It may be difficult to determine the location of objects underwater, especially when they are buried below a seabed. A system for detecting conductive objects underwater may include a long conductive cable in electric communication with a signal generator. When the cable is positioned proximate to the conductive object, its signal may induce a current and a detectible secondary magnetic field in the conductive object. A sensor, preferably positioned distally from any portion of the conductive cable, may detect the secondary magnetic field and thereby determine the location of the conductive object. A method of detecting and mapping the location of a buried underwater pipeline comprising a conductive material may include: sending a predetermined current through a conductive cable attached to a first water vehicle; inducing an induced current in the pipeline; and detecting the location of at least a portion of the pipeline by a sensor attached to a second water vehicle.

A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression device comprising: a fairing comprising a fairing body dimensioned to partially encircle an underlying tubular and a first arm and a second arm extending from the fairing body, the fairing body comprises a first section and a second section that each have first ends that are interfacing one another to form a gap in between and a second end, and the first arm and the second arm are attached to the second ends such that they extend radially outward from the underlying tubular, and the first arm and the second arm are spaced a distance from one another; and an interior block member to facilitate an opening or a closing of the fairing body around an underlying tubular, the interior block member having a first block section and a second block section movably coupled to one another.

A method of installing an In-Line Structure (ILS) to a fluid-filled pipeline extending from a reel, over an aligner, and through a lay-tower during offshore reeling, the pipeline having an oblique part from the reel to the aligner, and a vertical part from the aligner through the lay-tower, including at least the steps of: (a) draining fluid in the fluid-filled pipeline from the vertical part of the pipeline to create a drained portion of the vertical part of the pipeline up to and around the aligner; (b) cutting the pipeline at or near the draining of step (a) to create upper and lower open ends of the pipeline; (c) installing the In-Line Structure to at least the upper open end of the pipeline; (d) locating a vent hose through a vent port in the In-Line Structure; (e) adding fluid into the drained portion of the pipeline and venting air from the drained portion of the pipeline through the vent hose to wholly or substantially fill the drained portion of the pipeline with the fluid.

A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression device including a body portion dimensioned to encircle an underlying tubular and a tail portion extending laterally outward from the body portion, the tail portion having a top end and a bottom end. The device further including an engaging member positioned at least at the top end or the bottom end of the body portion or the tail portion. The engaging member may be dimensioned to engage with an adjacent VIV suppression device.

Guide apparatus for an elongate member such as a pipeline or pipe. The apparatus comprising a plurality of first elements in the form of rings with central openings through which the elongate member extends. The first elements are interconnected by link members spaced around the outside of the first elements and locating in T-shaped cross section guide formations. The link members restrict the amount of pivotal movement between the first elements, and hence bending of the elongate member.

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 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.

An assembly (10) protects an elongate member (e.g., an electrical cable) extending through an opening in a support structure (e.g., a wind turbine leg (12) and passes through at least one bend protector, e.g., a bend stiffener (20a, 20b), and a retaining device (18). The retaining device (18) has a body configured to lock itself to the opening. The body carries an abutment (78) and locking members (84), which are movable between retracted and extended positions. A movable member (86) is carried by the body (82), moveable axially with respect to it, and attachable to a pulling line. As the assembly (10) is pulled into the opening by the pulling line, the abutment (78) engages the support structure and arrests inward movement. The movable member (86) is moved in the inward direction with respect to the body (82), and the locking members (84) move to their extended positions to lock the retaining device in place.

Vortex Induced Vibration (VIV) suppression strakes, in particular VIV suppression strakes are arranged on subsea pipelines. A VIV suppression strake assembly includes a strake fin support shell that is configured to be arranged against the outer surface of a section of pipe and at least one strake fin having a fin tip and a fin base. The strake fin support shell includes an aperture that is configured for inserting the fin therein, and the fin is provided at the fin base with an anchor, which anchor is configured for engaging the fin support shell on the pipe side of the aperture. The aperture is a slot dimensioned to allow the fin to be inserted in the slot from the pipe side of the slot with the fin tip leading until the fin base engages the shell.

A marine reel lay method pipeline installation system for laying a flexible pipeline on the seabed a pipeline includes a pipeline launch tower adapted to launch the flexible pipeline in a firing line along said tower; a pipeline guide provided at an elevated position; one or more tensioners, wherein the tensioner frame includes two frame segments with track units, the two frame segments being adapted to be conjoined to each other and being pivotably mounted to said pipeline launch tower about a respective vertical tensioner pivot axis, allowing said two frame segments to be pivotable between a closed flexible pipeline laying configuration; and an open configuration; one or more vertical trolley rails supported by said pipeline launch tower and positioned between said vertical tensioner pivot axes of said two frame segments; a trolley movable along said one or more vertical trolley rails in a vertical trolley path which is unobstructed when said two frame segments are in the open configuration; and a hoisting device being adapted to lower and raise said trolley.