US3640080A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for connecting a flowline to an offshore installation
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-05
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Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1990-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for connecting a flowline having a major portion adapted to lie along the floor of a body of water to an offshore installation of the type having a substantially vertical support positioned on the floor of a body of water and a platform carried by the support. The flowline is positioned at the water surface adjacent the installation and terminated a distance beyond the installation approximately equal to the depth of the water. The portion of the flowline adjacent the installation is slidably connected to the support and the flowline is lowered to the floor of the body of water while gradually bending the flowline in such a manner that the portion of the flowline between the support and its terminal end is substantially parallel to the support when the flowline reaches the floor of the body of water. The terminal end of the flowline is subsequently connected to the platform. In this manner, the flowline has a sufficient curvature to prevent buckling thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 William J Neal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:48
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/0107; F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/14; F16L1/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of connecting a flowline having a major portion adapted to lie along the floor of a body of water to an offshore installation of the type having substantially vertical support means positioned on the floor of a body of water and platform means carried by the support means, said method comprising the steps of: positioning said flowline at the water surface of said body of water adjacent said offshore installation said flowline extending to and past said installation; terminating said flowline past said installation a distance approximately to a depth of said water from said water surface to the floor thereof; slidably connecting the portion of said flowline adjacent said installation to said support means; and lowering said flowline to the floor of said body of water while gradually bending said flowline so that the portion of said flowline between said floor of body of water and said terminal end is substantially parallel to said support means when said flowline reaches the floor of said body of water.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of connecting a flowline having a major portion adapted to lie along the floor of a body of water to an offshore installation of the type having substantially vertical support means positioned on the floor of a body of water and platform means carried by the support means, said method comprising the steps of: positioning said flowline at the water surface of said body of water adjacent said offshore installation said flowline extending to and past said installation; terminating said flowline past said installation a distance approximately to a depth of said water from said water surface to the floor thereof; slidably connecting the portion of said flowline adjacent said installation to said support means; and lowering said flowline to the floor of said body of water while gradually bending said flowline so that the portion of said flowline between said floor of body of water and said terminal end is substantially parallel to said support means when said flowline reaches the floor of said body of water.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of connecting a flowline having a major portion adapted to lie along the floor of a body of water to an offshore installation of the type having substantially vertical support means positioned on the floor of a body of water and platform means carried by the support means, said method comprising the steps of: positioning said flowline at the water surface of said body of water adjacent said offshore installation said flowline extending to and past said installation; terminating said flowline past said installation a distance approximately equal to the depth of said water from said water surface to the floor thereof; slidably connecting the portion of said flowline adjacent said installation to said support means wherein said support means includes a flowline bending shoe means slidably movable along said installation from the water surface to the floor of said body of water wherein the step of slidably connecting said flowline to said installation includes the step of connecting said flowline to said shoe means; and lowering said flowline to the floor of said body of water while gradually bending said flowline so that the portion of said flowline between said floor of body of water and said terminal end is substantially parallel to said support means when said flowline reaches the floor of said body of water.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of connecting a flowline having a major portion adapted to lie along the floor of a body of water to an offshore installation of the type having substantially vertical support means positioned on the floor of a body of water and platform means carried by the support means, said method comprising the steps of: positioning said flowline at the water surface of said body of water adjacent said offshore installation said flowline extending to and past said installation; terminating said flowline past said installation a distance approximately equal to the depth of said water from said water surface to the floor thereof; slidably connecting the portion of said flowline adjacent said installation to said support means wherein said support means includes a flowline bending shoe means slidably movable along said installation from the water surface to the floor of said body of water wherein the step of slidably connecting said flowline to said installation includes the step of connecting said flowline to said shoe means; and lowering said flowline to the floor of said body of water while gradually bending said flowline so that the portion of said flowline between said floor of body of water and said terminal end is substantially parallel to said support means when said flowline reaches the floor of said body of water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of lowering said flowline to the floor of said body of water includes the step of lowering said flowline while lowering said bending shoe means while bending said flowline about said bending shoe means whereby the portion of said flowline between said bending shoe means and said terminal end gradually moves from a substantially hOrizontal position at the water surface to a substantially vertical position at the floor of said body of water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of connecting the terminal end of said flowline to said platform means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 3 including the step of maintaining under tension the end of said flowline opposite said terminal end leading away from said platform while lowering said flowline to the floor of said body of water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 5 including the step of supporting under tension the portion of said flowline between said shoe means and said terminal end while lowering said shoe means to the floor of said body of water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for connecting a flowline to an offshore installation comprising: substantially vertical support means positioned on the floor of a body of water; platform means carried by the support means; flowline bending shoe means having a bending surface thereon, said bending shoe means being connected to the support means and movable therealong from a position adjacent the water surface of said body of water to the floor thereof, said flowline bending shoe means including flowline connecting means for slidably connecting a flowline thereto; and rotating means operatively engaging said bending shoe means for rotating said bending shoe means from a position whereby a flowline slidably connected to said shoe means is adapted to be substantially parallel to said water surface at said water surface and substantially perpendicular to the floor of said body of water at said floor when moved along said support means from the water surface to the floor thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for connecting a flowline to an offshore installation comprising: substantially vertical support means positioned on the floor of a body of water; platform means carried by the support means; flowline bending shoe means having a bending surface thereon, said bending shoe means being connected to the support means and movable therealong from a position adjacent the water surface of said body of water to the floor thereof, said flowline bending shoe means including flowline connecting means for slidably connecting a flowline thereto; and rotating means operatively engaging said bending shoe means for rotating said bending shoe means from a position whereby a flowline slidably connected to said shoe means is adapted to be substantially parallel to said water surface at said water surface and substantially perpendicular to the floor of said body of water at said floor when moved along said support means from the water surface to the floor thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said support means includes rail portion and said bending shoe means is slidably movable therealong.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said bending shoe means is pivotable about a pivot point at substantially the point of connection of said shoe means to said support means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including flowline support means operatively engaging said installation and adapted to support under tension a flowline being lowered from the water surface to the floor thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of connecting the terminal end of said flowline to said platform means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |