Method and apparatus for evaluating offshore pipeline laying operations

Claim 5

A method as described in claim 1, wherein: the step of inducing relative movement between said pipeline condition detecting means and said additional submerged pipeline increment responsively causes detection by said detecting means of a buckle condition in said increment of said pipeline; and wherein a retrieving force is exerted on said second pipeline portion to retrieve said increment of said pipeline containing said detected buckle condition on board said floating vessel means.

Claim 8

A method as described in claim 4: wherein said second pipeline portion is engaged by pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means; wherein said third pipeline portion is supported, at least in part, by at least partially submerged buoyant ramp means extending from and connected with said floating vessel means; and wherein said method additionally comprises inducing relative movement between said first pipeline portion and said pipeline detecting means by flexible draft means extending from said pipeline detecting means through the interior of said third pipeline portion, over said buoyant ramp means, and through the interior of said second pipeline portion engaged by said pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means; said pipeline tensioning means being continuously operable to retrieve said first pipeline portion on board said floating vessel means by exerting a retrieving force on said second pipeline portion so as to displace an increment of said first pipeline portion into said second pipeline portion through movement of said increment upwardly through said body of water, over said buoyant ramp means, and onto said floating vessel means.

Claim 9

A method as described in claim 5, wherein: the step of inducing relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said additional increment of said first pipeline portion responsively causes detection by said detecting means of a buckle condition in said additional increment; and wherein a retrieving force is exerted on said second pipeline portion by said pipeline tensioning means to retrieve said additional increment of first pipeline portion containing said detected buckle condition on board said floating vessel means.

Claim 12

A method as described in claim 7: wherein said second pipeline portion is engaged by pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means; wherein said third pipeline portion is supported, at least in part, by at least partially submerged buoyant ramp means extending from and connected with said floating vessel means; and wherein said method additionally comprises inducing relative movement between said first pipeline portion and said pipeline detecting means by flexible draft means connected with said pipeline section alignment means and extending from said pipeline detecting means through the interior of said third pipeline portion, over said buoyant ramp means, and through the interior of said second pipeline portion engaged by said pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means; said pipeline tensioning means being continuously operable to retrieve said first pipeline portion on board said floating vessel means by exerting a retrieving force on said second pipeline portion so as to displace an increment of said first pipeline portion into said second pipeline portion through movement of said increment upwardly through said body of water, over said buoyant ramp means, and onto said floating vessel means.

Claim 13

A method as described in claim 8, wherein said pipeline detecting means is propelled from said floating vessel means to said first pipeline portion by: pneumatically operating latch means to interconnect a source of pressurized air with said pipeline detecting means; in response to said interconnection of said source of pressurized air with said pipeline detecting means, extending drive means carried by said pipeline detecting means into driving engagement with the interior of said pipeline, and operating said drive means so as to exert a propellIng force on the interior of said pipeline tending to propel said pipeline detecting means toward said first pipeline portion; in response to operation of said drive means, propelling said pipeline detecting means from said floating vessel means sequentially through said second and third pipeline portion to said first pipeline portion; reducing the pressure of said pressurized air and in response to said reduction of pressure disconnecting said source of pressurized air from said pipeline detecting means, retracting said drive means out of driving engagement with the interior of said pipeline means, and discontinuing operation of said drive means; and retrieving said source of pressurized air from said pipeline detecting means sequentially through said second and third pipeline portions to said floating vessel means.

Claim 14

A method as described in claim 9, wherein: the step of inducing relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said additional increment of said first pipeline portion responsively causes detection by said detecting means of a buckle condition in said additional increment; and wherein a retrieving force is exerted on said second pipeline portion by said pipeline tensioning means to retrieve said additional increment of first pipeline portion containing said detected buckle condition on board said floating vessel means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for detecting a submerged pipeline condition, said apparatus comprising: floating vessel means operable to support, at least in part, a pipeline at an offshore location with a first portion supported on a submerged surface, a second portion supported on floating vessel means, and a third portion extending through a body of water between said first and second pipeline portions; pipeline condition detecting means positioned within the interior of a submerged portion of said pipeline; said floating vessel means being operable to increase the length of said pipeline so as to provide an additional submerged pipeline increment; means for inducing relative movement between the additional submerged pipeline increment and said detecting means, while said detecting means remains within the interior of a submerged portion of pipeline and while said pipeline remains supported, at least in part, by said floating vessel means; said pipeline detecting means being operable to detect a condition of said additional submerged pipeline increment while said pipeline remains supported at least in part, by said floating vessel means; said floating vessel means being operable to retrieve said additional submerged pipeline increment by exerting a retrieving force on said second pipeline portion.

Claim 16

Apparatus for detecting a submerged pipeline condition, said apparatus comprising: floating vessel means operable to support, at least in part, a pipeline at an offshore location with a first portion supported on a submerged surface, a second portion supported on floating vessel means, and a third portion extending through a body of water between said first and second pipeline portions; pipeline condition detecting means positioned within the interior of a submerged portion of said pipeline; said floating vessel means being operable to increase the length of said pipeline so as to provide an additional submerged pipeline increment; means for inducing relative movement between the additional submerged pipeline increment and said detecting means, while said detecting means remains within the interior of a submerged portion of pipeline and while said pipeline remains supported, at least in part, by said floating vessel means; said pipeline detecting means being operable to detect a condition of said additional submerged pipeline increment while said pipeline remains supported at least in part, by said floating vessel means; said floating vessel means being operable to retrieve said additional submerged pipeline increment by exerting a retrieving force on said second pipeline portion.

Claim 17

Apparatus for detecting a submerged pipeline condition, said apparatus comprising: floating vessel means operable to support, at least in part, a pipeline at an offshore location with a first portion supported on a submerged surface, a second portion supported on floating vessel means, and a third portion extending through a body of water between said first and second pipeline portions; pipeline condition detecting means positioned within the interior of a submerged portion of said pipeline; said pipeline detecting means being operable to detect a condition of said submerged pipeline portion while said pipeline remains supported at least in part, by said floating vessel means; pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means operable to engage said second pipeline portion; at least partially submerged buoyant ramp means extending from and connected with said floating vessel means and supporting, at least in part, said third pipeline portion; and flexible draft means extending from said pipeline detecting means through the interior of said third pipeline portion, over said buoyant ramp means, and through the interior of said second pipeline portion engaged by said pipeline tensioning means On said floating vessel means, said flexible draft means being operable to induce relative movement between said first pipeline portion and said pipeline detecting means; and said pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means being continuously operable to retrieve said first pipeline portion on board said floating vessel means by exerting a retrieving force on said second pipeline portion so as to displace an increment of said first pipeline portion into said second pipeline portion through movement of said increment upwardly through said body of water, over said buoyant ramp means, and onto said floating vessel means.

Claim 18

Apparatus for detecting a submerged pipeline condition, said apparatus comprising: floating vessel means operable to support, at least in part, a pipeline at an offshore location with a first portion supported on a submerged surface, a second portion supported on floating vessel means, and a third portion extending through a body of water between said first and second pipeline portions; pipeline condition detecting means positioned within the interior of a submerged portion of said pipeline; said pipeline detecting means being operable to detect a condition of said submerged pipeline portion while said pipeline remains supported at least in part, by said floating vessel means; pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means operable to engage said second pipeline portion; at least partially submerged buoyant ramp means extending from and connected with said floating vessel means and supporting, at least in part, said third pipeline portion; and flexible draft means extending from said pipeline detecting means through the interior of said third pipeline portion, over said buoyant ramp means, and through the interior of said second pipeline portion engaged by said pipeline tensioning means On said floating vessel means, said flexible draft means being operable to induce relative movement between said first pipeline portion and said pipeline detecting means; and said pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means being continuously operable to retrieve said first pipeline portion on board said floating vessel means by exerting a retrieving force on said second pipeline portion so as to displace an increment of said first pipeline portion into said second pipeline portion through movement of said increment upwardly through said body of water, over said buoyant ramp means, and onto said floating vessel means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as described in claim 11, wherein: said pipeline condition detecting means comprises means operable, in response to relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said pipeline, to detect a buckle condition in said pipeline.

Claim 20

Apparatus for detecting a dimensional irregularity in an internal cross section of a submerged pipeline portion, said apparatus comprising: floating vessel means operable to support, at least in part, a pipeline at an offshore location with a first pipeline portion supported on a submerged surface, a second pipeline portion supported on floating vessel means, and a third pipeline portion extending through a body of water between said first and second pipeline portions; pipeline detecting means; means for propelling said pipeline detecting means from said floating vessel means sequentially through said second and third pipeline portions to position said pipeline detecting means within the interior of said first pipeline portion; said pipeline detecting means, when disposed within the interior of said first pipeline portion, being operable to detect an irregularity in dimension in the cross section of said pipeline in response to relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said first pipeline portion; means for increasing the length of said pipeline from said floating vessel means so as to provide an additional pipeline increment in said first pipeline portion; means operable from said floating means to induce relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said additional increment of said first pipeline portion, with said relative movement being operable to permit said pipeline detecting means to detect a dimensional irregularity in the cross section of said additional increment of said first pipeline portion; and pipeline retrieving means on said floating means operable to retrieve said additional increment of said first pipeline portion in the event that said pipeline detecting means should detect a dimensional irregularity in the cross section of said additional increment of said first pipeline portion.

