A supporting device configured to support a pipeline on the bed of a body of water having a frame connectable in a sliding manner to a pipeline extending along a longitudinal axis between a laying vessel and the bed of a body of water; at least one floating body connected to the frame; and at least one connecting mechanism connecting the frame to the floating body and configured to define a distance between the axis of the pipeline and the floating body, so as to apply a torque to the portion of pipeline at the frame.

A connecting device for supporting an apparatus configured to couple to a pipeline and having a coupling mechanism, which has a first portion configured to couple integrally to the apparatus, and a second portion, configured to be connected to a hoisting device, and selectively releasable from the first portion in a designated or given direction as a function of the relative position of, and the force exchanged between, the apparatus and the hoisting device.

A connecting device for supporting an apparatus configured to couple to a pipeline and having a coupling mechanism, which has a first portion configured to couple integrally to the apparatus, and a second portion, configured to be connected to a hoisting device, and selectively releasable from the first portion in a designated or given direction as a function of the relative position of, and the force exchanged between, the apparatus and the hoisting device.

A method has the following steps: a) providing an undersea foundation arranged on the bed of a body of water; b) laying a section of pipe and of an in-line structure on the foundation and allowing the section of pipe to freely self-orient on the foundation; c) placing at least one guide on the foundation on both sides of the section of pipe; d) blocking the guide on the foundation to laterally clamp the section of pipe with respect to the foundation, while authorizing a longitudinal movement of the section of pipe with respect to the guide.

A marine pipeline installation system for laying an offshore pipeline and/or installing a subsea riser includes a pipeline launch tower, a pipeline guide provided at an elevated position for guiding said pipeline to the pipeline launch trajectory along said tower, one or more tensioners, an abandonment and recovery (A&R) system including at least one A&R cable and associated A&R winch and a sheave arrangement with one or more sheaves supported by the pipeline launch tower at an upper position thereof. An auxiliary trolley is provided which is adapted to support the weight of the launched pipeline and which is movable along a rail in the pipeline launch trajectory when the one or more tensioner frames are in the retracted non-operable position, from a position above the uppermost tensioner to a position below the lowermost tensioner, the rail being supported by the pipeline launch tower.

A marine pipeline installation system for laying an offshore pipeline and/or installing a subsea riser includes a pipeline launch tower, a pipeline guide provided at an elevated position for guiding said pipeline to the pipeline launch trajectory along said tower, one or more tensioners, an abandonment and recovery (A&R) system including at least one A&R cable and associated A&R winch and a sheave arrangement with one or more sheaves supported by the pipeline launch tower at an upper position thereof. An auxiliary trolley is provided which is adapted to support the weight of the launched pipeline and which is movable along a rail in the pipeline launch trajectory when the one or more tensioner frames are in the retracted non-operable position, from a position above the uppermost tensioner to a position below the lowermost tensioner, the rail being supported by the pipeline launch tower.

An apparatus for positioning an underwater pipe includes a plurality of fixing members for disposing on an outer circumferential surface of the underwater pipe in a spaced apart manner, a submersible unit connected to one of the fixing members, and a counterweight unit. The submersible unit is configured to float the underwater pipe on a water surface and submerge the underwater pipe. The counterweight unit is connected to the other one of the fixing members when the underwater pipe is submerged for positioning the underwater pipe on a bottom of a body of water.

An apparatus for positioning an underwater pipe includes a plurality of fixing members for disposing on an outer circumferential surface of the underwater pipe in a spaced apart manner, a submersible unit connected to one of the fixing members, and a counterweight unit. The submersible unit is configured to float the underwater pipe on a water surface and submerge the underwater pipe. The counterweight unit is connected to the other one of the fixing members when the underwater pipe is submerged for positioning the underwater pipe on a bottom of a body of water.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for at least partially repairing a defect in a tubular composite layer. The apparatus comprises a plurality of independently movable abutment elements (3820) each supported in a spaced apart relationship via a respective one of at least one support member (3810). Each abutment element is associated with a respective drive axis along which the abutment elements are movable and the drive axes of all abutment elements extend outwardly from a common centre point.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for at least partially repairing a defect in a tubular composite layer. The apparatus comprises a plurality of independently movable abutment elements (3820) each supported in a spaced apart relationship via a respective one of at least one support member (3810). Each abutment element is associated with a respective drive axis along which the abutment elements are movable and the drive axes of all abutment elements extend outwardly from a common centre point.