A method for controlling buckling in subsea pipelines involves identifying spaced-apart sections of a subsea pipeline suitable for controlled lateral buckling. Sets of inclined sleepers are installed at each spaced-apart section and are selected to support the spaced-apart sections of the subsea pipeline in an orientation that is perpendicular to the initial as-laid position. Any buckling caused by thermal expansion of the subsea pipeline is distributed to two or more of the spaced-apart sections, causing the two or more spaced-apart sections to deflect laterally along the inclined sleepers outwardly from an initial as-laid position.

A method of providing buoyancy to a subsea structure such as a pipeline bundle includes attaching to the structure a rigid elongate buoyancy tube that defines a floodable envelope. The envelope is arranged to contain a mass of buoyant macrospheres. Multiple openings penetrate a tubular wall of the buoyancy tube, in fluid communication with a void that extends between the macrospheres inside the tube. The void floods via the openings when the buoyancy tube is submerged, whereupon the macrospheres apply buoyant upthrust to the surrounding buoyancy tube and hence to the subsea structure to which the tube is rigidly attached.

Provided is a method of laying empty pipes on the seabed, which method includes arranging a plurality of empty pipes in a bundle; arranging a bundle-strengthening element in a cavity defined by the pipes of the bundle; binding the bundle; and lowering the bundle to the seabed.

A method of assembling a pipeline at a seabed location comprises landing a connection tool (10) on the seabed over a free end portion of a first pipeline section (12) already placed on the seabed. The connection tool is locked to the free end portion of the first pipeline section, a lower end of a second pipeline section (26) is connected to the connection tool via an initiation line (68). While applying tension to the initiation line against reaction force of the connection tool, at least a lower end portion of the second pipeline section is landed on the seabed with the lower end facing a free end of the first pipeline section. The lower end of the second pipeline section is then pulled into mechanical engagement with the free end of the first pipeline section.

A method of assembling a pipeline at a seabed location comprises landing a connection tool (10) on the seabed over a free end portion of a first pipeline section (12) already placed on the seabed. The connection tool is locked to the free end portion of the first pipeline section, a lower end of a second pipeline section (26) is connected to the connection tool via an initiation line (68). While applying tension to the initiation line against reaction force of the connection tool, at least a lower end portion of the second pipeline section is landed on the seabed with the lower end facing a free end of the first pipeline section. The lower end of the second pipeline section is then pulled into mechanical engagement with the free end of the first pipeline section.

A method of installing a subsea riser includes placing an elongate negatively-buoyant support on the seabed and, when laying the riser on the seabed, guiding a riser portion onto the support to extend along and be cradled by the support. A hogbend region of the riser is then formed by conferring positive buoyancy on the support to lift the support and the riser portion away from the seabed. An element of the support includes a riser support disposed in a longitudinally extending open-ended gap between buoyancy volumes disposed on opposite sides of the gap. Coupling formations such as hinge portions can couple the element to a like element. When so coupled, the gaps of those elements align to define an upwardly opening, longitudinally extending groove to receive the riser.

Lined pipelines with different inner diameters are spooled successively onto a reel while their constituent pipe stalks are cyclically pressurised internally to combat wrinkling of the liner. A first, variable diameter pig is advanced to a trailing end of a first pipeline. A transition joint is attached to the trailing end of the first pipeline to effect a transition from the inner diameter of the first pipeline to the different inner diameter of a second pipeline. A leading end of the second pipeline, containing a second pig, is attached to the transition joint. The first pig is driven through the transition joint into the second pipeline. The diameter of the first pig changes to match the inner diameter of the second pipeline. The first and second pigs are then driven along the second pipeline when assembling the second pipeline from a succession of pipe stalks.

A subsea manifold 150 is integrated into a pipeline 22 so as to be deployable to the seabed together with the pipeline, from a pipe-laying vessel. The subsea manifold comprises a hub 106a, 106b for receiving production fluid from at least one subsea christmas tree 54a, 54b, and further comprises a connection 112 for at least one service line 116 connected to a surface supply or control or monitoring facility.

A subsea manifold 150 is integrated into a pipeline 22 so as to be deployable to the seabed together with the pipeline, from a pipe-laying vessel. The subsea manifold comprises a hub 106a, 106b for receiving production fluid from at least one subsea christmas tree 54a, 54b, and further comprises a connection 112 for at least one service line 116 connected to a surface supply or control or monitoring facility.

A thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe for superconducting power transmission comprises: a superconducting cable; a multi-walled pipe composed of a plurality of straight pipes and houses the superconducting cable; and a plurality of spacers that are located between adjacent two straight pipes of the plurality of straight pipes, wherein a cross-sectional shape of each spacer is a polygon having three or more vertices, each spacer has a through-hole at a center in the plane, an inner straight pipe is located to pass through the through-hole, a frictional coefficient μ.sub.i between each spacer and the inner straight pipe is 0.1 or less, a frictional coefficient μ.sub.o between each spacer and an outer straight pipe is 0.1 or less, and a ratio L.sub.d/d of a diagonal equivalent length L.sub.d of the polygon to an inner diameter d of the outer straight pipe of the adjacent two straight pipes is 0.9 or less.