NL2004877C2 - Method for laying a pipeline offshore using an s-lay system provided with a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes. - Google Patents

Method for laying a pipeline offshore using an s-lay system provided with a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes. Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2004877C2
NL2004877C2 NL2004877A NL2004877A NL2004877C2 NL 2004877 C2 NL2004877 C2 NL 2004877C2 NL 2004877 A NL2004877 A NL 2004877A NL 2004877 A NL2004877 A NL 2004877A NL 2004877 C2 NL2004877 C2 NL 2004877C2
Authority
NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
pipeline
stinger
location
lay
tensioning
Prior art date
Application number
NL2004877A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Andre Luur Jan Steenhuis
Tjomme Norden
Original Assignee
Allseas Group Sa
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Allseas Group Sa filed Critical Allseas Group Sa
Priority to NL2004877A priority Critical patent/NL2004877C2/en
Priority to PCT/EP2011/059693 priority patent/WO2011154526A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2004877C2 publication Critical patent/NL2004877C2/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/12—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/16—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water on the bottom
    • F16L1/18—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water on the bottom the pipes being S- or J-shaped and under tension during laying
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/12—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/20—Accessories therefor, e.g. floats, weights
    • F16L1/225—Stingers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/12—Laying or reclaiming pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/20—Accessories therefor, e.g. floats, weights
    • F16L1/235—Apparatus for controlling the pipe during laying

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pipeline Systems (AREA)

Description

Method for laying a pipeline offshore using an S-lay system provided with a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes
The present invention relates generally to pipeline 5 laying and more particular to a method for laying a pipeline offshore using an S-lay system provided with a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes.
There are currently two main methods for laying a pipeline: the J-lay method and the S-lay method.
10 The J-lay method is commonly used for deepwater pipe laying. With this method a length of pipe is erected to a vertical position, welded to the main pipeline and lowered directly into the water with a single bend, giving the pipeline which is being laid the form of a "J". In order to 15 support the pipeline being laid from the vessel and to control the radius of the bend of the pipeline the vessel is provided with a pipe tensioning system that comprises tensioning devices that clamp around the pipe near the vessel side end of the pipeline and can exert a pulling 20 force on the pipeline. By exerting a pulling force on the pipeline at the vessel side end thereof the pipeline is tensioned and the radius of the bend near the seabed can be increased.
The S-lay method is becoming more and more popular for 25 deepwater and ultra-deepwater pipe laying. With this method each length of pipe to be connected to the main pipeline is welded thereto and moved in a horizontal position over a stinger into the water, with a double bend giving the pipeline which is being laid the form of an "S". Like in the 30 J-lay method, in the S-lay method the radius of the bends is controlled by exerting a pulling force on the pipeline at the vessel side end thereof, such that the pipeline is tensioned. In addition to the tensioning of the pipeline the 2 radius of the bend near the vessel can be controlled by adjusting the radius of the stinger. To be able to tension the pipeline a tensioning system is provided on a S-lay vessel that comprise tensioning devices that clamp around 5 the pipe near the vessel side end of the pipeline and can exert a pulling force on the pipeline. Since the pulling force on an S-lay vessel has a horizontal component the tensioning system on an S-lay vessel also comprises the propulsion of that vessel.
10 When laying pipeline according to the S-lay method decreasing the tension can lead to a decrease of the radius of the bend near the seabed to an extend that the pipeline is damaged, while increasing the tension leads to increased the fuel costs for keeping the vessel in place. To 15 effectively and efficiently lay the pipeline with the S-lay method control of the applied tension is therefore very important.
In the early days of the application of the S-lay method a simple and effective method was developed for 20 providing an indication of degree of tensioning of the pipeline. This method is based on the fact that when the tension applied to the pipeline is increased the pipeline is pulled away from the last roller box, the so-called tip roller box, i.e. the roller box that is nearest to the free 25 end of the stinger. This method includes the steps of applying such a tension to the pipeline that the pipeline is pulled away from the last roller box and measuring the distance between a location on the stinger in between the last roller box and the one but last roller box and a 30 location on the pipeline upstream of the last roller box relative to the feeding direction of the pipeline being laid. The measured distance can subsequently be used as a basis for controlling the applied tension. For instance 3 first a preferred distance is determined that corresponds with the correct tension. Then when the measured distance is greater than the preferred distance the tension is too high, which can be remedied by decreasing the pulling force 5 exerted on the pipeline, and when the measured distance is lesser than the preferred distance the tension is too low, which can be remedied by increasing the pulling force exerted on the pipeline. This method has been proven to be very successful and has consequently been used ever since.
10 It is an object of the present invention to further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the S-lay method.
This object is achieved according to the present invention with a method for laying a pipeline offshore using 15 an S-lay system provided with a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes, comprising the steps of - feeding a pipeline via the roller boxes of the stinger towards the seabed; and - tensioning the pipeline; 20 wherein tensioning to the pipeline comprises the step of - measuring as an indication of the degree of tensioning of the pipeline the distance between a first location and a second location, wherein - the first location is stationary relative to the 25 stinger and is located near the free end thereof, and - the second location is located on the pipeline downstream of the roller box that is nearest to the free end of the stinger relative to the feeding direction.
By measuring the distance between a first location that 30 is stationary relative to the stinger and located near the free end thereof, and a second location that is located on the pipeline downstream of the tip roller box, i.e. the roller box that is nearest to the free end of the stinger 4 relative to the feeding direction, it is no longer needed to pull the pipeline from the last roller box, such that the last roller box can support the pipeline during the laying thereof. This has the advantage that the fuel costs 5 associated with pulling the pipeline away from the last roller box in order to be able to make measurements are diminished resulting in a more efficient S-lay method. Moreover since the last roller box can support the pipeline during the laying thereof, the control over the radius of 10 the bend of the pipeline is increased, without decreasing the control over the bend of the pipeline near the seabed, resulting in a more effective S-lay method.
The present invention is further related to an S-lay system for laying a pipeline offshore, comprising 15 - a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes, - a feeding system for feeding a pipeline via the roller boxes of the stinger towards the seabed; and - a tensioning system for tensioning the pipeline; wherein the tensioning system comprises 20 - a measurement device adapted for measuring the distance between a first location and a second location, wherein - the first location is stationary relative to the stinger and is located near the free end thereof, and 25 - the second location is located on the pipeline downstream of the roller box that is nearest to the free end of the stinger relative to the feeding direction.
With this S-lay system according to the invention it is possible to perform the method according to the invention as 30 described herein above.
In an advantageous embodiment of the S-lay system according to the invention the measurement device is located at the first location and is adapted to measure the distance 5 to the second location. Applying this feature, results in a simple but effective realisation of the S-lay system according to the invention.
In a further embodiment of the S-lay system wherein the 5 measurement device is located at the first location the measurement device is a sonar-type measuring device.
Applying this feature, results in a reliable measurement of a distance to a location on the pipeline as an indication of the degree of tensioning of the pipeline.
10 In a further embodiment of the S-lay system according to the invention the measurement device is located on the stinger. Applying this feature results in a simple construction and makes it for instance possible that the measurement device is protected by the frame work of the 15 stinger.
In an alternative embodiment of the S-lay system according to the invention the measurement device is located on a construction extending from the free end of the stinger in the feeding direction. Applying this feature results in 20 an increased freedom of choice of the location and orientation of the measurement device.
The present invention is further elucidated in the following description with reference to the accompanying schematic figures.
25 Figure 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of an S-lay system according to the invention having a stinger supporting a pipeline being laid according to the S-lay method according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment 30 of the S-lay system of figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the free-end of the stinger of figure 2 in detail.
6
Figure 1 shows a stinger 1 of an S-lay system for laying a pipeline 2 offshore, having a plurality of roller boxes 3a to 3m. The stinger 1 is rotatable connected with one end thereof, the vessel side end la, to an S-lay type 5 vessel 4 of which only the stern is shown. The pipeline 2 is fed from the vessel 4 via the roller boxes 3a to 3m of the stinger 1 towards the bed (not shown) of the sea 5. For feeding the pipeline via the roller boxes 3a to 3m of the stinger 1 towards the seabed in a feeding direction A, the 10 S-lay vessel 4 is provided with a feeding system (not shown). The roller boxes 3a to 3m of the stinger 1 support the pipeline 2 while it is bent from a substantially horizontal orientation towards the seabed. The radius of the bend of the pipeline 2 near the vessel 4 can be controlled 15 by adjusting the radius of the stinger 1. Near the seabed the pipeline 2 is bent from an orientation in which it is directed towards the seabed to an orientation in which it is directed substantially parallel thereto. The radius of the bend of the pipeline 2 near the seabed is controlled by 20 tensioning the pipeline 2. For tensioning the pipeline 2 the S-lay vessel 4 is provided with a tensioning system. The propulsion of the S-lay vessel 4 is part of this tensioning system. By increasing the propulsion of the S-lay vessel in the direction of arrow B, the pulling force exerted on the 25 pipeline 2 near the vessel side end thereof in the direction of arrow B is increased, resulting in an increased degree of tensioning of the pipeline 2. In order to be able to control the degree of tensioning of the pipeline 2 a sonar-type measurement device 6 being a part of the tensioning system 30 is located on the stinger 1 on a first location 7 that is stationary relative to the stinger 1 and is located near the free end lb thereof. The measurement device 6 is orientated such that it measures the distance d to a second location 8 7 on the pipeline 2 downstream of the tip roller box 3m, i.e. the roller box that is nearest to the free end lb of the stinger 1 relative to the feeding direction A. In figure 1 the path 2a corresponds with the correct degree of 5 tensioning of the pipeline 2. The distance di measured by the measurement device 6 is then the preferred distance. When the tension applied to the pipeline 2 increases the path 2a of the pipeline 2 will change to the path 2b. The measurement device 6 will then detect an increased measured 10 distance d2 relative to the preferred distance di, which is an indication that the degree of tensioning of the pipeline 2 is too high. The degree of tensioning of the pipeline 2 can then be decreased by decreasing the pulling force exerted on the vessel side end of the pipeline. On the other 15 hand, when the tension applied to the pipeline 2 decreases relative to the tension that results in the path 2a, the path 2a will change into the path 2c. The measurement device 6 will then detect a decreased measured distance d3 relative to the preferred distance di, which is an indication that the 20 degree of tensioning of the pipeline 2 is too low. The degree of tensioning of the pipeline 2 can then be increased by increasing the pulling force exerted on the vessel side end of the pipeline 2. In all three paths 2a, 2b, and 2c of pipeline 2 the pipeline 2 is supported by all roller boxes, 25 including the tip roller box 3m.
In figure 2 an alternative embodiment of the S-lay system of figure 1 is shown. This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in figure 1 in that the measurement device 6 and the first location 7 are not located on the 30 stinger 1, but on a light construction extending from the free end lb of the stinger 1 in the feeding direction A. As shown in figure 3, which shows the free-end of the stinger 1 of figure 2 in detail, in this embodiment the distance d is 8 measured substantially perpendicular to the pipeline 2. In figure 3 the path 2a corresponds with the correct degree of tensioning of the pipeline 2. The distance di measured by the measurement device 6 is then the preferred distance. When 5 the tension applied to the pipeline 2 increases, the path 2a of the pipeline 2 will change to the path 2b. The measurement device 6 will then detect an increased measured distance d2 relative to the preferred distance di, which is an indication that the degree of tensioning of the pipeline 10 2 is too high. The degree of tensioning of the pipeline 2 can then be decreased by decreasing the pulling force exerted on the vessel side end of the pipeline. On the other hand, when the tension applied to the pipeline 2 decreases relative to the tension that results in the path 2a, the 15 path 2a will change into the path 2c. The measurement device 6 will then detect a decreased measured distance d3 relative to the preferred distance di, which is an indication that the degree of tensioning of the pipeline 2 is too low. The degree of tensioning of the pipeline 2 can then be increased 20 by increasing the pulling force exerted on the vessel side end of the pipeline 2. In all three paths 2a, 2b, and 2c of pipeline 2 the pipeline 2 is supported by all roller boxes, including the tip roller box 3m.
25

Claims (6)

1. Werkwijze voor het leggen van een pijpleiding offshore door gebruik van een S-lay systeem voorzien van een 5 stinger met een pluraliteit aan rollerboxen, omvattende de stappen van - het voeden van de pijpleiding via de rollerboxen van de stinger richting de zeebodem; en - het onder spanning brengen van de pijpleiding; 10 waarbij het onder spanning brengen van de pijpleiding de stappen omvat van - het meten van de afstand tussen een eerste locatie en een tweede locatie als een indicatie van de mate waarin de pijpleiding onder spanning is gebracht, waarbij 15. de eerste locatie stationair is ten opzichte van de stinger en is gelokaliseerd nabij het vrije einde daarvan, en - de tweede locatie is gelokaliseerd op de pijpleiding ten opzichte van de voedingrichting 20 stroomafwaarts van de rollerbox die het meest nabij het vrije einde van de stinger is.Method for laying a pipeline offshore by using an S-lay system provided with a stinger with a plurality of roller boxes, comprising the steps of - feeding the pipeline via the roller boxes of the stinger towards the seabed; and - energizing the pipeline; 10 wherein the pipeline is energized comprising the steps of - measuring the distance between a first location and a second location as an indication of the extent to which the pipeline is energized, wherein the first location is stationary at with respect to the stinger and is located near the free end thereof, and the second location is located on the pipeline with respect to the feed direction 20 downstream of the roller box that is closest to the free end of the stinger. 2. S-lay systeem voor het leggen van een pijpleiding offshore, omvattende 25. een stinger met een pluraliteit aan rollerboxen, - een voedingsysteem voor het voeden via de rollerboxen van de stinger richting de zeebodem; en - een spansysteem voor het onder spanning brengen van de pijpleiding; 30 waarbij het spansysteem omvat - een meetinrichting ingericht voor het meten van de afstand tussen een eerste locatie en een tweede locatie, waarbij - de eerste locatie stationair is ten opzichte van de stinger en is gelokaliseerd nabij het vrije einde daarvan, en - de tweede locatie zich op de pijpleiding bevindt 5 ten opzichte van de voedingrichting stroomafwaarts van de rollerbox die het meest nabij het vrije einde van de stinger is.2. S-lay system for laying a pipeline offshore, comprising 25. a stinger with a plurality of roller boxes, - a feeding system for feeding via the roller boxes from the stinger towards the seabed; and - a tensioning system for placing the pipeline under tension; Wherein the tensioning system comprises - a measuring device adapted to measure the distance between a first location and a second location, wherein - the first location is stationary relative to the stinger and is located near the free end thereof, and - the second location is located on the pipeline relative to the feed direction downstream of the roller box which is closest to the free end of the stinger. 3. S-lay systeem volgens conclusie 2, waarbij 10. de meetinrichting is gelokaliseerd op de eerste locatie en is ingericht om de afstand naar de tweede locatie te meten.The S-lay system of claim 2, wherein the measuring device is located at the first location and is adapted to measure the distance to the second location. 4. S-lay systeem volgens conclusie 3, waarbij 15. de meetinrichting een sonartype meetinrichting is.The S-lay system of claim 3, wherein the measuring device is a sonar type measuring device. 5. S-lay systeem volgens één van de conclusies 2 tot en met 4, waarbij - de meetinrichting is gelokaliseerd op de stinger. 20The S-lay system according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein - the measuring device is located on the stinger. 20 6. S-lay systeem volgens één van de conclusies 2 tot en met 4, waarbij - de meerinrichting is gelokaliseerd op een constructie die zich uitstrekt vanaf het vrije einde van de stinger in de 25 voedingrichting.6. S-lay system according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein - the mooring device is located on a construction that extends from the free end of the stinger in the feed direction.
NL2004877A 2010-06-11 2010-06-11 Method for laying a pipeline offshore using an s-lay system provided with a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes. NL2004877C2 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2004877A NL2004877C2 (en) 2010-06-11 2010-06-11 Method for laying a pipeline offshore using an s-lay system provided with a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes.
PCT/EP2011/059693 WO2011154526A1 (en) 2010-06-11 2011-06-10 Method for laying a pipeline offshore using an s-lay system provided with a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2004877 2010-06-11
NL2004877A NL2004877C2 (en) 2010-06-11 2010-06-11 Method for laying a pipeline offshore using an s-lay system provided with a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
NL2004877C2 true NL2004877C2 (en) 2011-12-13

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NL2004877A NL2004877C2 (en) 2010-06-11 2010-06-11 Method for laying a pipeline offshore using an s-lay system provided with a stinger having a plurality of roller boxes.

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WO (1) WO2011154526A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105952968B (en) * 2016-07-20 2018-05-08 上海振华重工(集团)股份有限公司 A kind of stinger angular adjustment system
CN115183055B (en) * 2021-05-25 2024-05-10 中国石油工程建设有限公司 Novel Slay flexible stinger of pipe-laying ship and adjusting method

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2547984A1 (en) * 1975-10-27 1977-04-28 Krupp Gmbh Deep water pipe line laying mechanism - uses electro acoustic measuring system with hydrophones fixed to sliding tube guide
US4124990A (en) * 1975-10-20 1978-11-14 Western Gear Corporation Method and apparatus for adjusting the tension of an underwater pipeline
EP1063163A2 (en) * 1999-06-24 2000-12-27 Global Industries, Limited Pipe-laying barge with a horizontal reel
WO2002057674A1 (en) * 2001-01-19 2002-07-25 Statoil Asa Method for pipelaying from a coil to the sea bed, controlling thermal expansion

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4124990A (en) * 1975-10-20 1978-11-14 Western Gear Corporation Method and apparatus for adjusting the tension of an underwater pipeline
DE2547984A1 (en) * 1975-10-27 1977-04-28 Krupp Gmbh Deep water pipe line laying mechanism - uses electro acoustic measuring system with hydrophones fixed to sliding tube guide
EP1063163A2 (en) * 1999-06-24 2000-12-27 Global Industries, Limited Pipe-laying barge with a horizontal reel
WO2002057674A1 (en) * 2001-01-19 2002-07-25 Statoil Asa Method for pipelaying from a coil to the sea bed, controlling thermal expansion

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Publication number Publication date
WO2011154526A1 (en) 2011-12-15

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