Patent US3690112A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3690112A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for attaching pipelines to offshore structures
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1971-02-10
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1991-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A pipe guidance system is attached to an offshore structure. A remote pipe guide connected to a pipeline being laid underwater is pulled to and properly positioned adjacent the offshore structure by means of the pipe guidance system. A riser pipe is guided to a position for connection to the pipeline by means of a riser guide which is also attached to the offshore structure. Then the pipeline and riser pipe are connected together. The pipe guidance system includes at least one pulley connected to the offshore structure and a cable arranged about the pulley. One end of the cable is connected to power means for applying a pulling force on the cable and the other end is connected to the pipe guide.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Oren Pattison
- 👤 Willy Frank Bohlmann Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:48
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/14; F16L1/15; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/0107; F16L1/16; F16L1/165; F16L1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for laying pipelines and connecting said pipelines to an offshore structure arranged in a body of water and extending from the bottom of said water to above the surface of said water comprising; securing a curved section of pipe to a pipe guide capable of being pulled along the bottom of said water, said curved section of pipe having one end extending generally horizontally and the other end extending generally vertically when said pipe guide is positioned on the bottom of said water; connecting one end of a pipeline being laid to said offshore structure to said one end of said curved section of pipe; pulling said pipe guide and curved section of pipe and said pipeline attached to said curved section of pipe along the bottom of said water and guiding said pipe guide into a structure guide attached to said offshore structure adjacent the bottom of said water and then locking said pipe guide in said structure guide; lowering a riser pipe from the surface of said water to adjacent the bottom of said water guided by a riser guide attached to said offshore structure and extending substantially vertically from adjacent the surface of said water to adjacent the bottom of said water; and then connecting said riser pipe to the other end of said curved section of pipe.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for laying pipelines and connecting said pipelines to an offshore structure arranged in a body of water and extending from the bottom of said water to above the surface of said water comprising; securing a curved section of pipe to a pipe guide capable of being pulled along the bottom of said water, said curved section of pipe having one end extending generally horizontally and the other end extending generally vertically when said pipe guide is positioned on the bottom of said water; connecting one end of a pipeline being laid to said offshore structure to said one end of said curved section of pipe; pulling said pipe guide and curved section of pipe and said pipeline attached to said curved section of pipe along the bottom of said water and guiding said pipe guide into a structure guide attached to said offshore structure adjacent the bottom of said water and then locking said pipe guide in said structure guide; lowering a riser pipe from the surface of said water to adjacent the bottom of said water guided by a riser guide attached to said offshore structure and extending substantially vertically from adjacent the surface of said water to adjacent the bottom of said water; and then connecting said riser pipe to the other end of said curved section of pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method as recited in claim 1 in which said pipeline is connected to said curved section of pipe at the surface of said water and said pipe guide and pipeline is pulled along the bottom of said water into said structure guide by means of a cable attached at one end to said pipe guide and at the other end to pulling means positioned on said offshore structure, said one end of said cable being attached to said pipe guide at the surface of said water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
254 words
Apparatus for laying a pipeline and connecting said pipeline to an offshore structure arranged in a body of water and extending upwardly from the bottom of said water comprising: a riser pipe guide attached to said offshore structure and extending substantially vertically; a structural guide connected to said offshore structure adjacent the lower end of said riser pipe guide; a pipe guide capable of being pulled along the bottom of said water into said structural guide; a curved section of pipe secured to said pipe guide, said curved section of pipe having one end extending substantially horizontally and the other end extending substantially vertically when said pipe guide is arranged on the bottom of said water; a submerged pipeline connected to said one end of said curved section of pipe; a riser pipe arranged on said riser pipe guide having one end extending to adjacent the upper end of said offshore structure and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said curved section of pipe; pulling means including power means located on said offshore structure and a cable connected to said pipe guide, said power means being capable of pulling said pipe guide and curved section of pipe and said pipeline connected thereto into said structural guide; said structural guide comprising a box-like frame having side plate members and an end plate member, said end plate member having an opening through which said cable extends; and spring biased latches arranged on said side plate members adapted to engage said pipe guide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
254 words
Apparatus for laying a pipeline and connecting said pipeline to an offshore structure arranged in a body of water and extending upwardly from the bottom of said water comprising: a riser pipe guide attached to said offshore structure and extending substantially vertically; a structural guide connected to said offshore structure adjacent the lower end of said riser pipe guide; a pipe guide capable of being pulled along the bottom of said water into said structural guide; a curved section of pipe secured to said pipe guide, said curved section of pipe having one end extending substantially horizontally and the other end extending substantially vertically when said pipe guide is arranged on the bottom of said water; a submerged pipeline connected to said one end of said curved section of pipe; a riser pipe arranged on said riser pipe guide having one end extending to adjacent the upper end of said offshore structure and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said curved section of pipe; pulling means including power means located on said offshore structure and a cable connected to said pipe guide, said power means being capable of pulling said pipe guide and curved section of pipe and said pipeline connected thereto into said structural guide; said structural guide comprising a box-like frame having side plate members and an end plate member, said end plate member having an opening through which said cable extends; and spring biased latches arranged on said side plate members adapted to engage said pipe guide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 in which said pipe guide comprises a sled having side members and an end member, said cable being connected to said end member; and said side members having openings therein adapted to engage said structural guide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
