A pipeline sphere is shown which houses an electronics package. The sphere is formed as a hollow elastomeric body having a predetermined wall thickness and an initially void interior. A carrier tube is positioned within the initially void interior of the sphere and is supported by oppositely arranged carrier plates which are themselves embedded within oppositely arranged end openings of the sphere. A removable inflation valve is contained in one of the valve plates at a first end of the carrier tube. The carrier tube has a plurality of apertures formed through its wall to enable inflating or deflating the sphere. One electronics package that can be used is an electrical tracking device.

A method for reducing the pressure of fluid within subsea equipment. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a pipe, (b) laying the pipe on the sea floor, (c) providing a connector, (d) connecting the pipe to the subsea equipment via the connector, and (e) extracting fluid from the subsea equipment through the connector and into the pipe. Apparatus for reducing the pressure of fluid within subsea equipment by extracting fluid from the subsea equipment.

A tool system comprises a crawler, one or more tool interfaces, one or more tools operatively in communication with at least one the tool interface and adapted to perform a predetermined function in an interior of a predefined space, and a power interface. The tool system is deployed within the interior of the predefined space, e.g. a drilling riser, typically after operatively attaching a tool to a tool interface. Power is to the tool system which is moved to a position within the interior of where a predetermined function is to occur and the tool used to perform the predetermined function at the position within the interior of the predefined space where the predetermined function is to occur. In an embodiment, tool system comprises a first tool adapted to perform a first predefined function, e.g. a cleaning function, and second tool adapted to perform a second predefined function, e.g. an inspection function, where the two functions may be performed in a single pass of the tool system in the interior.

A method for reducing the pressure of fluid within subsea equipment. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a pipe, (b) laying the pipe on the sea floor, (c) providing a connector, (d) connecting the pipe to the subsea equipment via the connector, and (e) extracting fluid from the subsea equipment through the connector and into the pipe. Apparatus for reducing the pressure of fluid within subsea equipment by extracting fluid from the subsea equipment.