The invention provides a method of emptying an undersea fluid transport pipe (2) that is submerged and full of water, the method comprising pumping out at least a portion of the water present inside the submerged pipe by means of a submersible pump unit (6) connected to a point of the pipe, the volume of water pumped out from the inside of the pipe being compensated by a gas injected under pressure into the submerged pipe from a point (18) thereof that is situated higher than the connection point (12; 14) to the submersible pump unit.

The invention also provides an installation for performing such a method.

The invention provides a method of emptying an undersea fluid transport pipe (2) that is submerged and full of water, the method comprising pumping out at least a portion of the water present inside the submerged pipe by means of a submersible pump unit (6) connected to a point of the pipe, the volume of water pumped out from the inside of the pipe being compensated by a gas injected under pressure into the submerged pipe from a point (18) thereof that is situated higher than the connection point (12; 14) to the submersible pump unit.

The invention also provides an installation for performing such a method.

Enclosures are described that encapsulate or surround a joint between two or more elements, for example two pipes or a pipe and a valve. The enclosures prevent direct contact between the joint and the surrounding water, for example fresh or salt water, and prevent biofouling and corrosion of the joint. An enclosure encapsulates the joint and forms an enclosed space around the joint. Some or all of the enclosure includes a flexible material. The enclosed space is filled with a protective liquid that is retained in the enclosed space and that will be in direct contact with the joint. Due to the flexible nature of the flexible material, the pressure inside the enclosed space is maintained substantially equal to the exterior pressure outside the membrane.

A pipe-clamping block (100) comprising a top surface (110), a first outside surface (120), a second outside surface (130), a bottom surface (140), a first inside surface (150), a second inside surface (160), and a recessed surface (170).

A bend restrictor prevents an elongated member from reaching a bending radius less than an allowable bending radius of the elongated member. A connecting arrangement is positioned at an end portion of the bend restrictor and is provided to engage the elongated member in a fixed manner. The bend restrictor has an essentially open faced contact area including a longitudinal extent providing support for the elongated member in its longitudinal direction and a transverse extent providing support for the elongated member in its transverse direction. The bend restrictor has a retainer arranged for the bend restrictor to follow the longitudinal bending of the elongated member. The bend restrictor includes plural bend restrictor sections where two and two bend restrictor sections are connected in a hinged joint arranged for allowing angular displacement to occur within a preset range as a response to the longitudinal bending of the elongated member.

A guide apparatus 10 for an elongate member. The guide apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of elements 12 locatable along the length of the elongate member. Each element 12 extends around the elongate member. The guide apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of elongate link members 14 extending between elements 12. The elongate link members 14 are spaced from each other around the elements 12. The elongate link members 14 permit limited relative movement of the respective elements 12, such that the guide apparatus 10 permits limited bending of the elongate member. The guide apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of spacers 16. The spacers 16 are disposed between the elements 12. The spacers 16 extend around the elongate member. The spacers comprise guide formations 18, through which guide formations 18 the elongate link members 14 extend between the elements 12.

A method of emptying an undersea fluid transport pipe (2) that is submerged and full of water, by pumping out at least a portion of the water present inside the submerged pipe using a submersible pump unit (6) connected to a point of the pipe, the volume of water pumped out from the inside of the pipe being compensated by a gas injected under pressure into the submerged pipe from a point (18) thereof that is situated higher than the connection point (12; 14) to the submersible pump unit. The invention also provides an installation for performing such a method.

A wax control element for subsea processing of well fluids in a wellstream comprises a bundle of flowlines within an elongate tensile structure. That structure defines inlet and outlet ends and has cooling and heating provisions that act on the flowlines, in use, to promote deposition of wax in the flowlines and subsequent entrainment of wax in the wellstream.

A wax control element for subsea processing of well fluids in a wellstream comprises a bundle of flowlines within an elongate tensile structure. That structure defines inlet and outlet ends and has cooling and heating provisions that act on the flowlines, in use, to promote deposition of wax in the flowlines and subsequent entrainment of wax in the wellstream.

An underwater utility line, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. The underwater utility line can include an adjustably buoyant tube. The underwater utility line can also include a transmission line to transfer energy disposed in an interior of the adjustably buoyant tube. The underwater utility line can further include a gas source and a controller to control the gas provided by the gas source to alter the buoyancy of the adjustably buoyant tube.