WO2008139190A1 - Appareil pour déployer des câbles sous-marins et procédés de déploiement de câbles sous-marins - Google Patents

Appareil pour déployer des câbles sous-marins et procédés de déploiement de câbles sous-marins Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008139190A1
WO2008139190A1 PCT/GB2008/001658 GB2008001658W WO2008139190A1 WO 2008139190 A1 WO2008139190 A1 WO 2008139190A1 GB 2008001658 W GB2008001658 W GB 2008001658W WO 2008139190 A1 WO2008139190 A1 WO 2008139190A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
connector
cable
guide
shallow water
sleeve
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2008/001658
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jeremy John Richard Featherstone
Original Assignee
Blue Ocean Projects Ltd
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 Blue Ocean Projects Ltd filed Critical Blue Ocean Projects Ltd
Publication of WO2008139190A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008139190A1/fr

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G1/00—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
    • H02G1/06—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle
    • H02G1/10—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle in or under water
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G9/00—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water
    • H02G9/02—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile
    • H02G9/025—Coverings therefor, e.g. tile

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for deploying underwater cables and methods of deployment of underwater cables in shallow water.
  • This invention particularly relates to deploying cables to a support structure disposed in shallow water, typically sea, river, estuary or lake.
  • shallow water is meant water typically up to about 200 metres deep.
  • the support structure may for instance be embedded in the bed of the body of water or it may be moored, or gravity-based seated on the bed of the body of water.
  • the term "cable" throughout this specification should be taken to include any elongate device having a transmission function. Such elongate transmission devices are usually flexible. More specifically the cable may include power cable, risers, umbilicals, and combinations of any of these.
  • Cables are often required to be routed underwater from a support structure and along the bed of the body of water, either to another support structure or ashore.
  • Examples of cable which may be deployed according to the invention are umbilicals extending from an offshore hydrocarbon production platform structure to another platform or to a subsea structure such as a control valve, and power or control cables between offshore structures, and to the shore, for wave and tidal power projects.
  • the support structure to which the cable is deployed may comprise a renewable energy turbine.
  • cable may be deployed to a wind turbine, which is desirable to be not only economically installed but also economically maintained after installation.
  • Wind farms having tens and even hundreds of turbines are being used worldwide to produce electricity: the world's largest offshore wind farm has been planned to be built 12 miles off the Kent coast and will include 341 turbines. More particularly the present invention relates to both offshore wind turbines (10 or more than 10 km from land) and nearshore (less than 10 km from land) .
  • cable is guided predominantly vertically down the inside or outside of the support structure, usually from an access platform above the surface of the water, in a pre-installed generally vertical rigid hollow guide conduit to a location adjacent the bed of the body of water.
  • guide conduit is known as a "J- tube”, having a predominantly vertical portion leading to a curved portion at its lower end, whereby the cable typically exits between 45 degrees and 0 degrees to the horizontal.
  • An alternative guide conduit is an "I-tube” which is predominantly vertical only without a curved portion at the lower end.
  • Cable may be installed by pulling the end of the cable into the conduit using a pre-installed pulling wire or messenger wire at the bed end of the conduit so that the cable can then be pulled in from above, through the lower end of the conduit to the upper end of the conduit, where it can be hung off.
  • each turbine may have two or more guide conduits, for communication with other turbines. Beyond the lower end of the guide conduit the cable usually lies along the bed of the body of water, buried 1-3 metres deep therein.
  • a J-tube was employed which was disposed down to close to the sea bed; the cable faulted because the "cable protection where the cable left the J- tube came loose and slipped down the cable. The current then caused the cable to wear on the end of the J-tube and the cable was cut through ... the cable was out of service for approximately three months". The cable was repaired with "support at the entrance to the J-tube provided by shaped cement-filled bags.” The report concluded that "the detail of the cable entry is very important" (DTI report URN 04/1052 p5 "Blyth Harbour Wind Farm - Operational Aspects”) .
  • seabed materials may be eroded, resulting in lowering of the seabed near the structure and a scour hole may develop around the base of the structure on the bed of the body of water. Scouring may not only destabilise the support structure but also leave the cable suspended at the exit from the guide conduit and the suspended portion of cable may strum (vibrate) and fail from fatigue or abrasion at contact points. This is a particular problem for wind turbines as the turbine would no longer export energy.
  • a connector comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion including a device to fasten, via a push-fit action, to a guide on or adjacent the support structure, the connector having a through-passageway, a cable pull-in device for attachment to the cable, the pull- in device also being connected to the connector via a detachable link for pulling cable through the guide and the connector, and, connected to the rearward portion of the connector, a protective sleeve, also having a through-passageway, for receiving the cable, to provide a protective cable route between the connector and the bed of the shallow water.
  • This apparatus allows efficient installation of both underwater cable and the attached protective cable sleeve onto the support structure in shallow water without the use of diver assistance. This results in a quick-deploy arrangement, allowing effective installation of cables on groups of support structures requiring en masse repetition of an installation procedure, such as for wind farms . This will result in savings in deployment time and costs. Moreover, a protective sleeve long enough to extend to the seabed once fully deployed may be obtained.
  • the through-passageways of the connector and sleeve may be in in-line communication to allow the passage of cable therethrough, so that the cable can be pulled highly effectively by the pull-in device through both the connector and the protective sleeve on detachment of the pull-in device, both to deploy a first portion of the cable to the support structure and to deploy a portion of cable following the first portion to the bed of the shallow water in the protected cable route.
  • the quick-deploy arrangement provides an effective single procedure.
  • the guide may be a conduit on or adjacent the support structure; the guide conduit may have an upper exit and a lower exit.
  • the guide conduit may comprise a predominantly vertical tube and the cable may extend out of the upper exit of the guide conduit to the support structure.
  • the connector may also serve to centralise the cable within the guide conduit.
  • the connector may be preassembled over the cable prior to deployment and may be attached to the pull-in device via a first attachment member, such as a shackle.
  • the pull-in device may be attached to the cable via a second attachment member, such as a pulling eye, which is also attached to first attachment member.
  • the detachable link may comprise a frangible weak link which can be broken automatically while the cable is being pulled in. This further assists in hastening the installation operation.
  • a frangible weak link which can be broken automatically while the cable is being pulled in. This further assists in hastening the installation operation.
  • the protective sleeve may be articulated and comprise a series of successive, interconnected sleeve shells or units. This provides an adaptable sleeve, which may adopt elongate shapes according to variations in shape of the seabed.
  • Each interconnection of the sleeve shells may comprise corrodible interconnecting members, which allow the sleeve to become permanent or semi-permanent. This provides effective protection from external influences to the cable inside the sleeve.
  • the interconnecting members may comprise a ball and socket arrangement or other pivotable arrangement. Once installed, the balls and sockets or other pivotable devices will corrode together and hence form a rigid pipe to act as the protective housing for the cable between the guide conduit, through the scour zone and onto the seabed.
  • the sleeve units and the interconnecting members may all be made from corrodible metal, such as cast iron. They may be lined with a low friction polymer, such as polyethylene to minimise the frictional forces during the cable pull through, or made from a single polymeric material such as polyurethane .
  • the forward portion may be at one end of the connector and the rearward portion at the other end of the connector.
  • the protective sleeve may also act as a bend limiter, which avoids over-bending the cable.
  • the connector may further include an abutment surface between the connection to the guide on the forward portion and the connection to the sleeve on the rearward portion, for abutting the guide and for limiting forward movement of the connector through the guide, thereby locating the connector in the guide.
  • the fastening device may include at least one releasable fastening member, which is releasable from a first position, in which the connector is movable through the guide, to a second position, in which the connector is fastened to the guide, so as to co-operate with the guide to hold the weight of the connector and the sleeve connected to the connector.
  • the at least one releasable fastening member may be provided by a plurality of sprung latches on the connector, actuated on pulling-in the connector (and co-operative with an abutment surface on the guide or with the internal sidewall of the guide) or an external clamp.
  • the guide conduit may comprise a predominantly vertical tube.
  • the guide conduit may comprise an I-tube or a J-tube.
  • the pull-in device works effectively in combination with the guide conduit and provides a protected routeway for the cable from the guide conduit.
  • the support structure to which the cable is deployed may comprise a renewable energy turbine.
  • the above apparatus may be effectively employed for use in routing underwater cable to and/or from and/or between offshore/nearshore wind, wave or tidal turbines.
  • the protective sleeve may extend from the lower exit of the guide conduit at least onto the bed of the body of water.
  • the protective sleeve may extend through the potential scour zone around the support structure. This further assists in protecting the cable and in providing reliable cabling.
  • the assembly may comprise apparatus as above described, in which the connector is connected with a guide on or adjacent a support structure in shallow water and the protective sleeve and cable received therein are deployed between the guide and the bed of a body of shallow water.
  • a method of deploying a cable in a protected cable route between a support structure deployed in shallow water and the bed of the shallow water comprising: pulling-in a detachable device attached to the cable, a connector, which is connected to the pull-in device and has a through-passageway, and a protective sleeve, which is attached to the connector and also has a through-passageway, until the connector fastens via a push-fit action to a guide on or adjacent the support structure, thereby also deploying the protective cable sleeve between the connector and the bed of the shallow water, thus providing a protected cable route between the connector and the bed of the shallow water.
  • a protected cable route may be effectively obtained by the above pulling-in procedure according to the invention, providing protection from the support structure all the way to the bed of the bed of shallow water.
  • efficient installation of both underwater cable and an attached protective cable sleeve onto a support structure is possible in shallow water without or with little diver assistance.
  • a single quick-deploy procedure is allowed. This has the benefit of allowing effective installation of cables on groups of support structures requiring en masse repetition of an installation procedure, such as for wind farms. This will result in savings in deployment time and costs.
  • the method may further comprise pulling in the connector until an abutment surface thereon abuts an abutment surface on the guide, thereby limiting onward movement of the connector.
  • the method may further comprise pulling in the connector until at least one releasable fastening member on the connector is released and acts on the connector so as to co-operate with the support structure to hold the weight of the connector and the sleeve and thereby fasten the connector and the sleeve to the connector.
  • the method may further comprise pulling-in the cable further until the pull-in device is detached.
  • the detachable link may comprise a weak link which can be broken automatically while the cable is being pulled through the guide conduit. This further assists in hastening the installation operation.
  • the method may further comprise pulling-in the cable further and allowing the cable to be pulled out of the guide, which may be a conduit, and hung off at the support structure.
  • the connector may be preassembled over the cable prior to deployment.
  • the method may further comprise laying the cable and the protective sleeve so as to together lie on the bed of the shallow water.
  • both the cable and the cable protector sleeve may be each highly effectively deployed to the support structure but also a protected cable route may be provided together in the same procedure to the bed of the shallow water. Moreover, this may be achieved in a single quick-deploy-quick- install operation. This will allow the procedure to be replicated efficiently for a group of structures such as turbines in an offshore/ nearshore wind farms.
  • the method may further comprise laying the cable and the protective sleeve together through the potential scour zone around the support structure.
  • the cable sleeve offers effective protection to the cable through the scour zone on the seabed.
  • the weight of the sleeve during pull-in may be supported temporarily by an additional line and/or a buoy.
  • the support structure including a cable guide conduit having an upper exit and a lower exit, comprising: a connector to fasten, via a push-fit action, to the guide conduit, the connector having a through-passageway, a cable pull-in device for attachment to the cable and movable through the guide conduit, the deployment device being connected to the connector via a detachable link, and, a protective sleeve having a through-passageway for housing the cable to provide a protected cable route between the connector and the bed of the shallow water, the through-passageways being in communication so that the cable can be pulled by the deployment device through both the connector and the protective sleeve on detachment of the deployment device, both so as to deploy the cable to the support structure via the guide conduit and to the bed of the shallow water in the protected cable route.
  • connector means comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion including a device to fasten, via a push-fit action, to guide means on or adjacent the support means, the connector means having a through-passageway, cable pull-in means for attachment to the cable, the pull-in device also being connected to the connector means via detachable link means for pulling cable through the guide means and the connector means, and, connected to the rearward portion of the connector means, protective sleeve means, also having a through-passageway, for receiving the cable, to provide a protective cable route between the connector means and the bed of the shallow water.
  • the detachable link means may comprise a frangible link which can be broken automatically while the cable is being pulled in.
  • the protective sleeve means may comprise a series of interconnected successive sleeve shells. Each interconnection of the sleeve units may comprise corrodible interconnecting means.
  • the forward portion may be at one end of the connector means and the rearward portion at the other end of the connector means.
  • the connector means may further include means providing an abutment surface between the connection to the guide means on the forward portion and the connection to the sleeve means on the rearward portion, for abutting the guide means and for limiting forward movement of the connector means through the guide means, thereby locating the connector means in the guide means .
  • the fastening means may include at least one releasable fastening means, which is releasable from a first position, in which the connector means is movable through the guide means, to a second position, in which the connector means is fastened to the guide means, so as to co-operate with the guide means to hold the weight of the connector means and the sleeve means connected to the connector means.
  • the apparatus may be for routing underwater cable to and/or from and/or between of f shore/nearshore wind, wave or tidal turbines .
  • a s s embly compri s ing a support structure in shallow water , a cable guide conduit on or adj acent the support structure and having an upper exit and a lower exit ; a connector including a through-aperture and fastened at one end to the lower exit of the guide conduit via a push-fit action; and a protective sleeve connected to the connector and having a through-aperture in communication with the through- aperture of the connector so as to provide a protective cable route between the connector and the bed of the shallow water.
  • the protective sleeve may comprise a series of interconnected successive sleeve units, the sleeve extending from the lower exit of the guide conduit at least onto the bed of the body of water.
  • Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of apparatus for deploying an underwater cable, including a pull-in device, and having a connector and a protective sleeve, attached to a guide conduit, which is disposed on or adjacent a support structure disposed in shallow water;
  • Figure 2 shows in more detail the pull-in device and a second embodiment of the connector, with the leading end of the protective sleeve and the cable attached to the connector and pull-in device (the rest of the sleeve and the guide tube are omitted) ;
  • Figure 2a is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the forward end of the cable only, with a cable grip fastening mechanism for the cable to the pull-in device;
  • Figure 3 shows in detail a frangible pin device for use to link the pull-in device and the connector;
  • Figure 4 is a diagrammatic exploded view showing the connector and adjoining protective sleeve portion
  • Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a cable deployment apparatus, a static support structure, with a guide conduit, on the seabed and illustrate a method of cable deployment to the guide conduit and the support structure;
  • Figure 8 shows a sectional detailed view of the connector and adjoining protective sleeve portion of Figures 2, 3 and 4 engaged in the guide conduit of Figure 1;
  • Figure 9 shows a sectional detailed view of second embodiment of a connector employed in the cable deployment apparatus according to the invention.
  • Figure 10 shows a sectional detailed view of a third embodiment of a connector employed in the cable deployment apparatus according to the invention.
  • Figure 11 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a method of cable deployment according to the invention.
  • Figure 12 shows an optional temporary support line fitted to a cable protector sleeve for use with the cable deployment apparatus of the earlier Figures.
  • cable deployment apparatus (1) consists of a pull-in device (2), a connector (3) and a sleeve (4) .
  • This apparatus (1) is employed to deploy a cylindrical power transmission cable from a shallow water support structure (500), for example as shown in Figures 5 to 7, belonging to a wind turbine.
  • a predominantly vertical I-tube (10) acting as a guide conduit with a cylindrical through-passageway (110) along the tube, is externally attached to the side of the support structure via brackets (7), as shown in Figures 5 to 7.
  • the arrow F throughout the figures indicates the direction of pull-in of cable .
  • the lower end of the I-tube (10) is terminated with a peripheral flange (9) onto which is bolted a circumferential latching ring (11).
  • the latching ring includes a downwardly-flared guide cone (13) .
  • the connector (3) has a generally cylindrical body, made from identical hemi-cylindrical shells (31a and 31b), which circumferentially wholly surrounds a longitudinal portion of the cable.
  • the connector (2) has a portion (5) at its forward end (8a) and another portion 6) at its rearward end (8b), with an intermediate portion (7) between the forward and rearward portions (5, 6) .
  • the forward end portion (5) of the connector is fastened to the support structure (500) and the rearward end portion (6) is attached to a protective sleeve (4) provided by an articulated bend limiter for protecting the cable.
  • the forward end portion (5) of the connector (3) has a conical leading nose section (32), to ease entry into the lower end (14) of the aforementioned I-tube (10) on the support structure (500), a plurality of forwardly tapered retractable sprung latching members or dogs (33), and an external circumferential skirt providing a leading abutment surface (34).
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate in more detail how the successive shells (41) of the sleeve are connected to the connector (3) and then link together to form the central longitudinal passageway (110) for surrounding the cable.
  • the protective bend limiter (4) is provided by a series of individual identical interconnecting sleeve shell units (41) , themselves each provided by a pair of inter-engaging, complementary, hemicylindrical corrodible cast iron shells (41a, 41b) , for providing continuous circumferential protection.
  • the shells (41) each have a smaller ball joint (44), formed by smaller mating corrodible cast iron identical half-spherical ball joint connections (44a, 44b); the downward end ball joints (44) are each seated in the respective forward end recess (43) of the following shell in order to link adjacent shells (41) .
  • split half shells (41a, 41b) are assembled over the cable (100) a distance of typically a couple of metres from the cable end to be pulled in to the guide conduit, and connected together by co-operative pairs of bolts and nuts (47, 48), here made of stainless steel.
  • the assembled series of shells (41) forms a protective cable sleeve (4), for example as shown in Figures 2 and 5.
  • the connector (3) and the protective sleeve (4) have in-line communicating cylindrical through-passageways (110a, 110b) providing a hollow longitudinal portion (110), shown in Figure
  • a sufficient number of protective shells (41) is provided to form a 180 degree segment, when the bend limiter apparatus is at or near the lock out radius, as this will lead to a balanced vertical entry angle of the connector (3) into the lower end of the I-tube during installation.
  • ten protective shells (41) are shown, forming a semi-circle during laying and they are shown laid out in Figure 7, joining the support structure (500) to the bed (B) of the shallow water.
  • the cable protectors half-shells (41a, 41b) may alternatively be made from carbon or stainless steel or a polymer such as polyurethane.
  • the cable is free to slide within the articulated sections. This may be facilitated by lining the inside of each half shell with a low friction material such as polyethylene.
  • the assembly of articulated shells (41) "locks out” at a radius equal or greater than the minimum permitted bend radius for the cable.
  • the shells (41) also protect the cable from other external influences such as mechanical impact or seabed current or wave induced vibration damage, and provide additional weight and hence increased stability in seabed currents. All these features reduce the risk of damage to the cable.
  • the pull-in device (2) includes a pulling eye (16), which may be provided by fashioning the ends of the internal cable armour wires into an eye, or by the use of a conventional cable grip (also known as a pulling stocking, Kellums grip or Chinese fingers) applied over the cable end, or it may be a pulling head secured on the end of the cable armour wires. If the pull-in device (2) is kept within the diameter of the cable, a unitary connector may be employed, rather than two split halves (31a, 31b) .
  • the pull-in device (2) also includes a pull-in shackle (17) attached to the pulling eye (16) as well as a plurality of additional actuation wires (18) also attached to the pull-in shackle, leading to the fastening device.
  • FIG. 2A Another cable fastening mechanism is illustrated in Figure 2A, in which a stocking (20) tightly fits over the forward end (19) of the cable and is attached to the pulling eye (16) via a joining member (21) .
  • the pull-in wires (18) are each attached to respective eyes via respective joining members (22) .
  • Each wire (18) is terminated at the connector end into a swage socket (35) (shown in Figure 3) , in a guide rod (36) (this may be cylindrical, square or rectangular in cross section) and is linked to the connector via a longitudinally-disposed, weak link shear pin (37) designed to shear at a certain preset axial tension in the wire (see Figures 2 and 3) .
  • the guide rods (36) are intended to fit into recesses (49) in the connector so that any side loads are absorbed into the body of the engaging piece. Such side loads may be due to misalignment during engagement. Hence shear pins (37) are subjected to axial load only, which increases once the connector is correctly aligned inside the I-tube.
  • the connector is for example made of carbon steel or stainless steel, or may be made from a polymer such as polyurethane .
  • the I-tube is for example made of carbon steel and has an internal diameter 500-70mm, typically 300mm, with a wall thickness of around 20mm.
  • the cable (100) diameter may typically be in the range 60mm to 180mm.
  • the support wire (18) diameter may typically be in the range 6mm to 25mm.
  • the end of the cable (100) to be installed on the support structure (500) is prepared on the deck of a cable lay vessel (51) .
  • the sequence of deployment of the cable (100) using the deployment device (1) onto the support structure (500) is as follows :
  • the lower end (70) of a deployment messenger line (50) (which has been pre-installed in the I-tube) is passed to the cable lay vessel (51) and joined to the pull-in shackle (17) (see Figure 5) .
  • Tension is now increased on the messenger line (50) (this is done either via a winch on the support structure (500) or by a tow wire connected from the surface end of the messenger line over a roller quadrant (not shown) or sheave block (not shown) , back to the cable lay vessel).
  • the deployment device (2) and attached cable (100) are over-boarded and pulled in towards the support structure (500) until the connector (3) enters the bottom exit (14) of the I-tube, referring to Figure 6.
  • the resilient latch dogs (33) are squeezed in as they pass over the latching ring, and then released outwards once they pass beyond the latching ring (11). This provides a quick-connect, quick-install push-fit action.
  • the messenger line (50) is now pulled further in, the abutment reaction surface (34) comes into contact with bottom face (38) of the I-tube latching ring (11).
  • I-tube (10) which may be adjacent an access platform (not shown) on the support structure.
  • the cable (100) at the top of the I- tube can now be terminated ( ⁇ hung off ) by conventional means, and the messenger line (50) disconnected.
  • the weight of the tail end of the articulated bend limiter (4) may be supported by a temporary line (55) held under tension at the cable installation vessel (51) .
  • the temporary line (55) Prior to launch, the temporary line (55) is fed through an eye (56) fitted to a circumferential strap (57) which is able to rotate around the articulated bend limiter (4) .
  • a buoy (not shown) may be used in place of, or in addition to, the temporary line.
  • the cable installation vessel (51) now starts to move away from the support structure (5) so as to lay the cable (100) away from the structure (5) and as a result the articulated bend limiter (4) falls to the seabed (see Figure 7).
  • the articulated bend limiter/cable protector (4) may be made from a corrodible material, such as cast iron or carbon steel, in order that the ends corrode together in service to form a rigid conduit pipe shaped accordance to the cable.
  • STEP 1 pulling, with a pull-in device (2), a deployment cable (50) into the lower exit (14) of the guide conduit (10),
  • STEP 3 pulling the deployment cable (50) through the guide conduit (10) until the connector (3) fastens via a quick-connect push-fit action onto the guide conduit, thereby at the same time also deploying the protective cable sleeve (4) between the connector and the bed of the shallow water and providing a protected cable route between the guide conduit and the bed,
  • STEP 4 pulling the deployment cable (50) further through the guide conduit until the pull-in device (2) is detached from the connector (3) and until the leading end (19) of the cable (100) is pulled out of the upper exit (27) of the guide conduit.
  • a latching system is described in which where sprung latch dogs are mounted on the male connector (3) .
  • one option is to mount the sprung dogs radially on the female I- tube, to then engage under a lip on the male engaging piece.
  • FIG. 9 ⁇ second embodiment of connector is shown in Figure 9.
  • the principle of operation of the apparatus and frangible weak link is similar to that described above, except that there is no flange at the lower exit of the guide conduit (10) but the connector has an external circumferential flange (54) to limit upward movement of the connector.
  • the sprung latches (33) engage with the inside peripheral wall (72) of the I-tube, as shown in
  • the sprung dogs may again be discrete members as described above, or they may be circumferential sprung discs, either metallic or any other material.
  • the retractable releasable fastening members are all intended to move inwardly on movement of the connector into the guide conduit and enable the pull-in device, cable and connector to slide together up the I-tube until the abutment face (34) engages with the confronting abutment surface (55) of the lower edge (55) of the I-tube, and then to be sufficiently strong to resist any downward force and avoid downward movement, hence holding the weight of the connector (3) and bend limiter (4) in place.
  • Figure 10 shows another embodiment of connector in which in this case no sprung latching is used.
  • the connector again has a circumferential flange (54) and the I-tube also has an external flange (60).
  • the cable pull-in is done under external supervision (diver or remotely operated vehicle (ROV) ) , and the sleeve assembly is pulled in until the abutment surface (34) on the flange of the connector engages, or nearly engages, with the abutment face (61) lower edge of the flange (60) of the I-tube, but the pull in tension is kept below the tension required to break the weak link shear pins.
  • ROV remotely operated vehicle
  • the diver or ROV then attaches a clamp (65) or similar mechanical bolting, between the underside of the flange (34) of the connector (3) and the I-tube flange (60) to pull the two together and then hold the weight of the engaging piece (3) and bend limiter sleeve (4) in place.
  • the pull in operation then continues, breaking the weak link shear pins (37) and pulling the cable up through the top end of the I-tube as described above.
  • the abovedescribed embodiments allowing quick-connect and quick-install of cable are suitable to be employed to deploy other types of cable to other support structures in relatively shallow water, generally up to about 200 metres deep.
  • the cable sleeves may be provided so that cable protection extends through the transition zone, onto the seabed and on through the whole likely scour zone, whereafter it may be buried, for example by ROV. This not only provides a structure routing the cable but also protects the cable in the scour zone from rock or gravel dropped around the support structure to protect it. In some circumstances the cable protection may be intended to extend past the likely scour zone to provide permanent or semi-permanent cable protection.

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Abstract

Dans des fermes de turbines à énergie renouvelable, des problèmes se posent concernant le routage d'un câble vers et à partir de structures de support individuelles dans une eau peu profonde, notamment autour de la base de la turbine, où un affouillement peut se produire dans le lit de l'eau peu profonde. L'invention concerne un appareil et un procédé pour déployer un câble (100) vers le lit de l'eau peu profonde, dans lequel le câble est tiré à travers un guide (10) par traction d'un dispositif détachable (2) fixé au câble, ainsi qu'un connecteur (3), qui est connecté au dispositif de traction (2) et a un passage traversant (110a) et un manchon protecteur (4), qui est attaché au connecteur et a également un passage traversant (110b), jusqu'à ce que le connecteur s'attache par l'intermédiaire d'une action d'ajustement correct au guide sur ou adjacent à la structure de support, déployant ainsi également le manchon de câble protecteur entre le connecteur et le lit de l'eau peu profonde et fournissant une route de câble protégée entre le guide et le lit de l'eau peu profonde. Les moyens de manchon protecteur sont formés à partir d'une série de gaines de manchon successives interconnectées et chaque interconnexion peut être corrodable.
PCT/GB2008/001658 2007-05-15 2008-05-14 Appareil pour déployer des câbles sous-marins et procédés de déploiement de câbles sous-marins WO2008139190A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0709274A GB0709274D0 (en) 2007-05-15 2007-05-15 Devices for deploying underwater cables and methods of deployment thereof
GB0709274.5 2007-05-15

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WO2008139190A1 true WO2008139190A1 (fr) 2008-11-20

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GB (1) GB0709274D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008139190A1 (fr)

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GB2463940B (en) * 2008-10-03 2010-12-22 Tekmar Energy Ltd Protection assembly for elongate flexible member and method of installation of such member
EP2597738A1 (fr) * 2011-11-22 2013-05-29 Seven Eighty X Limited Procédé de montage de câble électrique et appareil de protection de câble pour le supporter
WO2013050755A3 (fr) * 2011-10-04 2013-10-10 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Procédé et système d'installation de centrale électrique en mer
WO2013113407A3 (fr) * 2012-02-02 2013-11-07 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Appareil de maintien d'ensemble câble
CN104037707A (zh) * 2014-06-05 2014-09-10 龙源电力集团股份有限公司 海上风电导管架基础处海缆敷设保护装置及安装方法
GB2512271A (en) * 2013-01-22 2014-10-01 Seatower As Apparatus and method for installation and protection of sub sea cables
WO2014110351A3 (fr) * 2013-01-10 2014-12-11 Matcor, Inc. Ensembles anodiques résistants à la rupture pour des systèmes de protection cathodique et procédés d'installation de ces ensembles
WO2015071678A3 (fr) * 2013-11-15 2015-10-08 Tekmar Energy Limited Procédés et ensembles de montage pour éléments s'étendant longitudinalement
CN106356794A (zh) * 2016-10-22 2017-01-25 王建 水下脐带缆保护装置
US9599254B2 (en) 2013-01-22 2017-03-21 Seatower As Apparatus and method for installation and protection of sub sea cables
WO2017093725A1 (fr) * 2015-12-01 2017-06-08 Trelleborg Offshore Uk Ltd Ensemble de protection pour un élément allongé déployé sous l'eau
WO2017211810A1 (fr) * 2016-06-09 2017-12-14 Seaproof Solutions As Mécanisme de blocage à liaison faible
WO2018060004A1 (fr) * 2016-09-28 2018-04-05 Seaproof Solutions As Bride de raccord à libération rapide
CN108599080A (zh) * 2018-05-30 2018-09-28 中天海洋系统有限公司 一种夹具倒刺型海缆保护装置及其应用
WO2018234761A1 (fr) * 2017-06-21 2018-12-27 C-Ling Limited Ensemble tête de traction
WO2018234763A1 (fr) * 2017-06-21 2018-12-27 C-Ling Limited Ensemble tête de traction
CN109245009A (zh) * 2018-09-05 2019-01-18 宁波泛叶海洋科技有限公司 一种水下缆的保护装置
EP3384574A4 (fr) * 2015-12-01 2019-05-15 W4P Waves4power AB Limiteur de courbure pour un câble raccordé à une installation marine flottante ou navire
CN110598240A (zh) * 2019-07-19 2019-12-20 国家电网有限公司 基于三维地质模型的海底电缆多元勘测数据分析方法
JP2020524978A (ja) * 2017-06-21 2020-08-20 シー−リング・リミテッド 引入れヘッド組立体
CN112989681A (zh) * 2021-05-19 2021-06-18 广东电网有限责任公司湛江供电局 一种用于海底电缆路由区的海床冲淤预测分析系统和方法
IT202000011653A1 (it) 2020-05-20 2021-11-20 Prysmian Spa Apparato e metodo per testare un sistema di cavo sottomarino ad alta tensione
EP4096038A1 (fr) 2021-05-27 2022-11-30 Nexans Système de protection de câble
WO2023009008A1 (fr) * 2021-07-28 2023-02-02 Equinor Energy As Installation sous-marine à faisceau de câbles
CN116799738A (zh) * 2023-08-17 2023-09-22 河北方科电缆有限公司 一种海底电缆

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GB2306257A (en) * 1995-10-14 1997-04-30 Crp Group Ltd Cable spacer device
US5947642A (en) * 1996-11-22 1999-09-07 Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Method and apparatus for connecting an underwater flexible riser to a structure on the surface

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GB2463940B (en) * 2008-10-03 2010-12-22 Tekmar Energy Ltd Protection assembly for elongate flexible member and method of installation of such member
US20110226527A1 (en) * 2008-10-03 2011-09-22 Gary Ritchie-Bland Protectoin assembly for elongate flexible member and method of installation of such member
EP2329174B1 (fr) * 2008-10-03 2016-04-06 Tekmar Energy Limited Protection d'une conduite flexible traversant une paroi
WO2013050755A3 (fr) * 2011-10-04 2013-10-10 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Procédé et système d'installation de centrale électrique en mer
US9184533B2 (en) 2011-10-04 2015-11-10 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Offshore electrical plant installation method and system
EP2597738A1 (fr) * 2011-11-22 2013-05-29 Seven Eighty X Limited Procédé de montage de câble électrique et appareil de protection de câble pour le supporter
WO2013075973A3 (fr) * 2011-11-22 2013-12-19 Seven Eighty X Limited Méthode de montage de câble électrique et appareil de protection de câble sur un support
WO2013113407A3 (fr) * 2012-02-02 2013-11-07 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Appareil de maintien d'ensemble câble
CN104081603A (zh) * 2012-02-02 2014-10-01 西门子公司 电缆组件保持设备
US9515466B2 (en) 2012-02-02 2016-12-06 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Cable assembly holding apparatus
US10023964B2 (en) 2013-01-10 2018-07-17 Matcor, Inc. Break-resistant anode assemblies for cathodic protection systems and methods of installing the same
WO2014110351A3 (fr) * 2013-01-10 2014-12-11 Matcor, Inc. Ensembles anodiques résistants à la rupture pour des systèmes de protection cathodique et procédés d'installation de ces ensembles
US10865485B2 (en) 2013-01-10 2020-12-15 Matcor, Inc. Break-resistant anode assemblies for cathodic protection systems and methods of installing the same
GB2512271B (en) * 2013-01-22 2015-08-26 Seatower As Apparatus and method for protection of sub sea cables
US9599254B2 (en) 2013-01-22 2017-03-21 Seatower As Apparatus and method for installation and protection of sub sea cables
GB2512271A (en) * 2013-01-22 2014-10-01 Seatower As Apparatus and method for installation and protection of sub sea cables
WO2015071678A3 (fr) * 2013-11-15 2015-10-08 Tekmar Energy Limited Procédés et ensembles de montage pour éléments s'étendant longitudinalement
CN104037707A (zh) * 2014-06-05 2014-09-10 龙源电力集团股份有限公司 海上风电导管架基础处海缆敷设保护装置及安装方法
US11374388B2 (en) 2015-12-01 2022-06-28 Crp Subsea Limited Protection assembly for an elongate member deployed underwater
WO2017093725A1 (fr) * 2015-12-01 2017-06-08 Trelleborg Offshore Uk Ltd Ensemble de protection pour un élément allongé déployé sous l'eau
EP3384574A4 (fr) * 2015-12-01 2019-05-15 W4P Waves4power AB Limiteur de courbure pour un câble raccordé à une installation marine flottante ou navire
KR20190014087A (ko) * 2016-06-09 2019-02-11 씨프루프 솔루션즈 에이에스 취약 링크 래치
US10784662B2 (en) * 2016-06-09 2020-09-22 Balmoral Comtec Limited Weak link latch
US20190181623A1 (en) * 2016-06-09 2019-06-13 Seaproof Solutions As Weak Link Latch
JP2019522953A (ja) * 2016-06-09 2019-08-15 シープルーフ・ソリューションズ・アーエスＳｅａｐｒｏｏｆ Ｓｏｌｕｔｉｏｎｓ Ａｓ 脆弱リンク用ラッチ
KR102367905B1 (ko) 2016-06-09 2022-02-24 발모럴 콤텍 리미티드 취약 링크 래치
EP3469671B1 (fr) * 2016-06-09 2020-08-05 Balmoral Comtec Limited Mécanisme de blocage à liaison faible
WO2017211810A1 (fr) * 2016-06-09 2017-12-14 Seaproof Solutions As Mécanisme de blocage à liaison faible
KR102463728B1 (ko) 2016-09-28 2022-11-03 발모럴 콤텍 리미티드 신속 해제 연결 플랜지
US11289886B2 (en) 2016-09-28 2022-03-29 Balmoral Comtec Limited Quick release connection flange
WO2018060004A1 (fr) * 2016-09-28 2018-04-05 Seaproof Solutions As Bride de raccord à libération rapide
KR20190053922A (ko) * 2016-09-28 2019-05-20 씨프루프 솔루션즈 에이에스 신속 해제 연결 플랜지
JP2019536947A (ja) * 2016-09-28 2019-12-19 バルモラル コムテック リミテッドＢａｌｍｏｒａｌ Ｃｏｍｔｅｃ Ｌｉｍｉｔｅｄ クイックリリース式接続フランジ
CN106356794A (zh) * 2016-10-22 2017-01-25 王建 水下脐带缆保护装置
US11411376B2 (en) 2017-06-21 2022-08-09 C-Ling Limited Pull-in head assembly
JP7203772B2 (ja) 2017-06-21 2023-01-13 シー－リング・リミテッド 引入れヘッド組立体
JP2020524978A (ja) * 2017-06-21 2020-08-20 シー−リング・リミテッド 引入れヘッド組立体
WO2018234763A1 (fr) * 2017-06-21 2018-12-27 C-Ling Limited Ensemble tête de traction
US11418016B2 (en) 2017-06-21 2022-08-16 C-Ling Limited Pull-in head assembly
WO2018234761A1 (fr) * 2017-06-21 2018-12-27 C-Ling Limited Ensemble tête de traction
US11404854B2 (en) 2017-06-21 2022-08-02 C-Ling Limited Pull-in head assembly
CN108599080A (zh) * 2018-05-30 2018-09-28 中天海洋系统有限公司 一种夹具倒刺型海缆保护装置及其应用
CN109245009A (zh) * 2018-09-05 2019-01-18 宁波泛叶海洋科技有限公司 一种水下缆的保护装置
CN110598240A (zh) * 2019-07-19 2019-12-20 国家电网有限公司 基于三维地质模型的海底电缆多元勘测数据分析方法
CN110598240B (zh) * 2019-07-19 2023-05-30 国家电网有限公司 基于三维地质模型的海底电缆多元勘测数据分析方法
EP3913757A1 (fr) 2020-05-20 2021-11-24 Prysmian S.p.A. Appareil et procédé permettant de tester un système de cable sous-marin haute tension
IT202000011653A1 (it) 2020-05-20 2021-11-20 Prysmian Spa Apparato e metodo per testare un sistema di cavo sottomarino ad alta tensione
US11650226B2 (en) 2020-05-20 2023-05-16 Prysmian S.P.A. Apparatus and method for testing a submarine high voltage cable system
CN112989681A (zh) * 2021-05-19 2021-06-18 广东电网有限责任公司湛江供电局 一种用于海底电缆路由区的海床冲淤预测分析系统和方法
EP4096038A1 (fr) 2021-05-27 2022-11-30 Nexans Système de protection de câble
WO2023009008A1 (fr) * 2021-07-28 2023-02-02 Equinor Energy As Installation sous-marine à faisceau de câbles
CN116799738A (zh) * 2023-08-17 2023-09-22 河北方科电缆有限公司 一种海底电缆
CN116799738B (zh) * 2023-08-17 2023-10-24 河北方科电缆有限公司 一种海底电缆

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