Claim 21

Apparatus for detecting a dimensional irregularity in an internal cross section of a submerged pipeline portion, said apparatus comprising: floating vessel means operable to support, at least in part, a pipeline at an offshore location with a first pipeline portion supported on a submerged surface, a second pipeline portion supported on floating vessel means, and a third pipeline portion extending through a body of water between said first and second pipeline portions; pipeline detecting means; means for propelling said pipeline detecting means from said floating vessel means sequentially through said second and third pipeline portions to position said pipeline detecting means within the interior of said first pipeline portion; said pipeline detecting means, when disposed within the interior of said first pipeline portion, being operable to detect an irregularity in dimension in the cross section of said pipeline in response to relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said first pipeline portion; means for increasing the length of said pipeline from said floating vessel means so as to provide an additional pipeline increment in said first pipeline portion; means operable from said floating means to induce relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said additional increment of said first pipeline portion, with said relative movement being operable to permit said pipeline detecting means to detect a dimensional irregularity in the cross section of said additional increment of said first pipeline portion; and pipeline retrieving means on said floating means operable to retrieve said additional increment of said first pipeline portion in the event that said pipeline detecting means should detect a dimensional irregularity in the cross section of said additional increment of said first pipeline portion.

Claim 22

A method as described in claim 14 including: pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means operable to engage said second pipeline portion; at least partially submerged buoyant ramp means extending from and connected with said floating vessel means and supporting, at least in part, said third pipeline portion; flexible draft means extending from said pipeline detecting means through the interior of said third pipeline portion, over said buoyant ramp means, and through the interior of said second pipeline portion engaged by said pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means; said flexible draft means being operable to induce relative movement between said first pipeline portion and said pipeline detecting means; and said pipeline tensioning means being continuously operable to retrieve said first pipeline portion on board said floating vessel means by exerting a retrieving force on said second pipeline portion so as to displace an increment of said first pipeline portion into said second pipeline portion through movement of said increment upwardly through said body of water, over said buoyant ramp means, and onto said floating vessel means.

Claim 23

Apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein: said pipeline detecting means comprises means operable, in response to relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said additional increment of said first pipeline portion, to detect a buckle condition in said additional increment.

Claim 24

Apparatus for detecting a dimensional irregularity in an internal cross section of a submerged pipeline portion, said apparatus comprising: floating vessel means operable to support, at least in part, a pipeline at an offshore location with a first pipeline portion supported on a submerged portion, a second pipeline portion supported on floating vessel means, and a third pipeline portion extending through a body of water between said first and second pipeline portions; pipeline detecting means; propelling means for propelling said pipeline detecting means from said floating vessel means sequentially through said second and third pipeline portions to position said pipeline detecting means within the interior of said first pipeline portion; said pipeline detecting means, when disposed within the interior of said first pipeline portion, being operable to detect an irregularity in dimension in the cross section of said pipeline in response to relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said first pipeline portion; pipeline section alignment means; means operable to connect said pipeline detecting means with pipeline section alignment means; said pipeline section alignment means being operable to generally secure in longitudinal alignment a first additional pipeline section with a terminus of said second pipeline portion; welding means operable to at least partially interconnect said first additional pipeline section and said second pipeline portion terminus, with said pipeline section alignment means securing said first additional pipeline section and said second pipeline portion terminus in longitudinal alignment, and remaining connected with said pipeline detecting means; means for advancing said first additional pipeline section on said floating vessel means toward said body of water, with said pipeline detecting means remaining connected with said pipeline section alignment means, and said pipeline section alignment means interconnecting and aligning said first additional pipeline section and said second pipeline portion terminus; said advancing of said additional pipeline section on said floating vessel means being operable to increase the length of said first pipeline portion and provide an additional pipeline increment in said first pipeline portion; means for positioning a second, additional pipeline section in general longitudinal alignment with said first additional pipeline section; means for moving said pipeline section alignment means toward said second additional pipeline section, away from said first additional pipeline section; said movement of said pipeline section alignment means away from said first additional pipeline section causing said pipeline detecting means to move generally toward said additional increment of said first pipeline portion, with this movement being operable to permit said pipeline detecting means to detect a dimensional irregularity in the cross section of said first pipeline portion; said movement of said pipeline section alignment means away from said first additional pipeline section being operable to position said pipeline section alignment means in position to secure, in mutual longitudinal alignment, a terminus of said first additional pipeline section and a terminus of said second additional pipeline section; and pipeline retrieving means on said floating means operable to retrieve an increment of said first pipeline portion in the event that said pipeline detecting means should detect a dimensional irregularity in the cross section of said first pipeline portion.

Claim 25

Apparatus for detecting a dimensional irregularity in an internal cross section of a submerged pipeline portion, said apparatus comprising: floating vessel means operable to support, at least in part, a pipeline at an offshore location with a first pipeline portion supported on a submerged portion, a second pipeline portion supported on floating vessel means, and a third pipeline portion extending through a body of water between said first and second pipeline portions; pipeline detecting means; propelling means for propelling said pipeline detecting means from said floating vessel means sequentially through said second and third pipeline portions to position said pipeline detecting means within the interior of said first pipeline portion; said pipeline detecting means, when disposed within the interior of said first pipeline portion, being operable to detect an irregularity in dimension in the cross section of said pipeline in response to relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said first pipeline portion; pipeline section alignment means; means operable to connect said pipeline detecting means with pipeline section alignment means; said pipeline section alignment means being operable to generally secure in longitudinal alignment a first additional pipeline section with a terminus of said second pipeline portion; welding means operable to at least partially interconnect said first additional pipeline section and said second pipeline portion terminus, with said pipeline section alignment means securing said first additional pipeline section and said second pipeline portion terminus in longitudinal alignment, and remaining connected with said pipeline detecting means; means for advancing said first additional pipeline section on said floating vessel means toward said body of water, with said pipeline detecting means remaining connected with said pipeline section alignment means, and said pipeline section alignment means interconnecting and aligning said first additional pipeline section and said second pipeline portion terminus; said advancing of said additional pipeline section on said floating vessel means being operable to increase the length of said first pipeline portion and provide an additional pipeline increment in said first pipeline portion; means for positioning a second, additional pipeline section in general longitudinal alignment with said first additional pipeline section; means for moving said pipeline section alignment means toward said second additional pipeline section, away from said first additional pipeline section; said movement of said pipeline section alignment means away from said first additional pipeline section causing said pipeline detecting means to move generally toward said additional increment of said first pipeline portion, with this movement being operable to permit said pipeline detecting means to detect a dimensional irregularity in the cross section of said first pipeline portion; said movement of said pipeline section alignment means away from said first additional pipeline section being operable to position said pipeline section alignment means in position to secure, in mutual longitudinal alignment, a terminus of said first additional pipeline section and a terminus of said second additional pipeline section; and pipeline retrieving means on said floating means operable to retrieve an increment of said first pipeline portion in the event that said pipeline detecting means should detect a dimensional irregularity in the cross section of said first pipeline portion.

Claim 26

Apparatus as descrIbed in claim 17: pipeline tensioning means included in said floating vessel means operable to engage said second pipeline portion; at least partially submerged buoyant ramp means extending from and connected with said floating vessel means and supporting, at least in part, said third pipeline portion; flexible draft means connected with said pipeline section alignment means and extending from said pipeline detecting means through the interior of said third pipeline portion, over said buoyant ramp means, and through the interior of said second pipeline portion engaged by said pipeline tensioning means on said floating vessel means, said flexible draft means being operable to induce relative movement between said first pipeline portion and said pipeline detecting means; and said pipeline tensioning means being continuously operable to retrieve said first pipeline portion on board said floating vessel means by exerting a retrieving force on said second pipeline portion so as to displace an increment of said first pipeline portion into said second pipeline portion through movement of said increment upwardly through said body of water, over said buoyant ramp means, and onto said floating vessel means.

Claim 27

Apparatus as described in claim 18, wherein said propelling means comprises: a source of pressurized air; pneumatically operated latch means operable to interconnect a source of pressurized air with said pipeline detecting means; drive means carried by said pipeline detecting means; positioning means operable to extend and retract said drive means; operating means operable in response to said interconnection of said source of pressurized air with said pipeline detecting means, to actuate said positioning means and extend said drive means carried by said pipeline detecting means into driving engagement with the interior of said pipeline, and actuate said drive means so as to exert a propelling force on the interior of said pipeline tending to propel said pipeline detecting means toward said first pipeline portion; said drive means being operable to propel said pipeline detecting means from said floating vessel means sequentially through said second and third pipeline portion to said first pipeline portion; means for reducing the pressure of said pressurized air and causing, in response to said reduction of pressure, the disconnecting of said source of pressurized air from said pipeline detecting means, the actuation of said positioning means to retract said drive means out of driving engagement with the interior of said pipeline means, and the discontinuing of actuation of said drive means; and means for retrieving said source of pressurized air from said pipeline detecting means sequentially through said second and third pipeline portions to said floating vessel means.

Claim 28

Apparatus as described in claim 19, wherein: said pipeline detecting means comprises means operable, in response to relative movement between said pipeline detecting means and said additional increment of said first pipeline portion, to detect a buckle condition in said additional increment.

Claim 31

A method according to claim 21 wherein: the steps of conducting the offshore pipeline laying operation and supporting a portion of the pipeline on floating vessel means comprise laying the pipeline from the floating vessel means and onto a submerged surface with the pipeline profile including a downwardly concave pipeline portion extending to a pipeline portion on the submerged surface; and wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting a pipeline condition at a pipeline location beyond the downwardly concave pipeline portion.