244 words
Apparatus for laying a pipeline and connecting said pipeline to an offshore structure arranged in a body of water and extending upwardly from the bottom of said water comprising: a riser pipe guide attached to said offshore structure and extending substantially vertically; a structural guide connected to said offshore structure adjacent the lower end of said riser pipe guide; a pipe guide capable of being pulled along the bottom of said water into said structural guide; a curved section of pipe secured to said pipe guide, said curved section of pipe having one end extending substantially horizontally and the other end extending substantially vertically when said pipe guide is arranged on the bottom of said water; a submerged pipeline connected to said one end of said curved section of pipe; a riser pipe arranged on said riser pipe guide having one end extending to adjacent the upper end of said offshore structure and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said curved section of pipe; pulling means including power means located on said offshore structure and a cable connected to said pipe guide, said power means being capable of pulling said pipe guide and curved section of pipe and said pipeline connected thereto into said structural guide; said pipe guide comprising a sled having side members and an end member, said cable being connected to said end member; and said side members having openings therein adapted to engage said structural guide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
244 words
Apparatus for laying a pipeline and connecting said pipeline to an offshore structure arranged in a body of water and extending upwardly from the bottom of said water comprising: a riser pipe guide attached to said offshore structure and extending substantially vertically; a structural guide connected to said offshore structure adjacent the lower end of said riser pipe guide; a pipe guide capable of being pulled along the bottom of said water into said structural guide; a curved section of pipe secured to said pipe guide, said curved section of pipe having one end extending substantially horizontally and the other end extending substantially vertically when said pipe guide is arranged on the bottom of said water; a submerged pipeline connected to said one end of said curved section of pipe; a riser pipe arranged on said riser pipe guide having one end extending to adjacent the upper end of said offshore structure and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said curved section of pipe; pulling means including power means located on said offshore structure and a cable connected to said pipe guide, said power means being capable of pulling said pipe guide and curved section of pipe and said pipeline connected thereto into said structural guide; said pipe guide comprising a sled having side members and an end member, said cable being connected to said end member; and said side members having openings therein adapted to engage said structural guide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
228 words
Apparatus for laying a pipeline and connecting said pipeline to an offshore structure arranged in a body of water and extending from the bottom of said water to above the surface of said water comprising: a riser pipe guide attached to said offshore structure and extending substantially vertically from adjacent the surface of said water to adjacent the bottom of said water; a structural guide connected to said offshore structure adjacent the lower end of said riser pipe guide; a pipe guide capable of being pulled along the bottom of said water into said structural guide; a curved section of pipe secured to said pipe guide, said curved section of pipe having one end extending substantially horizontally and the other end extending substantially vertically when said pipe guide is arranged on the bottom of said water; a submerged pipeline connected to said one end of said curved section of pipe; a riser pipe arranged on said riser pipe guide having one end extending above the surface of said water and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said curved section of pipe; and pulling means including power means located on said offshore structure and a cable connected to said pipe guide, said power means being capable of pulling said pipe guide and curved section of pipe and said pipeline connected thereto to said structural guide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
228 words
Apparatus for laying a pipeline and connecting said pipeline to an offshore structure arranged in a body of water and extending from the bottom of said water to above the surface of said water comprising: a riser pipe guide attached to said offshore structure and extending substantially vertically from adjacent the surface of said water to adjacent the bottom of said water; a structural guide connected to said offshore structure adjacent the lower end of said riser pipe guide; a pipe guide capable of being pulled along the bottom of said water into said structural guide; a curved section of pipe secured to said pipe guide, said curved section of pipe having one end extending substantially horizontally and the other end extending substantially vertically when said pipe guide is arranged on the bottom of said water; a submerged pipeline connected to said one end of said curved section of pipe; a riser pipe arranged on said riser pipe guide having one end extending above the surface of said water and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said curved section of pipe; and pulling means including power means located on said offshore structure and a cable connected to said pipe guide, said power means being capable of pulling said pipe guide and curved section of pipe and said pipeline connected thereto to said structural guide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 in which at least the lower end of said riser pipe is flexible.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 in which said offshore structure is a pivotally based buoyant tower capable of oscillation.
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) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |