OA16949A - Floatable spoolbase with intermediate carousel storage. - Google Patents

Abstract

A floatable spoolbase (10) for supplying rigid pipe (20) to a reel-lay pipelaying vessel (58) comprises a storage reel (18) with an upright rotational axis (22) for interim storage of a continuous length of pipe (20). Welding stations (30) upstream of the storage reel (18) add pipe elements (26) to the pipe (20) to be stored on the storage reel (18). When a pipelaying vessel (58) visits the spoolbase (10), the pipe (20) is unwound from the storage reel (18) and fed to a pipelay reel (60) of the pipelaying vessel (58). Where the pipelay reel (60) turns about a substantially horizontal rotational axis (62), winding the pipe (20) onto the pipelay reel (60) reduces ovalisation of the pipe (20) imparted by previously winding the pipe (20) onto the storage reel (18).

Description

Floatable spoolbase with Intermediate carousel storage

This invention relates to spooibases used in support of reel-lay subsea pipelaying operations.

Reel-lay operations involve winding or spooling a continuous pipe of welded éléments onto a reel of a pipelaying vessel, to be unwound or unspooled subsequently during pipelaying atsea. Fabricationandwinding ofthe pipe typicallytakes placeatan on-shore spoolbase that the vessel visits when necessary for loading.

A well-known method of fabricatlng a pipe for reel-lay operations involves welding together standard pipe joints ata spoolbase to form very long straight stalks, which may be up to one or two kilométrés in length. The welds between pipe joints are tested and coated and then the resulting stalks are stored beside each other at the spoolbase, most 15 conveniently oriented in parallel arrays, endwise to shore. When a pipelaying vessel Is ready to be loaded, the stalks are welded together successively end-to-end to croate a continuous length of pipe while the pipe Is being wound onto the reel of the vessel.

Efficiently, stalks may be assembled and stored while a pipelaying vessel is away from the 20 spoolbase on pipelaying operations. However, the need for welding together of successive stalks (with the related operations of weld-testing and coating) slows the winding process. This delays the retum of the pipelaying vessel to productive use at sea.

ln view of this problem, spooibases hâve been designed to store the greatest possible 25 continuous length of pipe that can be accommodated at the spoolbase. Any increase over a normal stalk length is advantageous to speed loading of a pipelaying vessel by reducing the number of welds between stalks. However, the idéal is for a spoolbase to manufacture and store a continuous length of pipe whose length approaches, equals or exceeds the capacity of the pipelaying vessel. In that way, it is possible for the winding process to be 30 completed quickly with minimal welding during winding or preferably with no welding during winding at ail.

Of course, Increasing the continuous length of pipe held at a spoolbase will tend to Increase the size of the spoolbase itself. Conventionally, a spoolbase must be built beside 35 navigable water on a coast or on a wide river, on reasonably fiat land with adéquate local services that should preferably Include road or rail access for personnel and supplies, ln « 2 . many parts of the worid, such a large area of suitable land is difficult to find, if indeed It is available at ali.

If straight stalks that are up to two kilométrés in length are disposed end-wise to the shore, a spoolbase handling such stalks must extend a very long way inland. As It is impractical to fabricate, handle and store straight stalks that are much longer than this, and as such stalks are still too short to avoid the need for multiple welds during winding, proposais hâve been made to store greater lengths of welded pipe at a spoolbase in a curved carousel configuration. In this respect, nominalîy rigid pipes hâve sufficient flexibility to be bent if a minimum bend radius ls observed, albeit that the minimum bend radius is typically several tens of métrés. Bending may be restricted to within elastic limits or may extend into plastic deformation of the pipe that is capable of being recovered by subséquent straightening processes.

For example, EP 0909254 disdoses a pipeline storage facility comprising a closed loop of rail track in a horizontal plane, with synchronised bogies distributed around the loop to receive and retain multiple tums of welded pipe in a spiral carousel arrangement The minimum bend radius is preferably selected so as not to exceed the elastic yield limit of the pipe, hence avoiding plastic deformation. However, slight plastic deformation of the pipe is permissible with subséquent straightening. To suit a pipe of typically sixteen Inches (406 mm) ln diameter, the diameter of the carousel must be 300 to 400 métrés or more. This still requires a large area of fiat land with access to navigable water.

Another proposai, disclosed ln US 6540440, is known in the art by the trade mark O-lay'.

This involves fabrication of a pipe by welding together pipe Joints aiong a firing line situated onshore or on a barge, with the firing fine axis extending offshore or off the barge to store the pipe ln a spirally-wound carousel that floats fiat on the water.

The fabrication site used for O-lay is nottruly a spoolbase because the stored pipe is not transferred there to a visiting reel-lay vessel. Instead, once fully formed, the floating spiral carousel is towed by tugs to a laying site to be unwound progressive^ as the pipe is fed Into and laid by a pipelaying vessel that launches the pipe to the seabed. Again, the diameter of the carousel must be 300 to 400 mètres or more to minimise plastic deformation during storage of the pipe and during its transportation to a iaying site.

Whilst O-lay is less demanding of land area than the other techniques discussed above, it still requires a large area of sheltered water Immediately offshore to be kept for exclusive use, and a window of reasonably calm weather during the fabrication and storage process. Also, the wlde floating carousel Is not apt to be transported quickly or economlcally over great distances, particularly In high sea states.

US 7544013 proposes a different solution, which also minimises land use and yet supplies welded pipe to a conventional pipelaying vessel that can deliver the pipe quickly and economically to a distant laylng site. In this solution, a floating fabrication barge Is moored to a quay and fabricates a pipe along a firing line extending offshore from the quay. A floating reel barge Is joined by an articulated arm to the offshore end of the fabrication barge In alignment with the firing line, to store the fabricated pipe on an intermediate storage reel with a horizontal axis. The radius ofthe storage reel Is small enough that the pipe undergoes plastic deformation on being wound onto that reel.

The stored pipe is transferred from the storage reel to a pipelaying vessel during loading, undergolng elastic deformation on being unwound from the storage reel but requiring no straightening before beingwound onto a pipelay reel ofthe pipelaying vessel. Theplastic deformation ofthe pipe therefore remains and In fact Is Increased by winding onto the pipelay reel of the pipelaying vessel, which has a smaller diameter than the storage reel.

As the weight of the storage reel will change greatly during storage and transfer operations, the barges of US 7544013 hâve ballasting système to adjust their buoyancy to keep them at approximately the same level In the water as each other. This Is necessary for accurate and compact winding of the pipe on the storage reel. However, the independent ballasting Systems ofthe barges and the articulated arm between them add undesirable complexity to this solution.

Also, the repeated plastic deformation of the pipe around the successive reels of US 7544013 Increases the ovality ofthe pipe In cross-section. Ovalisation increases the challenge of straightening the pipe upon laying and may Irredeemably distort any liner within the pipe. If not substantially corrected during laying, ovalisation may increase the risk of the pipe collapsing or buckling when being laid or In use.

It is against this background that the présent invention has been devlsed.

In apparatus terms, the Invention résides in a water-based spoolbase for supplying rigld pipe to a reel-lay pipelaying vessel that visits the spoolbase, the spoolbase comprising at least one storage reel with an upright rotational axis for Intérim storage of a continuous length of pipe before its supply to a plpeiay reel of the pipelaylng vessel; and at least one welding station upstream of the storage reel for adding pipe éléments to the pipe to be stored on the storage reel.

The spoolbase preferably has at least one pipe fabrication line comprising a linear array of welding stations opérable on a sériés of pipe éléments to assemble the pipe. In that case, where the spoolbase has an elongate deck, the or each pipe fabrication line conveniently extends along the deck and is offsetto one sideofthe deck. Also, Îtis bénéficiai to space utilisation on the deck of the spoolbase if a firing line axis of the pipe fabrication line is outboard of the rotational axis of the storage reel. The firing line axis may, for example, be substantially aligned with a pipe support surface of the storage reel.

Where the spoolbase has an elongate deck, the rotational axis of the storage reel is preferably offset to one side of the deck. For example, the rotational axis of the storage 15 reel may be offset to the same side of the deck as the pipe fabrication line. This also enables a pipe supply path from the storage reel to the pipelayreel ofthe pipelaying vessel to be disposed conveniently to a side of the storage reel nearer a longitudinal centreline of the deck.

The spoolbase preferably further comprises a storage zone for storing pipe éléments before they are added to the pipe. Where the spoolbase has an elongate deck, the * storage zone suitably extends along the deck and is offset to one side of the deck. For example, the storage zone may be offset to the opposite side of the deck from the fabrication line.

For simplicity of construction and ease of ballasting, ail of the aforementioned structures of the invention are preferably supported by a unitary rigid body. Such a body is advantageously buoyant, in which case the body suitably has a plurality of buoyancy chambers each with variable buoyancy. It is also, or altematively, possible for the body to 30 be supported by the seabed under a water-based working site.

