into the compartments 72 to reduce the buoyancy of the buoy 26.
  • the traction line 100 is retracted into the laying ship 90 to pull the downstream point 38 towards the anchoring member 60 and thus guide the positioning of the riser 30 towards the anchoring element 25.
  • the buoy 26 is then lowered and immersed completely in the body of water 12 to a depth greater than several tens of meters, in a region of the body of water 12 which is not affected by the swell and waves.
  • the buoy 26 retains its horizontal orientation during the descent, with its axis A-A 'substantially vertical along its height.
  • the flexible anchoring line 62 is then attached to the upstream point 38 and to the anchoring element 60. Then, the lower hose 36 is descended from the laying ship 90 to be connected on the one hand to the upstream point 38, and on the other hand to the bottom assembly 18.
  • the buoyancy of the buoy 26 is possibly modified to apply between the downstream point 40 and the upstream point 38, via the buoy 26, a pulling force directed upwards, this force being compensated by the force of held by the anchor line 62.
  • the riser 30 then extends vertically along the axis AA 'between its upstream point 38 and its downstream point 40.
  • the continuous passage 54 of hydrocarbon circulation between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22 is established successively through the lower section 28, the riser 30, the connection section 32 and the section. 34.
  • the fluid collected by the bottom assembly 18 is then transported to the surface assembly 22 through the passage 52.
  • a second installation 120 according to the invention is represented on the Figure 6 .
  • the tower 20 of the second installation 120 comprises a buoy 26 which has a second passage 78B substantially vertical through the buoy 26.
  • the second passage 78 is delimited advantageously by a tube 83A J-shaped or "J tube” in English.
  • the tube 83B thus has an upper portion 84B substantially parallel to the axis AA 'of the first passage 78A and a lower portion 85B inclined axis relative to the upper portion 84B, in particular an angle ⁇ of between 30 ° and 65 ° °.
  • the inclined lower portion 85B projects downward from the lower surface 66A of the buoy 26.
  • the tower 20 of the second installation 120 is otherwise identical to the tower 20 of the first installation 10.
  • the intermediate portion 30 has no stiffener 42B and a guide member 42A
  • the upper portion 34 has no stiffener 52B and a guide member 52A.
  • the buoy 26 when setting up the tower 20, the buoy 26 is immersed in the body of water 12 while maintaining the U-shaped configuration of the intermediate section 30, between the laying ship 90 and the buoy 26 .
  • the downstream point 38 is moved under the buoy 26 via a deployment line (not shown), after immersion of the buoy.

Description

La présente invention concerne une tour d'exploitation de fluide selon le préambule de la revendication 1:The present invention relates to a fluid exploitation tower according to the preamble of claim 1:

US 6,461,083 décrit une tour du type précité. US 6,461,083 describes a tower of the aforementioned type.

De telles tours sont destinées à transporter un fluide produit dans le fond d'une étendue d'eau jusqu'à la surface, à travers l'étendue d'eau. Ce fluide est notamment constitué d'hydrocarbures liquides et/ou gazeux et d'eau recueillis dans des puits de production ménagés dans le fond de l'étendue d'eau.Such towers are intended to convey fluid produced in the bottom of a body of water to the surface, across the body of water. This fluid consists in particular of liquid and / or gaseous hydrocarbons and water collected in production wells formed in the bottom of the body of water.

Une telle tour comprend généralement une conduite inférieure de liaison à l'ensemble de production disposée sur le fond de l'étendue d'eau, une colonne montante sensiblement verticale, une bouée de maintien sous tension de la colonne montante dans sa position verticale, et un élément d'ancrage d'un point inférieur de la colonne montante.Such a tower generally comprises a lower connecting pipe to the production assembly disposed on the bottom of the body of water, a substantially vertical riser, a buoy holding the riser in its upright position, and an anchor element of a lower point of the riser.

La tour comprend en outre une conduite flexible supérieure de liaison raccordant la colonne montante à un ensemble de surface flottant.The tower further includes a flexible upper link pipe connecting the riser to a floating surface assembly.

Ainsi, les hydrocarbures produits par l'ensemble de fond sont transportés successivement à travers la conduite inférieure de liaison, la colonne montante et la conduite supérieure de liaison jusqu'à un ensemble de surface tel qu'un navire, une plateforme ou une barge, où ils peuvent être récupérés ou transportés.Thus, the hydrocarbons produced by the bottom assembly are conveyed successively through the lower connecting pipe, the riser and the upper connecting pipe to a surface assembly such as a ship, a platform or a barge, where they can be recovered or transported.

Ce type de tour présente une structure relativement simple, puisque son maintien en position verticale est assuré exclusivement par l'élément d'ancrage dans le fond de l'étendue d'eau, et par la tension engendrée par la flottabilité de la bouée de maintien raccordée au point supérieur de la colonne montante.This type of tower has a relatively simple structure, since its holding in vertical position is ensured exclusively by the anchoring element in the bottom of the expanse of water, and by the tension generated by the buoyancy of the buoy connected to the upper point of the riser.

Une tour du type précité est par exemple décrite dans GB 2 024 766 .A tower of the aforementioned type is for example described in GB 2,024,766 .

Toutefois, de telles tours restent difficiles à installer, notamment en raison de la profondeur de l'étendue d'eau, ainsi que des mouvements à la surface de l'étendue d'eau dus à la houle et/ou au vent.However, such towers are difficult to install, especially because of the depth of the water body, as well as movements on the surface of the body of water due to swell and / or wind.

En outre, le déploiement de la colonne montante et de la conduite flexible supérieure, et leur raccordement sur la bouée, sont difficiles à réaliser.In addition, the deployment of the riser and the upper flexible pipe, and their connection to the buoy, are difficult to achieve.

En particulier, la conduite flexible supérieure est en général raccordée sur la colonne montante par l'intermédiaire d'un tronçon de raccord en forme de col de cygne. Cette connexion est réalisée dans l'étendue d'eau après l'installation et l'immersion de la bouée, ce qui rend les opérations de raccordement très complexes.In particular, the upper flexible pipe is generally connected to the riser via a gooseneck-shaped connection section. This connection is made in the body of water after installation and immersion of the buoy, which makes connection operations very complex.

Un but de l'invention est donc d'obtenir une tour de transport de fluide à travers une étendue d'eau, de structure simple, facile à installer, notamment dans des grandes profondeurs, ou lorsque l'étendue d'eau est agitée.An object of the invention is therefore to obtain a fluid transport tower through a body of water, simple structure, easy to install, especially in great depths, or when the body of water is agitated.

A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet une tour selon la revendication 1.For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a tower according to claim 1.

La tour selon l'invention peut comprendre l'une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques des revendications 2 à 9 ou la caractéristique suivante :

  • la bouée présente une surface inférieure sensiblement horizontale, une surface supérieure sensiblement horizontale, et une surface périphérique raccordant les surfaces supérieure et inférieure entre elles, chaque passage traversant débouchant vers le haut dans la surface supérieure par l'intermédiaire d'une ouverture supérieure respective, chaque passage traversant débouchant vers le bas par une ouverture inférieure respective située au niveau de la surface inférieure ou au-dessous de celle-ci.
The tower according to the invention may comprise one or more of the features of claims 2 to 9 or the following characteristic:
  • the buoy has a substantially horizontal bottom surface, a substantially horizontal upper surface, and a peripheral surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces to each other, each through passage opening up into the upper surface through a respective upper opening, each through passage opening downward through a respective lower opening at or below the lower surface.

L'invention a également pour objet un procédé selon la revendication 10The subject of the invention is also a process according to claim 10

Le procédé selon l'invention peut comprendre l'une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques des revendications 11 à 14The method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the features of claims 11 to 14

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui va suivre, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple, et faite en se référant aux dessins annexés, sur lesquels :

  • la Figure 1 est une vue schématique de côté, en coupe partielle, d'une première tour d'exploitation de fluide selon l'invention disposée dans une étendue d'eau ;
  • la Figure 2 est une vue analogue à la Figure 1, lors d'une première étape du procédé de montage de la tour de la Figure 1 ;
  • la Figure 3 est une vue analogue à la Figure 2 d'une deuxième étape du procédé de montage de la tour de la Figure 1.
  • la Figure 4 est une vue analogue à la Figure 2 d'une troisième étape du procédé de montage de la Figure 1 ;
  • la Figure 5 est une vue analogue à la Figure 2 d'une quatrième étape du procédé de montage ; et
  • la Figure 6 est une vue analogue à la Figure 1 d'une deuxième tour d'exploitation de fluide selon l'invention.
The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • the Figure 1 is a schematic side view, in partial section, of a first fluid operating tower according to the invention disposed in a body of water;
  • the Figure 2 is a view similar to the Figure 1 during a first stage of the assembly process of the tower of the Figure 1 ;
  • the Figure 3 is a view similar to the Figure 2 a second stage of the assembly process of the tower of the Figure 1 .
  • the Figure 4 is a view similar to the Figure 2 a third step of the assembly process of the Figure 1 ;
  • the Figure 5 is a view similar to the Figure 2 a fourth step of the mounting method; and
  • the Figure 6 is a view similar to the Figure 1 a second fluid operating tower according to the invention.

Dans tout ce qui suit, les termes « amont » et « aval » s'entendent par rapport au sens normal de circulation d'un fluide dans une conduite.In what follows, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the normal direction of circulation of a fluid in a pipe.

Une première installation 10 d'exploitation de fluide dans une étendue d'eau 12, installée par un procédé de mise en place selon l'invention, est représentée schématiquement sur la Figure 1.A first fluid operating installation 10 in a body of water 12, installed by an implementation method according to the invention, is shown schematically on the Figure 1 .

Cette installation est destinée à convoyer un fluide recueilli dans le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau 12 vers la surface 16 de l'étendue d'eau.This installation is intended to convey a fluid collected in the bottom 14 of the body of water 12 to the surface 16 of the body of water.

Le fluide recueilli est par exemple un hydrocarbure gazeux ou liquide issu d'un puits (non représenté) ménagé dans le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau.The collected fluid is for example a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon from a well (not shown) formed in the bottom 14 of the body of water.

L'étendue d'eau 12 est un lac, une mer ou un océan. La profondeur de l'étendue d'eau 12, prise entre la surface 16 et le fond 14 en regard de l'installation 10 est supérieure à 30 m et est par exemple comprise entre 30 m et 3500 m.The body of water 12 is a lake, a sea or an ocean. The depth of the water extent 12, taken between the surface 16 and the bottom 14 opposite the installation 10 is greater than 30 m and is for example between 30 m and 3500 m.

L'installation 10 comprend un ensemble 18 de production de fluide, situé sur le fond de l'étendue d'eau, désigné dans ce qui suit par le terme « ensemble de fond », une première tour 20 selon l'invention, et un ensemble 22 de surface, destiné à récupérer et à stocker le fluide recueilli dans l'ensemble de production 18 convoyé à travers la tour 20.The installation 10 comprises a fluid production assembly 18 situated on the bottom of the body of water, hereinafter referred to as the "bottom assembly", a first tower 20 according to the invention, and a surface assembly 22 intended to recover and store the fluid collected in the production assembly 18 conveyed through the tower 20.

L'ensemble de fond 18 comprend par exemple au moins une tête de puits et/ou une ligne de production (non représentée) située sur le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau.The bottom assembly 18 comprises for example at least one wellhead and / or a production line (not shown) located on the bottom 14 of the body of water.

L'ensemble de surface 22 est dans cet exemple un ensemble flottant. Il est par exemple formé par un navire, une barge, une plateforme flottante, ou une unité flottante de récupération, de stockage et de traitement des hydrocarbures, désignée par l'acronyme anglais « FPSO ». L'ensemble de surface est en variante une unité flottante de stockage et de regazéification désignée par l'acronyme anglais « FSRU ».In this example, the surface assembly 22 is a floating assembly. It is for example formed by a ship, a barge, a floating platform, or a floating unit for the recovery, storage and treatment of hydrocarbons, designated by the acronym "FPSO". The surface assembly is alternatively a floating storage and regasification unit designated by the acronym "FSRU".

L'ensemble de surface 22 flotte sur l'étendue d'eau au voisinage de l'ensemble-de fond 18.The surface assembly 22 floats on the body of water in the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18.

La tour 20 selon l'invention comprend une conduite 24 de transport de fluide raccordant l'ensemble de fond 18 à l'ensemble de surface 22, un élément d'ancrage 25 de la conduite 24, fixé dans une région d'ancrage sur le fond 14, et une bouée 26 de maintien sous tension d'au moins un tronçon intermédiaire de la conduite de transport 24 dans une configuration sensiblement verticale dans l'étendue d'eau 12.The tower 20 according to the invention comprises a fluid transport pipe 24 connecting the bottom assembly 18 to the surface assembly 22, an anchoring element 25 of the pipe 24, fixed in an anchoring region on the bottom 14, and a buoy 26 for holding under tension at least one intermediate section of the transport pipe 24 in a substantially vertical configuration in the body of water 12.

La conduite de transport 24 comprend, de bas en haut sur la Figure 1, un tronçon inférieur 28 de raccordement à l'ensemble de fond 18, un tronçon intermédiaire formé par une colonne montante 30 sensiblement verticale, un tronçon de raccordement 32 et un tronçon supérieur 34 de connexion à l'ensemble de surface 22.The transport pipe 24 comprises, from bottom to top on the Figure 1 , a lower section 28 for connection to the bottom assembly 18, an intermediate section formed by a substantially vertical riser 30, a connection section 32 and an upper section 34 for connection to the surface assembly 22.

Dans cet exemple, la conduite de transport 24 est flexible sur sensiblement toute sa longueur, prise entre l'ensemble de fond 18 et l'ensemble de surface 22, à l'exception éventuellement du tronçon de raccordement 32.In this example, the transport pipe 24 is flexible over substantially its entire length, taken between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22, with the possible exception of the connecting section 32.

Le tronçon inférieur 28 est formé par exemple par un flexible inférieur 36 de liaison s'étendant de manière coudée ou inclinée par rapport au fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau 12. Le flexible inférieur 36 est raccordé en amont à l'ensemble de fond 18, et est raccordé en aval à la colonne montante 30.The lower section 28 is formed for example by a lower connecting hose 36 extending in a bent or inclined manner with respect to the bottom 14 of the body of water 12. The lower hose 36 is connected upstream to the assembly of bottom 18, and is connected downstream to the riser 30.

La colonne montante 30 s'étend sensiblement verticalement le long d'un axe vertical A-A' dans l'étendue d'eau 12, entre un point amont inférieur 38, raccordé à l'élément d'ancrage 25 et un point aval supérieur 40, raccordé à la bouée 26.The riser 30 extends substantially vertically along a vertical axis AA 'in the body of water 12, between a lower upstream point 38, connected to the anchoring element 25 and an upper downstream point 40, connected to the buoy 26.

Dans cet exemple, la colonne montante 30 est formée par une conduite flexible 41 sur sensiblement toute sa longueur.In this example, the riser 30 is formed by a flexible pipe 41 over substantially its entire length.

On entend par « flexible » ou « conduite flexible » au sens de la présente invention, une conduite telle que décrite dans les documents normatifs publiés par l'American Petroleum Institute (API), API 17J et API RP17B, bien connus de l'homme du métier. Cette définition englobe indifféremment les conduites flexibles de type non liées (« unbounded » en anglais), ou liées (« bounded » en anglais).The term "flexible" or "flexible pipe" within the meaning of the present invention, a pipe as described in the normative documents published by the American Petroleum Institute (API), API 17J and API RP17B, well known to man of career. This definition embraces indifferently the flexible conduits of unbound type ("unbounded" in English), or bound ("bounded" in English).

Plus généralement et en variante, la conduite flexible 41 peut être un faisceau composite de type « bundle » comprenant au moins un tube de transport de fluide et un ensemble de câbles électriques ou optiques propres à transporter une puissance électrique ou hydraulique, ou une information entre le fond 14 et la surface 16 de l'étendue d'eauMore generally, and in a variant, the flexible pipe 41 may be a "bundle" type composite bundle comprising at least one fluid transport tube and a set of electrical or optical cables suitable for transporting electrical or hydraulic power, or information between the bottom 14 and the surface 16 of the body of water

Un exemple de conduite flexible est décrit dans la demande française FR 2 911 907 .An example of flexible driving is described in the French application FR 2 911 907 .

Une conduite flexible a un rayon minimal de courbure en flexion sans endommagement (« MBR » ou « minimal bending radius » en anglais) relativement petit, par exemple de quelques mètres, qui la rend particulièrement propre à être enroulée et déroulée de manière réversible sans déformation plastique significative sur un tambour ou un panier, le tambour ou le panier étant portés par un navire de pose, comme on le verra plus bas.A flexible pipe has a relatively small minimum bending radius ("MBR" or "bending radius"), for example a few meters, which makes it particularly suitable for being wound and unrolled in a reversible manner without deformation. significant plastic on a drum or basket, the drum or basket being carried by a laying ship, as will be seen below.

La longueur de la colonne montante 30, prise entre le point supérieur 40 et le point inférieur 38 est supérieure à 20 m et est par exemple comprise entre 500 m et 3500 m.The length of the riser 30, taken between the upper point 40 and the lower point 38 is greater than 20 m and is for example between 500 m and 3500 m.

Le point aval 40 de la colonne montante 30 est avantageusement muni de moyens de connexion sur le tronçon de raccordement 32. Ces moyens sont par exemple formés par une bride de connexion destinée à être fixée sur une bride correspondante du tronçon 32.The downstream point 40 of the riser 30 is advantageously provided with connection means on the connection section 32. These means are for example formed by a connection flange intended to be fixed on a corresponding flange of the section 32.

La colonne montante 30 est munie, au voisinage du point aval 40, d'un premier organe de guidage 42A du point amont dans la bouée 26 et avantageusement d'un premier raidisseur 42B destiné à éviter les torsions trop importantes de la colonne montante 30 lors de son engagement à travers la bouée 26.The riser 30 is provided, in the vicinity of the downstream point 40, with a first guide member 42A from the upstream point in the buoy 26 and advantageously with a first stiffener 42B intended to prevent excessive torsion of the riser 30 during his commitment through the buoy 26.

L'organe de guidage 42A est monté autour de la colonne montante 30. Il est formé par exemple par au moins une vertèbre fixée autour de la conduite flexible 41 formant la colonne montante 30.The guide member 42A is mounted around the riser 30. It is formed for example by at least one vertebra fixed around the flexible pipe 41 forming the riser 30.

Le raidisseur 42B est fixé de manière libérable autour de la conduite flexible 41 formant la colonne montante 30. Comme on le verra plus bas, il est propre à s'engager sur la bouée 26 et à permettre le coulissement de la conduite flexible à travers le raidisseur 42B.The stiffener 42B is releasably fixed around the flexible pipe 41 forming the riser 30. As will be seen below, it is adapted to engage the buoy 26 and to allow the sliding of the flexible pipe through the stiffener 42B.

Dans cet exemple, le tronçon de raccordement 32, est formé par un tronçon de conduite rigide. Comme on le verra plus bas, ce tronçon 32 est porté par la bouée 26. Il comporte une forme générale de U retourné ou d'oméga. Il présente ainsi une extrémité amont 44A munie d'un moyen amont de connexion à la colonne montante 30, notamment d'une bride de connexion amont et une extrémité aval 44B munie d'un moyen aval de connexion au tronçon supérieur 34, notamment une bride de connexion aval. Les extrémités 44A, 44B sont disposées en regard de la bouée 26.In this example, the connection section 32 is formed by a rigid pipe section. As will be seen below, this section 32 is carried by the buoy 26. It has a general shape of U returned or omega. It thus has an upstream end 44A provided with an upstream connecting means to the riser 30, in particular an upstream connection flange and a downstream end 44B provided with a downstream connection means to the upper section 34, in particular a flange. downstream connection. The ends 44A, 44B are arranged opposite the buoy 26.

En variante, le tronçon de raccordement 32 est formé par une conduite flexible telle que décrite plus haut, munie par exemple de limiteurs de courbure ou d'éléments de flottabilité.In a variant, the connection section 32 is formed by a flexible pipe as described above, provided for example with curvature limiters or buoyancy elements.

Dans tous les cas, le tronçon de raccordement 32 est totalement immergé dans l'étendue d'eau 12 sous la surface 16, une fois la tour 20 mise en place.In all cases, the connecting portion 32 is fully immersed in the body of water 12 under the surface 16, once the tower 20 is in place.

Le tronçon supérieur 34 est formé par un flexible supérieur 50 s'étendant entre le raccord 32 et l'ensemble de surface 22.The upper portion 34 is formed by an upper hose 50 extending between the connector 32 and the surface assembly 22.

Le flexible supérieur 50 présente une configuration en caténaire, sensiblement en forme de J.The upper hose 50 has a catenary configuration, substantially J.-shaped.

Le flexible supérieur 50 est déformable pour absorber les mouvements de l'ensemble de surface 22 dus aux perturbations de l'étendue d'eau comme la houle, le courant ou le vent. Le tronçon 34 empêche ainsi substantiellement la transmission de ces mouvements depuis l'ensemble de surface 22 vers la colonne montante 30 dont le point aval 40 reste sensiblement immobile dans l'étendue d'eau.The upper hose 50 is deformable to absorb the movements of the surface assembly 22 due to disturbances of the body of water such as swell, current or wind. The section 34 thus substantially prevents the transmission of these movements from the surface assembly 22 to the riser 30 whose downstream point 40 remains substantially immobile in the body of water.

Le tronçon supérieur 34 s'étend entre une extrémité amont 51A fixé sur l'extrémité aval 44B du tronçon de raccordement 32 et une extrémité aval 51B solidaire de l'ensemble de surface 22.The upper section 34 extends between an upstream end 51A fixed on the downstream end 44B of the connection section 32 and a downstream end 51B integral with the surface assembly 22.

A son extrémité amont 51A, le tronçon supérieur 34 porte des moyens de raccordement sur le tronçon intermédiaire 32 formés par exemple par une bride de raccordement.At its upstream end 51A, the upper section 34 carries connecting means on the intermediate section 32 formed for example by a connecting flange.

Au voisinage de l'extrémité amont 51A, le tronçon supérieur 34 est muni d'un deuxième organe de guidage 52A et d'un deuxième raidisseur 52B qui sont de structures analogues respectivement à la structure du premier organe de guidage 42A et à celle du premier raidisseur 42B.In the vicinity of the upstream end 51A, the upper section 34 is provided with a second guide member 52A and a second stiffener 52B which are structures similar respectively to the structure of the first guide member 42A and that of the first stiffener 42B.

Lorsqu'ils sont raccordés entre eux, le tronçon inférieur 28, la colonne montante 30, le tronçon de raccordement 32, et le tronçon supérieur 34 définissent intérieurement un passage continu 54 de circulation de fluide s'étendant entre l'ensemble de fond 18 et l'ensemble de surface 22 pour permettre le transport du fluide entre ces ensembles 18, 22.When they are interconnected, the lower section 28, the riser 30, the connection section 32, and the upper section 34 internally define a continuous fluid flow passage 54 extending between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22 to allow the transport of the fluid between these sets 18, 22.

Dans cet exemple, l'élément d'ancrage 25 comprend un organe d'ancrage 60 fixé dans la région d'ancrage sur le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau 12 et une ligne flexible 62 raccordant l'organe d'ancrage 60 au point amont 38 de la colonne montante.In this example, the anchoring element 25 comprises an anchoring member 60 fixed in the anchoring region on the bottom 14 of the water body 12 and a flexible line 62 connecting the anchoring member 60 at the upstream point 38 of the riser.

L'organe d'ancrage 60 est par exemple formé par une pile logée dans le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau ou par une ancre à succion.The anchoring member 60 is for example formed by a battery housed in the bottom 14 of the body of water or by a suction anchor.

La ligne flexible 62 s'étend verticalement le long de l'axe A-A' entre l'élément d'ancrage 60 et le point amont 38.The flexible line 62 extends vertically along the axis A-A 'between the anchoring element 60 and the upstream point 38.

Au moins lors du montage de la tour 20, l'élément d'ancrage 25 est avantageusement muni d'un organe de renvoi 64 d'une ligne de traction flexible. L'organe de renvoi 64 est par exemple formé par une poulie montée rotative sur l'organe d'ancrage 60.At least during the mounting of the tower 20, the anchoring element 25 is advantageously provided with a return member 64 of a flexible traction line. The organ the deflection 64 is for example formed by a pulley rotatably mounted on the anchoring member 60.

Selon l'invention, la bouée 26 est de forme sensiblement plate lorsque la tour 20 est montée dans l'étendue d'eau 12.According to the invention, the buoy 26 is of substantially flat shape when the tower 20 is mounted in the body of water 12.

Dans cet exemple, la bouée 26 présente ainsi une surface inférieure 66A sensiblement horizontale, une surface supérieure 66B sensiblement horizontale et une surface périphérique 66C raccordant les surfaces 66A, 66B entre elles.In this example, the buoy 26 thus has a substantially horizontal lower surface 66A, a substantially horizontal upper surface 66B and a peripheral surface 66C connecting the surfaces 66A, 66B to each other.

La bouée 26 présente notamment une hauteur H, prise le long de l'axe A-A', inférieure à 1,5 fois sa dimension transversale maximale D, prise perpendiculairement à l'axe A-A' entre les surfaces 66A, 66B.The buoy 26 has in particular a height H, taken along the axis A-A ', less than 1.5 times its maximum transverse dimension D, taken perpendicular to the axis A-A' between the surfaces 66A, 66B.

Comme illustré par la Figure 2, la bouée 26 est avantageusement de forme cylindrique d'axe A-A'. La hauteur H de la bouée est avantageusement inférieure à 1.5 fois, notamment inférieure ou égale à 1 fois la dimension transversale maximale de la bouée, qui est dans cet exemple le diamètre D du cylindre.As illustrated by Figure 2 , the buoy 26 is preferably cylindrical in shape of axis A-A '. The height H of the buoy is advantageously less than 1.5 times, in particular less than or equal to 1 times the maximum transverse dimension of the buoy, which in this example is the diameter D of the cylinder.

La bouée 26 comprend un caisson de flottabilité 70 délimitant intérieurement au moins un compartiment étanche 72 propre à être rempli sélectivement de gaz ou de liquide, et des moyens 74 de remplissage sélectif de liquide et de gaz dans le compartiment 72.The buoy 26 comprises a buoyancy chamber 70 internally defining at least one sealed compartment 72 adapted to be selectively filled with gas or liquid, and means 74 for selective filling of liquid and gas in the compartment 72.

La bouée 26 comporte en outre, dans cet exemple, des moyens 76 de fixation du tronçon de raccordement 32 pour fixer le tronçon 32 sur la surface supérieure 66B.The buoy 26 further comprises, in this example, means 76 for fixing the connecting section 32 to fix the section 32 on the upper surface 66B.

Dans l'exemple représenté sur la Figure 1 et 2, le caisson de flottabilité 70 de la bouée délimite un premier passage traversant 78A dans lequel est engagé la colonne montante 30 et un deuxième passage traversant 78B dans lequel est engagé le flexible supérieur 50.In the example shown on the Figure 1 and 2 the buoyancy chamber 70 of the buoy delimits a first through-passage 78A into which the riser 30 is engaged and a second through-passage 78B into which the upper hose 50 is engaged.

Chaque passage 78A, 78B, débouche vers le haut dans la surface supérieure 66B par l'intermédiaire d'une ouverture supérieure 80A, 80B respective.Each passage 78A, 78B opens up into the upper surface 66B through a respective upper opening 80A, 80B.

Chaque passage 78A, 78B débouche vers le bas par une ouverture inférieure 82A, 82B respective, située au niveau de la surface inférieure 66A, ou en-dessous de celle-ci.Each passage 78A, 78B opens downward through a respective lower opening 82A, 82B, located at or below the lower surface 66A.

Les passages 82A, 82B traversent ainsi le caisson 70 de la bouée 26 sur toute la hauteur de la bouée 26, prise entre la surface inférieure 66A et la surface supérieure 66B.The passages 82A, 82B thus pass through the caisson 70 of the buoy 26 over the entire height of the buoy 26, taken between the lower surface 66A and the upper surface 66B.

L'ouverture supérieure 80A du premier passage 78A débouche en regard de l'extrémité amont 44A du tronçon de raccordement 32. L'ouverture supérieure 80B du deuxième passage 78B débouche en regard de l'extrémité aval 44B du tronçon de raccordement 32.The upper opening 80A of the first passage 78A opens opposite the upstream end 44A of the connection section 32. The upper opening 80B of the second passage 78B opens opposite the downstream end 44B of the connecting section 32.

Dans cet exemple, le premier passage 78A s'étend verticalement, le long de l'axe A-A' de la colonne montante 30, parallèlement à l'axe de la bouée 26. Le deuxième passage 78B s'étend dans cet exemple suivant un axe B-B' incliné par rapport à l'axe A-A' du premier passage 78A d'un angle α par exemple compris entre 30°et 65°.In this example, the first passage 78A extends vertically, along the axis AA 'of the riser 30, parallel to the axis of the buoy 26. The second In this example, passage 78B extends along an axis BB 'inclined relative to axis AA' of first passage 78A at an angle α, for example between 30 ° and 65 °.

Dans l'exemple représenté sur la Figure 1, le premier passage 78A et le deuxième passage 78B sont ménagés respectivement dans des tubes de guidage 83A, 83B montés dans le caisson 70.In the example shown on the Figure 1 , the first passage 78A and the second passage 78B are respectively formed in guide tubes 83A, 83B mounted in the casing 70.

Chaque tube 83A, 83B présente une partie supérieure 84A, 84B de section sensiblement constante, notamment complémentaire à la section de l'organe de guidage 42A, 52A respectif et une partie inférieure 85A, 85B évasée destinée à recevoir le raidisseur 42B, 52B respectif.Each tube 83A, 83B has an upper portion 84A, 84B of substantially constant section, in particular complementary to the section of the respective guide member 42A, 52A and a bottom portion 85A, 85B flared for receiving the respective stiffener 42B, 52B.

Dans cet exemple, la partie inférieure 85A, 85B fait saillie sous la bouée 26 à l'écart de la surface inférieure 66A.In this example, the lower portion 85A, 85B protrudes under the buoy 26 away from the lower surface 66A.

Les tubes 83A, 83B sont communément appelés « tubes en I » ou « I Tubes » en anglais.The tubes 83A, 83B are commonly called "I-tubes" or "I Tubes" in English.

Chaque compartiment 72 s'étend dans le caisson 70 autour des passages 78A, 78B. Les moyens de remplissage 74 sont propres à introduire sélectivement du gaz ou du liquide dans le ou chaque compartiment 72 pour augmenter ou diminuer sélectivement la flottabilité de la bouée 26.Each compartment 72 extends into the box 70 around the passages 78A, 78B. The filling means 74 are adapted to selectively introduce gas or liquid into the or each compartment 72 to selectively increase or decrease the buoyancy of the buoy 26.

Dans l'exemple représenté sur la Figure 1, la partie supérieure de la colonne montante 30 est engagée dans le premier passage 78A de bas en haut. Ainsi, le premier raidisseur 42B est reçu dans la partie inférieure évasée 85A du tube 83A et le premier organe de guidage 42A est reçu dans la partie supérieure 84A du tube 83A.In the example shown on the Figure 1 the upper part of the riser 30 is engaged in the first passage 78A from bottom to top. Thus, the first stiffener 42B is received in the flared lower portion 85A of the tube 83A and the first guide member 42A is received in the upper portion 84A of the tube 83A.

Le point aval 40 fait saillie au-delà de la surface supérieure 66B hors du premier passage 78A pour être raccordé à l'extrémité amont 44A.The downstream point 40 protrudes beyond the upper surface 66B from the first passage 78A to be connected to the upstream end 44A.

De même, la partie amont du flexible 50 est engagée de bas en haut dans le deuxième passage 78B. A cet effet, le deuxième raidisseur 52B est reçu dans la partie inférieure 85B évasée du tube 83B. Le deuxième organe de guidage 52A est reçu de manière complémentaire dans la partie supérieure 84B du tube 83B. L'extrémité amont 51A du flexible 50 fait saillie au-delà de la surface supérieure 66B hors du deuxième passage 78B pour être raccordée sur l'extrémité aval 44B du tronçon de raccordement 32.Similarly, the upstream portion of the hose 50 is engaged from bottom to top in the second passage 78B. For this purpose, the second stiffener 52B is received in the bottom 85B flared portion of the tube 83B. The second guide member 52A is complementarily received in the upper portion 84B of the tube 83B. The upstream end 51A of the hose 50 protrudes beyond the upper surface 66B out of the second passage 78B to be connected to the downstream end 44B of the connecting section 32.

Ainsi, la colonne montante 30 traverse la bouée 26 de bas en haut entre l'ouverture inférieure 82A et l'ouverture supérieure 80A du premier passage 78A et le flexible 50 traverse la bouée 26 de bas en haut entre l'ouverture inférieure 82B et l'ouverture supérieure 80B du deuxième passage 78B.Thus, the riser 30 passes through the buoy 26 from bottom to top between the lower opening 82A and the upper opening 80A of the first passage 78A and the hose 50 passes through the buoy 26 from bottom to top between the lower opening 82B and the upper opening 80B of the second passage 78B.

La colonne montante 30 présente une configuration sensiblement verticale le long de l'axe A-A'. Le tronçon de raccordement 32 présente une configuration en forme de U dirigé vers le bas. Le tronçon supérieur 34 présente une configuration en chaînette ou en U dirigé vers le haut.The riser 30 has a substantially vertical configuration along the axis A-A '. The connection section 32 has a U-shaped configuration headed down. The upper section 34 has a chain-shaped or U-shaped configuration directed upwards.

Un premier procédé de mise en place de l'installation 10 selon l'invention va maintenant être décrit, en regard des Figures 2 à 5.A first method of setting up the installation 10 according to the invention will now be described, with regard to Figures 2 to 5 .

Ce procédé est mis en oeuvre à l'aide d'un navire 90 de pose de la conduite de transport 24, et à l'aide d'au moins un navire 92A, 92B de remorquage de la bouée 26, distinct du navire de pose 90. Dans l'exemple représenté sur la Figure 2, le procédé est mis en oeuvre à l'aide de deux navires 92A, 92B de remorquage.This method is implemented using a ship 90 for laying the transport pipe 24, and using at least one towing vessel 92A, 92B of the buoy 26, separate from the laying ship 90. In the example shown on the Figure 2 the process is carried out using two towing vessels 92A, 92B.

Initialement, les éléments de conduite 36, 42 destinés à former la conduite de transport 24 sont amenés au voisinage de l'ensemble de fond 18 à l'aide du navire de pose 90 et l'élément de conduite 50 est amené sur l'ensemble de surface 22.Initially, the pipe members 36, 42 for forming the conveying pipe 24 are brought into the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18 by means of the laying ship 90 and the pipe element 50 is brought to the assembly. surface 22.

A cet effet, le flexible inférieur 36 et la conduite flexible 41 sont transportés par le navire de pose 90 en étant par exemple enroulés sur un tambour de pose ou dans un panier.For this purpose, the lower hose 36 and the flexible pipe 41 are transported by the laying ship 90 being for example wound on a laying drum or in a basket.

L'élément d'ancrage 25 est installé dans le fond 16 de l'étendue d'eau 12 au voisinage de l'ensemble de fond 18. A cet effet, l'organe d'ancrage 60 est fixé dans le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau 12.The anchoring element 25 is installed in the bottom 16 of the body of water 12 in the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18. For this purpose, the anchoring member 60 is fixed in the bottom 14 of the water body 12.

Selon l'invention, la bouée 26 est remorquée en étant partiellement immergée, avec sa surface supérieure 66B située hors de l'étendue d'eau 12 et sa surface inférieure 66A immergée, entre une position éloignée de l'élément d'ancrage 25 et une position de mise en place située sensiblement en regard et au-dessus de l'élément d'ancrage 25.According to the invention, the buoy 26 is towed by being partially submerged, with its upper surface 66B located outside the water extent 12 and its submerged lower surface 66A, between a position remote from the anchoring element 25 and a positioning position located substantially opposite and above the anchoring element 25.

Lors de ce transport, la bouée 26 s'étend sensiblement horizontalement avec son axe A-A' vertical.During this transport, the buoy 26 extends substantially horizontally with its vertical axis A-A '.

La bouée 26 présentant une forme sensiblement plate, elle est très peu sensible aux mouvements de la surface 16 de l'étendue d'eau 12, et notamment à la houle, aux courants ou aux vents, de sorte qu'elle peut être transportée de manière sûre en étant seulement partiellement immergée dans l'étendue d'eau 12, à l'aide des navires de remorquage 92A, 92B. Elle est également une station de travail grâce à sa large surface supérieure plate 66B.The buoy 26 having a substantially flat shape, it is very insensitive to the movements of the surface 16 of the body of water 12, and in particular to the swell, the currents or the winds, so that it can be transported from safe manner by being only partially immersed in the body of water 12, with towing vessels 92A, 92B. It is also a workstation thanks to its large flat upper surface 66B.

La distance de remorquage de la bouée 26, qui sépare horizontalement la position éloignée de la position de mise en place est supérieure à plusieurs centaines de mètres, voire plusieurs centaines de kilomètres.The towing distance of the buoy 26, which horizontally separates the position remote from the positioning position is greater than several hundred meters, or even several hundred kilometers.

Dans une variante, la bouée 26 est embarquée sur une barge partiellement submersible, puis est immergée dans l'eau par immersion de la barge, avant d'être remorquée.In a variant, the buoy 26 is embarked on a partially submersible barge, then is immersed in water by immersion of the barge, before being towed.

Puis, lorsque la bouée 26 occupe sa position de mise en place représentée sur la Figure 2, elle est maintenue en position horizontale par les navires de remorquage 92A, 92B à l'aide de lignes d'amarre déployables 94.Then, when the buoy 26 occupies its positioning position represented on the Figure 2 it is maintained in a horizontal position by the towing vessels 92A, 92B using deployable mooring lines 94.

Un engin de traction 96 est alors monté sur la bouée 26, par exemple sur sa surface supérieure 66B. Cet engin de traction 96 comprend par exemple un treuil 96 muni d'une ligne déployable 98 de traction.A traction device 96 is then mounted on the buoy 26, for example on its upper surface 66B. This traction device 96 comprises for example a winch 96 provided with a deployable line 98 traction.

En référence à la Figure 3, la distance séparant le navire de pose 90 de la bouée 26 étant relativement élevée, par exemple supérieure à 50 m, le rayon de courbure de la conduite flexible 41 dans cette configuration est élevé pour empêcher tout endommagement de la conduite flexible 41.With reference to the Figure 3 , the distance between the laying ship 90 of the buoy 26 being relatively high, for example greater than 50 m, the radius of curvature of the flexible pipe 41 in this configuration is high to prevent damage to the flexible pipe 41.

En outre, le poids de la conduite flexible 41 étant réparti entre le navire de pose 90 et la bouée 26, il n'est pas nécessaire de munir la bouée 26, ni le navire de pose 90 d'un treuil 96 de grande capacité.In addition, the weight of the flexible pipe 41 being distributed between the laying ship 90 and the buoy 26, it is not necessary to provide the buoy 26 or the laying ship 90 of a winch 96 of large capacity.

La traction de la ligne 98 vers le treuil 96 se poursuit jusqu'à ce que le point aval 40, le premier organe de guidage 40A et le premier raidisseur 42B soient successivement introduits dans le premier passage 78A de bas en haut.The pull of the line 98 towards the winch 96 continues until the downstream point 40, the first guide member 40A and the first stiffener 42B are successively introduced into the first passage 78A from bottom to top.

Le raidisseur 42B se cale alors dans la partie inférieure 85A du tube 83A.The stiffener 42B then stalls in the lower portion 85A of the tube 83A.

Puis, le raidisseur 42B est libéré de la conduite flexible 30. La remontée du point aval 40 se poursuit par coulissement de la conduite flexible 30 dans le raidisseur 42B.Then, the stiffener 42B is released from the flexible pipe 30. The rise of the downstream point 40 continues by sliding of the flexible pipe 30 in the stiffener 42B.

L'organe de guidage 42A et le point aval 40 remontent donc le long du premier passage 78A depuis l'ouverture inférieure 82A jusqu'à l'ouverture supérieure 80A du premier passage, avant que le point aval 40 ne soit extrait hors du premier passage 78A à travers l'ouverture supérieure 80A.The guide member 42A and the downstream point 40 thus rise along the first passage 78A from the lower opening 82A to the upper opening 80A of the first passage, before the downstream point 40 is extracted from the first passage 78A through the upper opening 80A.

Le point aval 40 est ensuite fixé sur l'extrémité amont du tronçon de raccordement 32, soit par vissage et/ou boulonnage des brides entre elles, soit par disposition d'un collier de serrage autour des brides.The downstream point 40 is then fixed on the upstream end of the connecting section 32, either by screwing and / or bolting the flanges together, or by arranging a clamp around the flanges.

La ligne de traction 98 est alors déconnectée du point aval 40. Le treuil 96 est ensuite déplacé au voisinage de l'ouverture supérieure 80B du deuxième passage 78B. Alternativement, un autre treuil 96 est présent au voisinage du deuxième passage 78B.The pulling line 98 is then disconnected from the downstream point 40. The winch 96 is then moved in the vicinity of the upper opening 80B of the second passage 78B. Alternatively, another winch 96 is present in the vicinity of the second passage 78B.

Puis, comme illustré par la Figure 4, la ligne 98 est engagée à travers le deuxième passage 78B puis est fixée sur l'extrémité amont 51A du flexible supérieur 50.Then, as illustrated by Figure 4 the line 98 is engaged through the second passage 78B and is attached to the upstream end 51A of the upper hose 50.

Le treuil 96 est alors activé pour rapprocher l'extrémité aval 51A de la bouée 26, en rétractant une longueur croissante de la ligne 98 sur le treuil 96. Simultanément, une longueur croissante du flexible supérieur 50 est déployée hors de l'ensemble de surface 22. Le flexible 50 adopte une forme sensiblement en caténaire ou en U entre l'ensemble de surface 22 et la bouée 26.The winch 96 is then activated to bring the downstream end 51A of the buoy 26, retracting an increasing length of the line 98 on the winch 96. Simultaneously, an increasing length of the upper hose 50 is deployed out of the entire surface 22. The hose 50 adopts a substantially catenary or U-shaped shape between the surface assembly 22 and the buoy 26.

Comme décrit précédemment, la traction de la ligne 98 se poursuit jusqu'à ce que l'extrémité amont 51 A, le deuxième organe de guidage 52A et le deuxième raidisseur 52B entrent dans le deuxième passage 78B à travers l'ouverture inférieure 82B.As previously described, the pull of the line 98 continues until the upstream end 51A, the second guide member 52A and the second stiffener 52B enter the second passage 78B through the bottom opening 82B.

Lorsque le raidisseur 52B est calé dans la partie inférieure 85B du tube 83B, le flexible supérieur 50 est libéré par rapport au raidisseur 52B pour coulisser à travers le raidisseur 52B. L'extrémité 51A et l'organe de guidage 52A remontent à travers le deuxième passage 78B.When the stiffener 52B is wedged in the lower portion 85B of the tube 83B, the upper hose 50 is released relative to the stiffener 52B to slide through the stiffener 52B. The end 51A and the guide member 52A go up through the second passage 78B.

Ce mouvement se poursuit jusqu'à ce que l'extrémité aval 51A soit extraite hors du deuxième passage 78B à travers l'ouverture supérieure 80B pour être raccordée sur l'extrémité aval 44B du tronçon de raccord 32.This movement continues until the downstream end 51A is extracted out of the second passage 78B through the upper opening 80B to be connected to the downstream end 44B of the connecting section 32.

Les extrémités 44B, 51A sont alors fixées l'une sur l'autre par exemple par vissage et/ou boulonnage des brides entre elles, ou par mise en place d'un collier de serrage.The ends 44B, 51A are then fixed to one another for example by screwing and / or bolting the flanges together, or by placing a clamp.

L'étanchéité du passage 54 entre le tronçon supérieur 34 et le tronçon de raccord 32 d'une part, et entre le tronçon de raccord 32 et le tronçon intermédiaire 30, d'autre part, est alors vérifiée.The tightness of the passage 54 between the upper section 34 and the connecting section 32 on the one hand, and between the connecting section 32 and the intermediate section 30, on the other hand, is then verified.

Il est à noter que le raccordement du flexible 50 sur le tronçon 32 s'effectue directement sur la bouée 26, en profitant de la surface de travail offerte par la surface supérieure 66B de la bouée 26.It should be noted that the connection of the hose 50 on the section 32 is carried out directly on the buoy 26, taking advantage of the working surface offered by the upper surface 66B of the buoy 26.

Compte tenu de ses dimensions, la bouée 26 est par ailleurs extrêmement stable ce qui rend les opérations effectuées sur la bouée 26 très sûres.Given its size, the buoy 26 is also extremely stable which makes the operations on the buoy 26 very safe.

Toutes les étapes de raccordement étant effectuées au-dessus de la surface 16 de l'étendue d'eau 12 en surface, le montage de la tour 20 est donc très simple à mettre en oeuvre. En outre, l'étanchéité du raccordement peut être testée en surface, avant immersion de la bouée 26, ce qui ne nécessite pas de remonter la bouée 26 lorsque l'étanchéité n'est pas adéquate.All the connection steps being performed above the surface 16 of the body of water 12 at the surface, the mounting of the tower 20 is therefore very simple to implement. In addition, the seal of the connection can be tested on the surface, before immersion of the buoy 26, which does not require to raise the buoy 26 when the seal is not adequate.

La ligne de traction 98 est ensuite déconnectée de l'extrémité aval 51A et le treuil 96 est avantageusement démonté à l'écart de la bouée 26.The pulling line 98 is then disconnected from the downstream end 51A and the winch 96 is advantageously dismounted away from the buoy 26.

Puis, le point amont 38 est fixé sur l'élément d'ancrage 25, par exemple par un procédé du type décrit dans la demande de brevet WO 2009/118467 de la Demanderesse.Then, the upstream point 38 is fixed on the anchoring element 25, for example by a method of the type described in the patent application. WO 2009/118467 of the Applicant.

A cet effet, le point amont 38 est descendu dans l'étendue d'eau 12 jusqu'à ce que le tronçon intermédiaire 30 occupe une configuration sensiblement verticale.For this purpose, the upstream point 38 is lowered into the body of water 12 until the intermediate section 30 occupies a substantially vertical configuration.

Puis, comme illustré par la Figure 4, le point amont 38 est raccordé à une ligne de traction 100 déployée depuis le navire de pose 90. La ligne de traction 100 est engagée autour de l'organe de renvoi 64. Elle présente ainsi un premier tronçon vertical 102 s'étendant entre le point amont 38 et l'élément de renvoi 64 et un deuxième tronçon incliné 104 s'étendant entre l'élément de renvoi 64 et le navire de pose 90.Then, as illustrated by Figure 4 the upstream point 38 is connected to a traction line 100 deployed from the laying ship 90. The traction line 100 is engaged around the deflection member 64. It thus has a first vertical section 102 extending between the upstream point 38 and the deflection member 64 and a second inclined section 104 extending between the deflection member 64 and the laying ship 90.

Puis, les lignes d'amarre 94 sont relâchées et les moyens de remplissage 74 sont activés pour introduire du liquide dans les compartiments 72 afin de diminuer la flottabilité de la bouée 26.Then, the mooring lines 94 are released and the filling means 74 are activated to introduce liquid into the compartments 72 to reduce the buoyancy of the buoy 26.

Simultanément, la ligne de traction 100 est rétractée dans le navire de pose 90 pour tirer le point aval 38 vers l'organe d'ancrage 60 et guider ainsi le positionnement de la colonne montante 30 vers l'élément d'ancrage 25.Simultaneously, the traction line 100 is retracted into the laying ship 90 to pull the downstream point 38 towards the anchoring member 60 and thus guide the positioning of the riser 30 towards the anchoring element 25.

La bouée 26 est alors descendue et immergée totalement dans l'étendue d'eau 12 jusqu'à une profondeur supérieure à plusieurs dizaines de mètres, dans une région de l'étendue d'eau 12 qui n'est pas affectée par la houle et les vagues. La bouée 26 conserve son orientation horizontale lors de la descente, avec son axe A-A' sensiblement vertical suivant sa hauteur.The buoy 26 is then lowered and immersed completely in the body of water 12 to a depth greater than several tens of meters, in a region of the body of water 12 which is not affected by the swell and waves. The buoy 26 retains its horizontal orientation during the descent, with its axis A-A 'substantially vertical along its height.

Lorsque le point amont 38 est situé au voisinage de l'élément d'ancrage 60, la ligne flexible d'ancrage 62 est alors attachée sur le point amont 38 et sur l'élément d'ancrage 60. Puis, le flexible inférieur 36 est descendu à partir du navire de pose 90 pour être raccordé d'une part au point amont 38, et d'autre part à l'ensemble de fond 18.When the upstream point 38 is located in the vicinity of the anchoring element 60, the flexible anchoring line 62 is then attached to the upstream point 38 and to the anchoring element 60. Then, the lower hose 36 is descended from the laying ship 90 to be connected on the one hand to the upstream point 38, and on the other hand to the bottom assembly 18.

Ensuite, la flottabilité de la bouée 26 est éventuellement modifiée pour appliquer entre le point aval 40 et le point amont 38, par l'intermédiaire de la bouée 26, une force de traction dirigée vers le haut, cette force étant compensée par la force de retenue assurée par la ligne d'ancrage 62. La colonne montante 30 s'étend alors verticalement le long de l'axe A-A' entre son point amont 38 et son point aval 40.Then, the buoyancy of the buoy 26 is possibly modified to apply between the downstream point 40 and the upstream point 38, via the buoy 26, a pulling force directed upwards, this force being compensated by the force of held by the anchor line 62. The riser 30 then extends vertically along the axis AA 'between its upstream point 38 and its downstream point 40.

Dans cette configuration, le passage continu 54 de circulation d'hydrocarbures entre l'ensemble de fond 18 et l'ensemble de surface 22 est établi à travers successivement le tronçon inférieur 28, la colonne montante 30, le tronçon de raccordement 32 et le tronçon supérieur 34. Le fluide recueilli par l'ensemble de fond 18 est alors transporté jusqu'à l'ensemble de surface 22 à travers le passage 52.In this configuration, the continuous passage 54 of hydrocarbon circulation between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22 is established successively through the lower section 28, the riser 30, the connection section 32 and the section. 34. The fluid collected by the bottom assembly 18 is then transported to the surface assembly 22 through the passage 52.

Une deuxième installation 120 selon l'invention est représentée sur la Figure 6. A la différence de la tour 20 de la première installation 10, la tour 20 de la deuxième installation 120 comporte une bouée 26 qui présente un deuxième passage 78B sensiblement vertical à travers la bouée 26.A second installation 120 according to the invention is represented on the Figure 6 . Unlike the tower 20 of the first installation 10, the tower 20 of the second installation 120 comprises a buoy 26 which has a second passage 78B substantially vertical through the buoy 26.

Ainsi, le deuxième passage 78 est délimité avantageusement par un tube 83A en forme de J ou « J tube » en anglais.Thus, the second passage 78 is delimited advantageously by a tube 83A J-shaped or "J tube" in English.

Le tube 83B comporte ainsi une partie supérieure 84B sensiblement parallèle à l'axe A-A' du premier passage 78A et une partie inférieure 85B d'axe incliné par rapport à la partie supérieure 84B, notamment d'un angle α compris entre 30°et 65°.The tube 83B thus has an upper portion 84B substantially parallel to the axis AA 'of the first passage 78A and a lower portion 85B inclined axis relative to the upper portion 84B, in particular an angle α of between 30 ° and 65 ° °.

La partie inférieure 85B inclinée fait saillie vers le bas à partir de la surface inférieure 66A de la bouée 26.The inclined lower portion 85B projects downward from the lower surface 66A of the buoy 26.

La tour 20 de la deuxième installation 120 est pour le reste identique à la tour 20 de la première installation 10.The tower 20 of the second installation 120 is otherwise identical to the tower 20 of the first installation 10.

Le procédé mis en place de la tour 20 représenté sur la Figure 6 est analogue au procédé de mise en place de la tour 20 représenté sur la Figure 1.The process put in place of the tower 20 shown on the Figure 6 is analogous to the method of setting up the tower 20 shown in FIG. Figure 1 .

Dans une variante, le tronçon intermédiaire 30 est dépourvu de raidisseur 42B et d'organe de guidage 42A, et le tronçon supérieur 34 est dépourvu de raidisseur 52B et d'organe de guidage 52A.In a variant, the intermediate portion 30 has no stiffener 42B and a guide member 42A, and the upper portion 34 has no stiffener 52B and a guide member 52A.

Dans une autre variante, lors de la mise en place de la tour 20, la bouée 26 est immergée dans l'étendue d'eau 12 en maintenant la configuration en U du tronçon intermédiaire 30, entre le navire de pose 90 et la bouée 26.In another variant, when setting up the tower 20, the buoy 26 is immersed in the body of water 12 while maintaining the U-shaped configuration of the intermediate section 30, between the laying ship 90 and the buoy 26 .

Puis, le point aval 38 est déplacé sous la bouée 26 par l'intermédiaire d'une ligne de déploiement (non représentée), après immersion de la bouée.Then, the downstream point 38 is moved under the buoy 26 via a deployment line (not shown), after immersion of the buoy.

Claims (14)

  1. A tower (20) for exploiting fluid through an expanse of water (12), comprising:
    - a fluid transporting pipe (24), designed to be submerged in the expanse of water (12), the transporting pipe (24) including a lower section (28) designed to be connected to a bottom assembly (18) producing fluid, a flexible upper section (34) designed to be connected to a surface assembly (22), and an intermediate section (30) placed between the upper flexible section (34) and the lower section (28);
    - an element (25) for anchoring the transporting pipe (24) to the bottom (14) of the expanse of water (12), connected to an upstream point (38) of the intermediate section (30);
    - a buoy (26) designed to be completely submerged under the surface of the expanse of water (12), the buoy (26) being connected to a downstream point (40) of the intermediate section to keep the intermediate section (40) situated between the downstream point (40) and the upstream point (38) in a substantially vertical configuration under tension,
    the buoy (26) having a height, considered along a vertical axis (A-A'), less than 1.5 times its maximum transverse direction, the buoy (26) delimiting a first through passage (78A) in which the intermediate section (30) is engaged,
    the buoy (26) defining a second through passage (78B), distinct from the first through passage (78A), characterized in that the second through passage (78B) receives the upper section (34), the tower (20) including a connecting section (32) connecting the upper section (34) to the intermediate section (30).
  2. The tower (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that each through passage (78A, 78B) defines a lower opening (82A, 82B) and an upper opening (80A, 80B), the intermediate section (30) being engaged in the first through passage (78A) from the lower opening (82A) toward the upper opening (80A), the upper section (34) being engaged through the through passage (78B) from the lower opening (82B) to the upper opening (80B), the connecting section (32) being situated above the buoy (26).
  3. The tower (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the buoy has an upper surface (66B) supporting the connecting section (32), the connecting section (32) advantageously being formed by a rigid pipe.
  4. The tower (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting section (32) has a first fastening means for the intermediate section (30) emerging across from an upper opening (80A) of the first through passage (72A), the connecting section having a second fastening means for the upper section (34) emerging across from an upper opening (80B) of the second through passage (78B).
  5. The tower (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first through passage (78A) extends substantially vertically through the buoy (26), the second through passage (78B) extending substantially vertically through the buoy (26).
  6. The tower (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first through passage (78A) extends substantially vertically through the buoy (26), the second through passage (78B) extending at an incline with respect to the first through passage (78A).
  7. The tower (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate section (30) is formed by a flexible pipe, the flexible pipe being capable of being wound and unwound reversibly without significant plastic deformation on a drum or a magazine.
  8. The tower (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the buoy (26) has a first guide tube (83A) defining the first through passage (78A) and a second guide tube (83B) defining the second through passage (78B), at least one of the first guide tube and the second guide tube being an I or J tube.
  9. The tower (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one from among the intermediate section (30) and the upper section (34) is provided with at least one guide member (42A, 52A) protruding radially with respect to said section (30, 34) to guide the movement of said section through a respective through passage (78A, 78).
  10. An installation method for a tower (20) for exploiting fluid through an expanse of water (12), comprising the following steps:
    - bringing a buoy (26) into the expanse of water (12), substantially across from an anchoring region on the bottom (14) of the expanse of water (12);
    - connecting, on the buoy (26), a downstream point (40) of an intermediate section (30) of a fluid transporting pipe (24);
    - connecting, on the buoy (26), an upstream end (51 A) of an upper flexible section (34) of the fluid transporting pipe (24), designed to be connected to a surface assembly (22);
    - completely submerging the buoy (26) under the surface of the expanse of water (12), before or after the connecting step of the downstream point (40);
    - anchoring an upstream point (38) of the intermediate section (30) on an anchoring element (25) fixed in the bottom (14) of the expanse of water (12) in the anchoring region;
    - tensing the intermediate section (30) of the transporting pipe (24) between the downstream point (40) and the upstream point (38) under the effect of the buoyancy of the buoy (26), to keep the intermediate section (30) substantially vertical in the expanse of water (12);
    - connecting, on the intermediate section (30), a lower section (26) of the fluid transporting pipe (24) designed to be connected to a bottom assembly (12) and producing fluid;
    - connecting the intermediate section (30) and the upper section (34) by a connecting section (32),
    the buoy (26) having a height, considered along the vertical axis (A-A'), less than 1.5 times its maximum transverse direction considered transversely to the vertical axis (A-A'), the step for connecting the intermediate section (30) including engaging the intermediate section (30) through a first through passage (78A) formed through the buoy (26);
    characterized in that the upper section (34) is engaged through a second through passage (78B) separate from the first through passage (78A) to be connected to the intermediate section (30) by means of the connecting section (32).
  11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in the step for connecting the intermediate section (30) and the upper section (34) using the connecting section (32) is done before the step for submerging the buoy (26) under the expanse of water (12).
  12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in the first through passage (78A) and the second through passage (78B) each define a lower opening (82A, 82B) and an upper opening (80A, 80B), the intermediate section (30) being engaged in the first through passage (78A) from the lower opening (82A) toward the upper opening (80A), the upper section (34) being engaged in the second through passage (78B) from the lower opening (82B) toward the upper opening (80B).
  13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the intermediate section (30) is flexible over substantially the entire length thereof between the downstream point (40) and the upstream point (38), the intermediate section (30) being gradually deployed in the expanse of water (12) between the downstream point (40) fixed on the buoy (26) and a floating placement structure (90) on the expanse of water (12) during the deployment step, the intermediate section (30) being unwound from the placement structure (90) on which it is transported while being wound on a placement drum or on a magazine.
  14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that it includes a step for gradual ballasting of the buoy (26), after the steps for connecting the intermediate section (30) and the upper section (34) on the connecting section (32) to lower the upstream point (38) toward the anchoring element (25), the method advantageously comprising pulling the upstream point (38) toward the anchoring element (25) using a pulling line (100) engaged on a return member (64) supported by the anchoring element (25).
EP11796754.7A 2010-11-17 2011-11-17 Tower for exploiting fluid in an expanse of water and associated installation method Not-in-force EP2640923B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1059444A FR2967451B1 (en) 2010-11-17 2010-11-17 FLUID OPERATING TOWER IN WATER EXTEND AND ASSOCIATED INSTALLATION METHOD
PCT/FR2011/052685 WO2012066250A1 (en) 2010-11-17 2011-11-17 Tower for exploiting fluid in an expanse of water and associated installation method

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EP2640923A1 EP2640923A1 (en) 2013-09-25
EP2640923B1 true EP2640923B1 (en) 2016-02-10

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US (1) US9322222B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2640923B1 (en)
AP (1) AP2013006917A0 (en)
AU (1) AU2011331012B2 (en)
BR (1) BR112013012172A2 (en)
FR (1) FR2967451B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2012066250A1 (en)

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FR3040725B1 (en) * 2015-09-07 2019-05-24 Doris Engineering ASSEMBLY FOR TURNING UP AN UPLOAD COLUMN FOR THE TRANSPORT OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

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Also Published As

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FR2967451A1 (en) 2012-05-18
WO2012066250A1 (en) 2012-05-24
US9322222B2 (en) 2016-04-26
AP2013006917A0 (en) 2013-06-30
BR112013012172A2 (en) 2016-08-16
AU2011331012A1 (en) 2013-07-04
EP2640923A1 (en) 2013-09-25
AU2011331012B2 (en) 2017-03-09
FR2967451B1 (en) 2012-12-28
US20130277061A1 (en) 2013-10-24

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