GB1293191A - Method and apparatus for installing a flowline on an offshore structure - Google Patents

Abstract

1293191 Underwater pipelaying ESSO PRODUCTION RESEARCH CO 23 Jan 1970 [10 Feb 1969 18 Sept 1969] 3316/70 Heading F2P A method and apparatus for installing a flowline 28 on an offshore structure 21 includes a device on the structure 21 for guiding a downwardly moving line 28 through about 90 degrees from the vertical to the horizontal. As shown the guiding device may be a conduit 24. The structure and conduit may both be totally or partially submerged, a rig, like rig 16 being provided on the structure in the latter case. As shown, a flexible member 27, e.g. a cable or chain may be passed from barge 14 to barge 15 via the conduit, connecting the flowline to it and then installing it. The flowline 28, may be pulled and/or pushed through the conduit and its rear end connected to a wellhead 23b by means 29. Additional tube lengths 17 may be fitted to extend the flowline 28. To reduce friction within the conduit; its inner wall and/or the exterior of the flowline may be lubricated by grease and/or rollers fitted to the conduit wall. Residual curvature in the flowline may be eliminated by a slight reverse curvature in the conduit near its end 25 or by rollers which induce a reverse curvature. Rollers may be located on the conduit 24 at each point where the flowline 28 would otherwise have touched it and thereby perform the guiding function.