Where a spoolbase of the invention has an elongate deck, the spoolbase may, to advantage, be located slde-on to a docking facility from which pipe éléments are supplied. In that case, the storage zone is preferably offset to the side of the deck adjacent the 35 docking facility. However, it is also possible for the spoolbase of the invention to be located end-on to a docking facility from which pipe éléments are supplied. Indeed, it is even possible for the spoolbase to be located offshore for supply of pipe éléments by sea.

The Invention extends to the combination of the spoolbase ofthe Invention with a pipelaying vessel having a pipelay reel to which pipe is supplied from the storage reei of the spoolbase. That pipelay reel preferably has a substantially horizontal rotational axis and is advantageously of smaller diameter than the storage reel of the spoolbase; for example, the diameter of the storage reel may be 1.1 to 1.3 times the diameter of the pipelay reel. Where the spoolbase has an elongate deck, the pipelaying vessel may, for example, be located at an end of the deck.

The Inventive concept also embraces a method of storing rigld pipe at a water-based spoolbase for supply to a reel-lay pipelaying vessel that visits the spoolbase, the method comprising welding pipe éléments to a pipe and winding the pipe onto a storage reel having an upright rotational axis.

The method of the invention suitably comprises feeding the pipe after welding to the storage reel on an axis outboard of the rotational axis of the storage reel. The pipe suitably undergoes plastic deformation on being wound onto the storage reel.

Similarly, the inventive concept encompasses a method of suppiying rigid pipe from a water-based spoolbase to a reel-lay pipelaying vessel visiting the spoolbase, the method comprising unwinding the pipe from a storage reel having an upright rotational axis and feeding the pipe to a pipelay reel of the pipelaying vessel. Pipe is preferably supplied from the storage reel to the pipelaying vessel from an axis inboard of the rotational axis of the storage reel.

Plastic deformation of the pipe is preferably maintained on the pipe being unwound from the storage reei and being wound onto the pipelay reel. Indeed, plastic deformation of the pipe may be increased on being wound onto the pipelay reel.

It is advantageous that the pipelay reel tums about a substantially horizontal rotational axis such that winding the pipe onto the pipelay reel reduces ovalisation of the pipe Imparted by previously winding the pipe onto the storage reel.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, référencé wiil now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view of a barge in accordance with the Invention, oriented side-on to a quay and having an intermediate storage reel for winding pipe fabricated on the barge;

Figure 2 is a cross-section on line ll-ll of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view ofthe barge of Figure 1, in this instance oriented end-on to a quay and in the process of transferring pipe from the storage reel to a pipelay reel of a reel-lay pipelaying vessel moored end-on to the barge;

¹⁰ . Figures 4a to 4d are a sequence of schematic cross-sectional views showing the pipe deforming before and after winding onto the storage reel and before and after winding onto the pipelay reel; and

Figure 5 is a schematic top plan view of a further embodiment of the invention in which a barge has preliminary fabrication zones for assembling pipe stalks.

As best shown in Figure 1, a barge 10 serving as a spoolbase in accordance with the invention is of generally oblong form in pian view. The ends ofthe barge 10 hâve a width 20 of typically 40 to 60 métrés and its sides hâve a length of typically 150 to 200 métrés.

On its deck 12, the barge 10 has an elongate pipe joint storage zone 14 extending along its length on one side. An elongate pipe fabrication zone 16 extends in parallel along its length on the other side.

An intermediate storage reel 18 Is disposed nearan end ofthe deck 12. The storage reel 18 provides intérim storage for a long, continuous length of rigid pipe 20 fabricated incrementally by successive welding operations in the pipe fabrication zone 16.

The storage reel 18 tums about a vertical rotational axis 22, which helpfully lowers the centre of gravity of that reel 18 compared with a reel of équivalent size tuming about a horizontal axis as disclosed in US 7544013. The rotational axis 22 ofthe storage reel 18 is offset to one side ofthe barge 10, to place that reel 18 at an end of the pipe fabrication zone 16.

The pipe joint storage zone 14 holds stacks 24 of double pipe joints 26 ready to be transferred individually across the barge 10 to the pipe fabrication zone 16 for fabrication by welding Into pipe stalks 28. The barge 10 will typically hâve an on-board crâne and/or conveyor facility for the purpose of transferring the double pipe joints 26 across the barge 10 from one zone 14,16 to another but such routine details hâve been omitted from the drawings for darity. Once fabricated, pipe stalks 26 are wound directly onto the storage reel 16 after being welded to the end of any pipe 20 that is already on that reel 18.

The pipe fabrication zone 16 comprises a straight-line array of three welding stations 30 along a firing-line axis 32 at which a sériés of four double pipe joints 26 are welded simultaneously end-to-end to form a pipe stalk 28. A coating station 34 downstream of the array of welding stations 30 applies a field joint coating to each weld région as the pipe stalk 28 advances ln stepwise fashion through the coating station 34 and onto the storage reel 18.

The various welds could be tested at the welding stations 30, although one or more testing stations (not shown) could Instead be disposed downstream of the welding stations 30 if required. Any suitable number of coating stations 34 can be employed; for example a dedicated coating station 34 could be disposed downstream of each welding station 30.

As best shown in the cross-sectionai view of Figure 2, the storage reel 18 comprises a hollow body 36 that tums about a central spindle bearing 38 and is supported by relier bearings 40 between its underside and the deck 12 of the barge 10 beneath. The outer side of the body 36 présents a generally frusto-conlcal pipe support surface 42 that Is inclined inwardly and upwardly to support successive tums of pipe 20 wound spirally on the storage reel 18. The lowermost tum ofthe pipe 20 is supported by a flange 44 extending outwardly from beneath the pipe support surface 42.

Whilst only one layer of tums of the pipe 20 is shown on the storage reel 16 in Figure 2, multiple layers could be built up in outward succession. The flange 44 of the storage reel 18 can be extended outwardly to support multiple layers If needs be.

The body 36 ofthe storage reel 18 has a minimum diameter- at the top of Its frustoconlcal pipe support surface 42 - of approximately 25 métrés. Consequently, like US 7544013 discussed above, a nominaliy rigid pipe 20 will undergo plastic deformation upon winding onto the storage reel 18. Some ovalisation of the pipe 20 will occur, with the pipe section flattening on an axis extending through the rotational axis 22 of the storage reel

18. In other words, the pipe section flattens from side to side and expands from top to bottom. This deformation is shown exaggeratedly In Figure 4b, which will be discussed later.

In plan view, the firing-line axis 32 of the pipe fabrication zone 18 Is aligned generally tangentially with the storage reel 18 and Is disposed to the side of that reel 18 nearer to a side of the barge 10. This outboard positioning of the firing-line axis 32 makes best use of the space on the deck 12 of the barge 10, maximising the size of the pipe joint storage zone 14 to reduce land usage while leaving ample space for other equipment on the deck 12 such as crânes or other pipe-handling apparatus. Maximising the size of the pipe joint storage zone 14 also helps to trim the level of the barge 10 in the water, offsetting the concentrated weight of pipe 20 coiled on the storage reel 18 at one end of the barge 10 with the distributed weight of double pipe Joints 28 stored in stacks 24 along the deck 12 ofthe barge 10.

In this example, the firing-line axis 32 of the pipe fabrication zone 18 is aligned tangentially with a mean radius of the frusto-conical pipe support surface 42 of the storage reel 18. This minimises the horizontal deflection necessary to coil the pipe 20 onto the storage reel 18 as successive tums of tightenlng radius are added. Initially, deflection will be outward to wind the lowermost tums of pipe 20 against the pipe support surface 42 and that outward deflection will lessen progressively before an increasing inward deflection begins upon winding the uppermost tums of pipe 20 against the pipe support surface 42.

During the winding process, the pipe 20 fed from the pipe fabrication zone 18 must be deflected to an increasing élévation above the deck 12 with the addition of each successive tum of the pipe 20 onto the storage reel 18. To minimise the vertical deflection of the pipe 20 that is necessary to do this, the firing-line axis 32 of the pipe fabrication zone 18 may be elevated to a mid-point of the frusto-conical pipe support surface 42 of the storage reel 18. In that case, deflection wili be initially downward to wind the lowermost tums of pipe 20 and that downward deflection will lessen progressively before an increasing upward deflection begins so as to wind the uppermost tums of pipe 20.

A guide apparatus will generally be interposed between the pipe fabrication zone 18 and the storage reel 18, but such apparatus has been omitted from the drawings for clarity. The purpose of the guide apparatus is to deflect the pipe 20 appropriately on vertical and horizontal axes for tight coiling on the storage reel 18 as successive tums of pipe 20 accumulate on that reel 18.

The barge 10 has a hollow hull 46 subdivided Into an array of ballast tanks or buoyancy chambers 48 extending along and across the hull 48. Three such buoyancy chambers 48 extending across the hull 46 are shown schematically ln the cross-section of Figure 2. The buoyancy of each buoyancy chamber 48 ls individually adjustable by flooding them with ballast water 50 or by pumping ballast water 50 out as necessary to keep the barge 10 generally level in the sea 52 as its centre of gravity shifts along or across the deck 12 during fabrication, winding and transfer operations. Ballasting In this manner ls a much simpler task than coordinating two buoyant bodies linked by an articulated coupling as proposed ln US 7544013.

It will be noted in this respect that the buoyancy chambers 48 shown ln Figure 2 hâve differing levels of ballast water 50, with the chamber 48 on the llghtly-loaded right side as Illustrated containing deeper ballast water 50 than the chambers 48 on the more heavilyloaded left side as illustrated, under the storage reel 18. Similar variations will be seen ln different buoyancy chambers 48 along the length ofthe barge 10, especially as weight transfers longitudinally toward the storage reel 18 with the accumulation of successive tums of pipe 20.

Figures 1 and 2 show the barge 10 oriented side-on to a docking facility such as a quay 54 or wharf to which the barge 10 ls moored. Articulating gangways 56 provide access from the quay 54 to the barge 10 and allow the barge 10 to move relative to the quay 54 with the tide and with changes in loading.

The quay 54 may of course hâve loading fa ci lities such as roads, railways and crânes but these hâve been omitted from the drawings for clarity. Advantageously, if the barge 10 is oriented side-on to the quay 54, the pipe joint storage zone 14 lies beside the quay 54 as shown ln Figures 1 and 2, for ease of loading double pipe joints 26 and other supplies onto the barge 10.

Figure 3 shows a reel-lay pipelaying vessel 58 being replenished with pipe 20 stored on the storage reei 18 of the barge 10, and shows how the vessel 58 is moored stem-on to the end ofthe barge 10 adjacent that reel 18. ln Figure 3, the barge 10 ls shown in an alternative orientation end-on to a quay 54, which requires a shorter length of quay 54 and may also be advantageous to facilitate deeper-water access by the pipelaying vessel 58 moored at the offshore end of the barge 10.

Of course, if the barge 10 Is instead o ri en te d side-on to a quay 54 as shown in Figure 1, the pipeiaying vessel 58 can conveniently moor beside the quay 54 at an end ofthe barge 10 if the quay 54 Is long enough and if a deep enough mooring Is available. Alternativeiy, in principle, it would even be possible for the pipeiaying vessel 58 to moor stem-on to the side ofthe barge 10 facing away from the quay 54, when the barge 10 is oriented side-on to the quay 54.

The pipeiaying vessel 58 shown in Figure 3 has a pipelay reei 60 that tums on a horizontal rotational axis 62. in a transfer operation, pipe 20 is uncolied from the storage reei 18 of the barge 10 with elastic deformation and travels from there to be wound onto the pipelay reei 60 of the pipeiaying vessel 58.

The diameter of the drum of the storage reei 18 is greater than the drum of the pipelay reei 60 ofthe pipeiaying vessel 58. Thus, the pipelay reei 60 ofthe pipeiayingvessel 58 has a pipe support surface 64 that Is of smaller diameter than the storage reei 18 of the barge 10. The pipe 20 therefore requires no straightening on being unwound from the storage reei 18 and undergoes further plastic deformation on being wound onto the pipelay reei 60.

If the storage reei 18 has a drum diameter of say 25 métrés, then the drum diameter of the pipelay reei 60 may be no more than 20 métrés, for example 16 to 18 métrés. More generally, the storage reei 18 has a drum diameter greater than that of the pipelay reei 60, preferably between 1.1 and 1.3 times the drum diameterofthe pipelay reei 60. For example, the storage reei 18 may hâve a drum diameter of 25 métrés and the pipelay reei 60 may hâve a drum diameter of 20 to 22 métrés.

As the rotational axis 62 ofthe pipelay reei 60 is in a plane that Is orthogonal to the rotational axis 22 of the storage reei 18, this further plastic deformation flattens the pipe 20 In a sense contrary to the ovalisation experienced by the pipe 20 upon winding onto the storage reei 18. In other words, the cross-section ofthe pipe 20 flattens on an axis extending through the horizontal rotational axis 62 of the pipelay reei 60, and so flattens from top to bottom and expands from side to side.

Itwiil therefore be apparent that, advantageously, frie second plastic deformation ofthe cross-section of the pipe 20 on winding it onto the pipelay reei 60 tends to correct the ovalisation that was caused by previously winding the pipe 20 onto the storage reei 18 of the barge 10.

Figures 4a to 4d show, In exaggerated schematic form, the deformation of the crosssection ofthe pipe20 through these various stages.

Initially, as shown In Figure 4a, the cross-section ofthe pipe20is substantially circular when travelling from pipe fabrication zone 16 to approach the pipe support surface 42 of the body36 ofthe storage reel 16. Then, the cross-sectionofthe pipe20 becomes elliptical due to plastic deformation upon winding onto the body 36 of the storage reel 18, with a long axis of the ellipse being neariy parallel to the vertical rotational axis 22 of that reel 18. This ovalisation is shown in Figure 4b, which ls viewed from the other side of the storage reel 18.

As shown in Figure 4c, the cross-section of the pipe 20 remains neariy as elliptical in transit to the pipelay reei 60 of the pipelaylng vessel 58, allowing for recovery of some elastic deformation on unwinding. Then, as shown in Figure 4d, the cross-section of the pipe 20 retums to near-circular due to plastic deformation upon winding onto the pipe support surface 64 of the pipelay reei 60 with Its horizontal rotational axis 62.

Again, a guide apparatus will generally be interposed between the storage reel 18 ofthe barge 10 and the pipelay reel 60 of the pipelaying vessel 58 to deflect the pipe 20 appropriately for coiling on the pipelay reel 60. As before, such apparatus has been omitted from the drawings for clarity.

Figure 3 also shows that the pipe 20 is unwound from the inboard side ofthe intermediate storage reel 18, doser to the longitudinal centreline of the barge 10. This location is conveniently central with respect to the width of the barge 10. Thus, the pipelaying vessel 58 can moor centrally to an end of the barge 10 and the pipe 20 can be transferred from the storage reel 18 of the barge 10 to the pipelay reel 60 of the vessel 58 with minimal latéral deflection.

Once its pipelay reel 60 has been replenished with a suitable length of pipe 20, the pipelaying vessel 58 can départ to a pipelay location. There, the pipe 20 is pald out from the pipelay reel 60, straightened, launched from the pipelaying vessel 58 and laid on the seabed using weli-known techniques that require no élaboration here. Meanwhile the barge 10 can résumé production and storage of pipe 20 ready for replenishlng the pipelaying vessel 58 on its retum, or for replenishlng another pipelaying vessel operating In the area.

The barge 10 is a largely self-contained pipe production and buffer storage facility that can be towed to different locations In accordance with local pipelaying demand and other commercial requirements. For example, it may be commercially attractive to offer employment to a local workforce, which indeed may be a condition of a pipelaying contract. The barge 10 can be used at non-specialised port locations that require minimal land area to be reserved for pipe joint supply, storage or preliminary processing. Also, those locations need only hâve access to shallow water as the length ofthe barge 10 can be exploited in end-on orientation to access deeper water for mooring pipelaying vessels with a large draft.

Many variations are possible within the inventive concept For example, to increase storage capacity, the barge 10 may hâve more than one storage reel 18 on its deck 12. Two or more reels 18 can be fed from one or more firing lines, and can be spaced apart on the deck 12 to aid trimming ofthe barge 10.

It would of course be possible to moor the barge 10 beside a floating pontoon instead of a quay 54, to eliminate relative tidal movement. It would also be possible to moor the barge 10 in a sheltered area away from land with suffïcient draft for a pipelaying vessel 58 to corne along side, in which case the barge 10 can be supplied by sea.

Whilst it is advantageous for the barge 10 to be floatable forwaterbome mobility, it is not essential for the barge 10 to float once it Is operational at a chosen water-based site. For example, where used in sufficiently shallow water, the barge 10 could be designed to be lowered onto the seabed while its deck 12 remalns above the surface. It is also possible for the barge 10 to hâve legs that can be jacked onto the seabed to support and level the barge 10 instead of relying entirely on buoyancy chambers 48 in the hull 46 to stabilise and trim the barge 10. It is also possible for the barge 10 to be self-propelled if it Is fitted with engines and suitable propulsion apparatus such as thrusters.

The storage reel 16 of the barge 10 could be partitioned to store different pipe diameters separately and then to unspool them onto the pipelay reel 60, which can also be partitioned. This makes it possible to fabricate different pipes on the spoolbase and to store them on the storage reel 18 in a way that will be different to the storage on the pipelay reel 60 on the pipelaying vessel 58. This makes the System of the invention more flexible.

The pipe stalks 29 could be retumed after fabrication to the pipe joint storage zone 14 for storage before a winding operation, whereupon the pipe stalks 28 may be transferred back to the pipe fabrication zone 16 when they are to be welded onto the pipe 20 and wound onto the storage reel 19. Some pipe préparation and fabrication steps such as lining the pipe joints can be performed on land If required, whether beside the barge 10 or otherwise.

It is also possible to perform other pipe préparation and fabrication steps on the spoolbase barge, such as welding together single pipe joints to form the double pipe joints 26. In this respect, Figure 5 of the drawings shows another embodiment of the invention in which like numerals are used for like parts. In the embodiment shown In Figure 5, a barge 66 has parallel preliminary fabrication zones 69,70 that extend along the length of the barge 66 and lie between the pipe storage zone 14 and the pipe fabrication zone 16, which are counterparts of the corresponding zones in the preceding embodiment.

A first preliminary fabrication zone 68 to the opposite side of the barge 66 from the pipe fabrication zone 16 receives single joints 72 of pipe, each being typicaliy of twelve métrés in length. In this example, the first preliminary fabrication zone 68 has three welding stations 30, each of which welds together two single joints 72 to form one double joint 26 of twenty-four métrés in length. The first preliminary fabrication zone 68 therefore produces three double joints 26 in alignment with each other, that can be welded together subsequentiy In the second preliminary fabrication zone 70.

Using two welding stations 30 to join the three double joints 26, the second preliminary fabrication zone 70 préparés a sextuple joint 74 of seventy-two métrés in length. The sextuple joint 74 Is then moved onto the firing line axis 32 In the pipe fabrication zone 16, which In this example has only one welding station 30 and five field joint coating stations 34 aligned along the firing line axis 32. Fewer coating stations 34, such as three coating stations 34, may be provided in the pipe fabrication zone 16; conversely, other coating stations 34 may be provided in either or both ofthe preliminary fabrication zones 68,70 but these hâve been omitted from Figure 5 for clarity.

The arrangement shown in Figure 5 reduces the cycle time and allows a stalk of seventytwo métrés in length to be spooled in one operation onto the storage reel 18.

Of course, a longer stalk could be produced and spooled by increasing the number of welding stations 30 and coating stations 34. For example, there could be four welding stations 30 In the first preliminary fabrication zone 66 to produce four double joints 26 from eight single joints 72. in that case, the second preliminary fabrication zone 70 wili hâve three welding stations to weld together the four double joints 26 to form a stalk - or an octuple joint - that is ninety-six métrés in length. There will again be one welding station

30 In the pipe fabrication zone 16 to weld the stalk to the pipe 20 already on the storage reel 16, but in this example there will generally be more coating stations 34 In the pipe fabrication zone 16.

Conveniently, welding may be performed sîmultaneously at ali welding stations 30 of the first preliminary fabrication zone 66 and in the next step, at ail welding stations 30 of the second preliminary fabrication zone 70. Similariy, field joint coating can be performed sîmultaneously at ail coating stations 34 on the firing line in the pipe fabrication zone 16.

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Claims (31)

1. Claim·

   1. A wster-based spoolbas® forsupplying rigld pipe to a reeMay plpelaylng vessel that visita the spodbase, the spoolbase comprising at least onp storage reel with an upright rotational axl· for Intérim storage of a continuons length of pipe before Its supply to a plpelay réel of the plpelaylng vessel; and at teast one welding station upstrsam of the storage reel faraddhg pipe éléments to the pipe to be stored on the storage reel.

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2. 2. Tha spcolbaso of Claim 1 and having a pipe fabrication line comprising a linear arrsy of welding stations opérable on a taries of pipe éléments to assemble lhe pipe.
3. 3. The spoolbsse of Claim 2 and having an elongate deck, wherein the pipe fabrication line extends along the deck and te offset to one aide ofthe deck.
4. 4. The spoolbase of Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein a firlng Une axis of the pipe fabrication line is outboard of the rotational aids of the storage reel.
5. 5. The spoolbase of Claim 4, wherein lhe flrfng Une axis ta substantially allgned with a pipe support surface of the storage reel * 5. The spoolbsse of any preceding daim and having an elongate deck, wherein the rotational axis of the storage real to offset to ono skie of tha dock.
6. 7. The apoobase of Claim 6 when depending directly or Indirectiy from Claim 3, wherein the rotational axh of tha storage reel te offset to the same aide of the deck as the pipe fabrication Une.
7. 8, Tha spoolbsse of Claim B or Claim 7 and having a pipe supply path from the storage reel to lhe plpelay reel ofthe plpelaylng vessel, which path to disposed to a side bf the storage reel nsarer a longitudinal contrellne of tha deck.

   0. The apoobase of eny preceding daim, further comprising a storage zone for storing pipe otemente before they are added to the pipe.
8. 10. Tha spoolbase of Claim 9 and comprising an elongate deck, wherein lhe storage zone extends along the deck end la offset to one aide ofthe dock. .43:45-05 022014 17:45.49. Thftpag· SÇAMENDED SHEET^,9-°2ⁱ014 17.45:21

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9. 11. The spoolbase of Claim 10 when dependlng directly or tadlrecUy from Claim 9, wherein me storage zone Is offset to the opposite side of the deck from the fabrication Bne.
10. 12. The epodbasa of any preceding daim and having ail structures redted thereln supported by a unltary rlgld body. ‘
11. 13. Tho spoolbase of Claim 12, wherein tha body la bucyantand has a plurality of buoyancy chambers each with variable büoyancy.
12. 14. The spodbaae of Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the body Is enrânged to be supported by the seabed under · water-bsiad worklng site,

    1S
13. 15. The spoolbase of any preceding daim and having an elongate deck, when located slde-on to a doddng facility from which pipe éléments are supplled.
14. 16. The Bpooibase of Claim 15 when dependlng directly or Indlrectiy from Claim 10. wherein lhe storage zone h offset ta the side of the deck adlecent the docklng facility.

    20 ·
15. 17. The spoolbase of any of Ctahna 1 ta 14 and having en elongate deck. when located end-on to e docJdng facility from which pipe éléments are supplled.
16. 18. The spoolbase of any of Clalms 1 to 14, when located offshore for supply of pipe éléments by see.
17. 19. In combination, the spoolbase of any preceding daim and a plpelaylng vessel having a pipelay red for receiving pipe supplled from the storage rael of the spoolbase.
18. 20, The combination of Claim 19, wherein the spoolbase has an elongato deck end the pipetaylng vessel to located et an end ofthe deck.
19. 21. The combination of Claim 19 or Claim 20, wherein the pipelay reel of the plpelaylng vessel has a substanUany horizontal rotational aids.
20. 22. The combination of any of Cfakne 19 to 21, wherein the pipelay reel of the plpelaylng vessel h of ensiler diameter than the storage reel of the spootbaea.

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21. 23. The combination of Claim 22. wherein the diameter of the storage real la 1.1 to 1.3 times the diameter ofthe pipelay reel.
22. 24. A method of storing rigid pipe at a water-bmwd spoolbase for tupply to a red-lay pipelaying vessel that vtatts frie epoolbaee, the method comprising welding pipe éléments to a pipe and winding the pipe onto a storage red having an upright rotational axis.
23. 25. The method of Claim 24, comprising feeding the pipa after welding to the storage reel on an axis outboard ofthe rotational exfa of the storage reel

    25. Iha method of Claim 24 or Claim 25, wherein the spoolbase la located at a doddng facility from which pipe element· are supplied.
24. 27. The method of Claim 24 or Claim 25, wherein the spoolbase Is tocded offshore for supply.of pipe demento by ses. .
25. 28. The method of any of Claims 24 to 27, wherein the pipe undergoes plastic deformation on being wound onto the storage reel. ·
26. 29. A method of supptylng rigid pipe from a waterbased epoolbase to a reeUay pipelaying vessel vfslting the epoobeae, the method comprising urtwlndlng the pipe from a storage reel having an upright rotational axla and feeding the pipe to a pipday reel ofthe plpdaying vessd.
27. 30. The method of Claim 29. comprising eupptylng the pipe from the storage red to the plpdaying vessel from an axli Inboard ofthe rotational axh ofthe storage red.
28. 31. The method of Claim 29 or Ctalm 30, comprising melntelnlng plastic deformation of the pipe on being urwround Wm the storage red and being wound onto the pipday réel.
29. 32. The method of Claim 31, comprising Incroadng plastic deformation of the pipe on being wound onto the pipelay reel.
30. 33. The method cT any of Clatins 29 to 32, wherein the pipday reel tume about a

    Bubstantielly horizontal rotational axis suoh that winding the pipe onto the pipday rod reduces ovdlsetton of the pipe Imparted by previously winding the pipe onto the storage red. '
31. 34. The method of enyûf Claim· 24 tt>32 end being performed when the epoofooM Aoste on the water.