US3756034A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for laying pipelines
Assignee: Brown and Root Inc
•
Filing: 1972-04-04
•
Granted: 1973-09-04
•
Expires: 1992-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for laying submergible pipelines or other elongate conduit means upon the bed of a body of water utilizing an elongate buoyancy means operably positionable within the interior of a pipeline for buoyantly supporting the pipeline in a span intermediate a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water. In one embodiment the elongate buoyancy means comprises a plurality of regularly spaced articulated buoyancy chambers and in another embodiment the elongate means comprises a unitary elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber. A retaining means is connected to the elongate buoyancy means within the interior of the pipeline during the laying operation to maintain the elongate buoyancy means at approximately a constant elevational position within the interior of the pipeline. In one embodiment the retaining means comprises a cable extending within the pipeline to an anchor at a fixed station and in other embodiments the retaining means includes an elongate cylindrical weight connected to the elongate buoyancy means or a floodable chamber portion of the elongate buoyancy means or friction means connected to the elongate buoyancy means. Frictional contact between the interior surface of the pipeline and the exterior surface of the elongate buoyancy means may be reduced by the provision of a plurality of rollers about the exterior surface of the elongate buoyancy means. A tensioner on board the floating vessel may be used in conjunction with the elongate buoyancy means within the interior of the pipeline to provide maximum pipeline support.
Inventors
- 👤 J Lochridge
- 👤 L Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:30
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/16; F16L1/163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipe laying operation from a fixed station comprising: elongate means operably positionable within the interior of the pipeline for buoyantly supporting a portion of the pipeline between the floating vessel and the water bed; retaining means extending within the pipeline and having a first end operably connected at the fixed station and a second end connected to said elongate means for axially retaining said elongate means within said pipeline; and pay out means fixedly positioned adjacent the fixed station and being connected to said first end of said retaining means for paying out said retaining means and permitting said elongate means to controllably axially translate within the interior of the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid and thus said elongate means remaining at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipe laying operation from a fixed station comprising: elongate means operably positionable within the interior of the pipeline for buoyantly supporting a portion of the pipeline between the floating vessel and the water bed; retaining means extending within the pipeline and having a first end operably connected at the fixed station and a second end connected to said elongate means for axially retaining said elongate means within said pipeline; and pay out means fixedly positioned adjacent the fixed station and being connected to said first end of said retaining means for paying out said retaining means and permitting said elongate means to controllably axially translate within the interior of the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid and thus said elongate means remaining at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation as defined in claim 1 wherein: said retaining means comprises, a flexible wire rope; and said pay out means comprises, a pay out winch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongate means comprises: an articulated train of buoyancy chambers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation as defined in claim 3 and further comprising: roller means connected to the outer surface of each of said buoyancy chambers for reducing the frictional contact between said buoyancy chambers and the internal surface of the pipeline.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation as defined in claim 3 and further comprising: means connected to each of said chambers for controllably varying the buoyancy thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongate means comprises: a unitary elongate cylindrical chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation as defined in claim 6 and further comprising: roller means connected to the outer surface of said elongate cylindrical chamber for reducing the frictional contact between said elongate cylindrical chamber and an internal surface of the pipeline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation as defined in claim 6 and further comprising: means connected to said elongate cylindrical chamber for controllably varying the buoyancy thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
223 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation comprising: a plurality of equally spaced buoyancy chambers of equal mass pivotally connected end to end to form an articulated train of buoyancy chambers and operable to be positioned within the interior of the pipeline during the pipelaying operation, said articulated train of buoyancy chambers in operable position having a first end directed generally toward the floating vessel and being situated in a posture substantially at the surface of the body of water and a second end directed generally toward the bed of the body of water and being situated in a posture substantially at the bed of the body of water; means connected to said articulated train of buoyancy chambers for operably extending through the pipeline and connection to the floating vessel to enable the articulated train of buoyancy chambers to be pulled through the pipeline at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid; and retaining means connected to said articulated train of buoyancy chambers for operably extending within the pipeline to retain the articulated train of buoyancy chambers within the interior of the pipeline, said retaining means comprising a generally cylindrical weight operably positionable within the interior of the pipeline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
223 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation comprising: a plurality of equally spaced buoyancy chambers of equal mass pivotally connected end to end to form an articulated train of buoyancy chambers and operable to be positioned within the interior of the pipeline during the pipelaying operation, said articulated train of buoyancy chambers in operable position having a first end directed generally toward the floating vessel and being situated in a posture substantially at the surface of the body of water and a second end directed generally toward the bed of the body of water and being situated in a posture substantially at the bed of the body of water; means connected to said articulated train of buoyancy chambers for operably extending through the pipeline and connection to the floating vessel to enable the articulated train of buoyancy chambers to be pulled through the pipeline at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid; and retaining means connected to said articulated train of buoyancy chambers for operably extending within the pipeline to retain the articulated train of buoyancy chambers within the interior of the pipeline, said retaining means comprising a generally cylindrical weight operably positionable within the interior of the pipeline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 9 and further comprising: means connected to each of said buoyancy chambers for controllably varying the buoyancy thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 9 and further comprising: roller means connected to the outer surface of each of said buoyancy chambers for reducing the frictional contact between said buoyancy chambers and the internal surface of the pIpeline.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 9 wherein said plurality of regularly spaced buoyancy chambers of equal mass are pivotally connected end to end by: first bracket means having laterally spaced arms extending from an operable aft end of each of said buoyancy chambers; second bracket means having laterally spaced arms extending from an operable fore end of each of said buoyancy chambers; and coupling means for pivotally connecting first bracket means with second bracket means of adjacent buoyancy chambers to connect said individual buoyancy chambers into an articulated train having a degree of lateral bending resistance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation comprising: a unitary elongate cylindrical chamber operably positionable within the interior of the pipeline and having a first end directed generally toward the floating vessel and said first end being situated in a posture substantially at the surface of the body of water and a second end directed generally toward the bed of the body of water and said second end being situated in a posture substantially at the bed of the body of water; means connected to said elongate cylindrical chamber for operably extending through the pipeline and connection to the floating vessel to enable the elongate cylindrical chamber to be pulled through the pipeline at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid; and retaining means connected to said elongate cylindrical chamber for operably extending within the pipeline to retain said elongate cylindrical chamber within the interior of the pipeline.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water during a pipelaying operation comprising: a unitary elongate cylindrical chamber operably positionable within the interior of the pipeline and having a first end directed generally toward the floating vessel and said first end being situated in a posture substantially at the surface of the body of water and a second end directed generally toward the bed of the body of water and said second end being situated in a posture substantially at the bed of the body of water; means connected to said elongate cylindrical chamber for operably extending through the pipeline and connection to the floating vessel to enable the elongate cylindrical chamber to be pulled through the pipeline at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid; and retaining means connected to said elongate cylindrical chamber for operably extending within the pipeline to retain said elongate cylindrical chamber within the interior of the pipeline.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 13 and further comprising: means connected to said elongate cylindrical chamber for controllably varying the buoyancy thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 13 and further comprising: roller means connected to the outer surface of said elongate cylindrical chamber for reducing the frictional contact between said elongate cylindrical chamber and the internal surface of the pipeline.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 13 wherein said retaining means comprises: a generally cylindrical weight operably positionable within the interior of the pipeline.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 13 wherein said retaining means comprises: a ballast chamber formed within the unitary elongate cylindrical chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus for supporting an elongate pipeline span between a floating vessel and the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 13 wherein said retaining means comprises: friction means connected to said unitary elongate cylindrical chamber for frictionally engaging the interior surface of the elongate pipeline.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water from a fixed station comprising the steps of: suspending a pipeline to be laid upon the water bed between the fixed station and a floating vessel; flooding the interior of the pipeline; positioning an elongate buoyancy means within the interior of the pipeline for buoyantly supporting the pipeline span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water during the pipelaying operation; retaining the elongate buoyancy means within the interior of the pipeline with retaining means extending from the elongate buoyancy means back through the pipeline to the fixed statIon; and progressively laying the pipeline upon the bed of the body of water by, paying the pipeline off the floating vessel into the body of water; while simultaneously paying out the retaining means from the station as the pipeline is laid to permit the buoyant elongate means to axially translate within the interior of the pipeline and thus remain at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water from a fixed station comprising the steps of: suspending a pipeline to be laid upon the water bed between the fixed station and a floating vessel; flooding the interior of the pipeline; positioning an elongate buoyancy means within the interior of the pipeline for buoyantly supporting the pipeline span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water during the pipelaying operation; retaining the elongate buoyancy means within the interior of the pipeline with retaining means extending from the elongate buoyancy means back through the pipeline to the fixed statIon; and progressively laying the pipeline upon the bed of the body of water by, paying the pipeline off the floating vessel into the body of water; while simultaneously paying out the retaining means from the station as the pipeline is laid to permit the buoyant elongate means to axially translate within the interior of the pipeline and thus remain at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 19 wherein said step of positioning comprises: feeding a plurality of regularly spaced buoyancy chambers of equal mass pivotally connected end to end into the pipeline to form an articulated train of regularly spaced buoyancy chambers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 19 wherein said step of positioning comprises: feeding a unitary elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber into the pipeline.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 19 wherein said step of retaining comprises: connecting a flexible wire rope between the elongate buoyancy means and an anchor means positioned at the fixed station.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 19 and further comprising the step of: tensioning the pipeline by tensioning means positioned on board the floating pipelaying vessel to assist the elongate buoyancy means in supporting the pipeline span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water during the pipelaying operation.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water comprising the steps of: paying out the pipeline from a vessel floating upon the surface of the body of water, into the body of water and onto the bed of the body of water; flooding the interior of the pipeline; buoyantly supporting the pipeline from within the interior thereof in a span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water with a plurality of regularly spaced, equal mass, articulated buoyancy chambers positioned within the interior of the pipeline; and maintaining the plurality of buoyancy chambers at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid onto the bed of the body of water, by connecting an elongate weight onto a lower end of the plurality of buoyancy chambers to retain the buoyancy chambers within the interior of the pipeline.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water comprising the steps of: paying out the pipeline from a vessel floating upon the surface of the body of water, into the body of water and onto the bed of the body of water; flooding the interior of the pipeline; buoyantly supporting the pipeline from within the interior thereof in a span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water with a plurality of regularly spaced, equal mass, articulated buoyancy chambers positioned within the interior of the pipeline; and maintaining the plurality of buoyancy chambers at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid onto the bed of the body of water, by connecting an elongate weight onto a lower end of the plurality of buoyancy chambers to retain the buoyancy chambers within the interior of the pipeline.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 24 and further comprising the step of: tensioning the pipeline by tensioning means on board the floating vessel to assist the plurality of articulated buoyancy chambers in supporting the pipeline in a span between the floating vessel and the bed of a body of water.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water comprising the steps of: paying out the pipeline from a vessel floating upon the surface of the body of water, into the body of water and onto the bed of the body of water; flooding the interior of the pipeline; buoyantly supporting the pipeline from within the interior thereof in a span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water with a unitary elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber positioned within the interior of the pipeline; and maintaining the unitary elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid onto the bed of the body of water.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water comprising the steps of: paying out the pipeline from a vessel floating upon the surface of the body of water, into the body of water and onto the bed of the body of water; flooding the interior of the pipeline; buoyantly supporting the pipeline from within the interior thereof in a span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water with a unitary elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber positioned within the interior of the pipeline; and maintaining the unitary elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid onto the bed of the body of water.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 26 and further comprising the step of: tensioning the pipeline by tensioning means on board the floating vessel to assist the elongaTe cylindrical buoyancy chamber in supporting the pipeline in a span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
101 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 27 and further comprising the steps of: recovering the elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber from within the interior of the pipeline upon completion of the pipelaying operation by: lowering the free end of the pipeline onto the bed of the body of water, flooding the elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber, pulling the elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber out of the free end of the pipeline, and blowing the elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber to buoyantly raise the chamber to the surface of the body of water.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 26 wherein the step of retaining compries: connecting an elongate weight onto the lower end of the elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber to retain the elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber within the interior of the pipeline.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 26 wherein said step of retaining comprises: flooding a ballast compartment formed within the elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber to ballast a portion of the elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water as defined in claim 26 wherein said step of retaining comprises: establishing frictional contact between a friction means connected to a portion of said elongate cylindrical buoyancy chamber and the interior surface of the elongate pipeline.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
290 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water from a fixed station comprising the steps of: suspending a pipeline to be laid upon the water bed between the fixed station and a floating vessel; flooding the interior of the pipeline; positioning an elongate buoyancy means within the interior of the pipeline for buoyantly supporting the pipeline span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water during the pipelaying operation; retaining the elongate buoyancy means within the interior of the pipeline with retaining means extending from the elongate buoyancy means back through the pipeline to the fixed staion; progressively laying the pipeline upon the bed of the body of water by, making up the pipeline on board the floating vessel, and paying the made up pipeline off the floating vessel into the body of water; while simultaneously paying out the retaining means from the fixed station as the pipeline is laid to permit the buoyant elongate means to axially translate within the interior of the pipeline and thus remain at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid; removing the elongate buoyancy means from within the interior of the pipeline upon completion of the pipelaying operation by, connecting a line to the free end of the elongate buoyancy means, flooding the elongate buoyancy means to remove the buoyancy thereof, lowering the free end of the pipeline onto the bed of the body of water, pulling the elongate means out of the free end of the pipeline, disconnecting the retaining means from the elongate means, and blowing the elongate means to buoyantly raise the elongate means to the surface of the body of water.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
290 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water from a fixed station comprising the steps of: suspending a pipeline to be laid upon the water bed between the fixed station and a floating vessel; flooding the interior of the pipeline; positioning an elongate buoyancy means within the interior of the pipeline for buoyantly supporting the pipeline span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water during the pipelaying operation; retaining the elongate buoyancy means within the interior of the pipeline with retaining means extending from the elongate buoyancy means back through the pipeline to the fixed staion; progressively laying the pipeline upon the bed of the body of water by, making up the pipeline on board the floating vessel, and paying the made up pipeline off the floating vessel into the body of water; while simultaneously paying out the retaining means from the fixed station as the pipeline is laid to permit the buoyant elongate means to axially translate within the interior of the pipeline and thus remain at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid; removing the elongate buoyancy means from within the interior of the pipeline upon completion of the pipelaying operation by, connecting a line to the free end of the elongate buoyancy means, flooding the elongate buoyancy means to remove the buoyancy thereof, lowering the free end of the pipeline onto the bed of the body of water, pulling the elongate means out of the free end of the pipeline, disconnecting the retaining means from the elongate means, and blowing the elongate means to buoyantly raise the elongate means to the surface of the body of water.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water comprising the steps of: paying out the pipeline from a vessel floating upon the surface of the body of water, into the body of water and onto the bed of the body of water; flooding the interior of the pipeline; buoyantly supporting the pipeline from within the interior thereof in a span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water with a plurality of regularly spacEd, equal mass, articulated buoyancy chambers positioned within the interior of the pipeline; maintaining the plurality of buoyancy chambers at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid onto the bed of the body of water; recovering the plurality of buoyancy chambers from within the interior of the pipeline upon completion of the pipelaying operation, by lowering the free end of the pipeline onto the water bed, flooding the plurality of buoyancy chambers, pulling the plurality of buoyancy chambers out of the free end of the pipeline, and blowing the plurality of buoyancy chambers to buoyantly raise the buoyancy chambers to the surface of the body of water.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for laying an elongate pipeline upon the bed of a body of water comprising the steps of: paying out the pipeline from a vessel floating upon the surface of the body of water, into the body of water and onto the bed of the body of water; flooding the interior of the pipeline; buoyantly supporting the pipeline from within the interior thereof in a span between the floating vessel and the bed of the body of water with a plurality of regularly spacEd, equal mass, articulated buoyancy chambers positioned within the interior of the pipeline; maintaining the plurality of buoyancy chambers at approximately a constant relative elevational level within the pipeline as the pipeline is progressively laid onto the bed of the body of water; recovering the plurality of buoyancy chambers from within the interior of the pipeline upon completion of the pipelaying operation, by lowering the free end of the pipeline onto the water bed, flooding the plurality of buoyancy chambers, pulling the plurality of buoyancy chambers out of the free end of the pipeline, and blowing the plurality of buoyancy chambers to buoyantly raise the buoyancy chambers to the surface of the body of water.
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) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |