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.

The invention relates to a cable turntable assembly for use in storing and laying long lengths of pipe or cable, comprising: a rotatable turntable, a turntable support surface supporting the turntable for rotational movement, and a fluid bearing system between the rotatable turntable and the turntable support surface, the fluid bearing system comprising a pressurized fluid chamber and a sealing system comprising a sealing element extending at a circumference of the turntable to seal an annular gap at the outer circumference of the turntable.

Methods for real-time coiled tubing fatigue monitoring can establish a remaining operational life of a coiled tubing strand. Standard or low-cycle plastic fatigue in bending is measured each time the coiled tubing strand is deployed through a guide arch. Also, smaller, but higher frequency loads, e.g., high cycle loads imparted to the coiled tubing strand due to interaction with an oceanic environment, are also measured. A plurality of weight detectors may be coupled to a support frame below the guide for monitoring the high-cycle loads. The remaining operational life of the coiled tubing strand may be calculated based on both the plastic strains using a low-cycle fatigue analysis and the elastic strains using a high-cycle fatigue analysis. An operator may retire a coiled tubing strand prior to failure based on the calculated remaining operational life.

A modular reel drive assembly comprises two reel drive tower modules (12, 14), a reel hub adapter (54) and a reel hub adapter support module (22, 24). The hub adapter support module (22, 24) comprises at least one support pin which is configured to be movable between a storage position in which the at least one support pin is not aligned with at least one aperture (38, 39, 40, 41) on the hub adapter support module (22, 24) and an operational position in which the support pin is aligned with at least one aperture (38, 39, 40, 41) on the hub adapter support module (22, 24).

A vessel is adapted to perform subsea wellbore related operations including module handling and laying flexible pipeline, e.g. wellbore intervention. The vessel includes a hull with a moonpool and a stationary drilling mast adjacent said moonpool. The front side of the drilling mast is provided with vertical trolley rails along whichduring module handlinga module handling trolley is movable. Further one or more tensioners are provided to engage a flexible pipeline, also being supported by the by the drilling mast. The tensioner frame of a tensioner is mounted pivotably about a vertical pivot axis to the drilling mast, such that the tensioner frame is pivotable between the pipeline laying configuration wherein the lower tensioner is provided in the module handling area and an open configuration wherein a vertical trolley path is unobstructed to allow module handling.

A transfer mechanism (28) for transferring a fitting (46) on a flexible tubular conduit (48) about a guiding means (26) of a pipelay tower (20). The transfer mechanism (28) includes a frame (30) adapted to rotate about said guiding means (26); and a clamping mechanism (34) connected to the frame (30) and adapted to connect and secure the fitting (46) to the transfer mechanism (28). Actuation of the transfer mechanism (28) is configured to rotate the frame (30) about the guiding means (26) and cause at least one part of a fitting (46) connected to the transfer mechanism (28) to move along a path outside a surface of the guiding means (26) from a first position upstream of the guiding means (26) to a second position downstream of the guiding means (26).

Novel and advantageous pipelay reel systems and methods for use in laying flexible or rigid pipe or tubing in on and offshore operations. The pipelay reel system may have a pipelay reel having a drum arranged between two flanges. At least one flange of the reel may have a chute configured to receive an adapter coupled to a starting end of the pipe to be spooled on the reel. An initiation line coupled to a winch and intersecting the flange chute may be used to position the adapter with respect to a receiving end of the flange chute, and the reel may be rotated to pull the adapter down the chute to a latching end of the chute. Moreover, a latch may be used to secure the adapter in the chute such that the pipe may be spooled onto the reel.

System for use in building and deployment of an elongate element (202) in a J-lay operation. The system includes an upright structure (206); a winching element (204) retractable along an axis within the upright structure (206); a coupling element (210) connected to the winching element (204), for coupling the winching element (204) to an elongate element (202); and a catcher element (212) configured to retain the coupling element (210) in alignment with a predetermined axis within the upright structure (206) during retraction or extension of the winching element (204).

A device for paying out an elongated flexible article from a vessel is described. The device comprises a storage unit for the article, overboarding guide means for the article, article support means defining a cable path between the storage unit and the overboarding guide means, and pulling means for advancing the elongated article along the path. The article support means comprise an overboarding support element that is translatable in a first direction, and a buffering support system comprising a support element that is translatable in a second direction, whereby a translation of the support element has the effect of varying the length of the cable path. A vessel equipped with the device is also described. The device and method allow paying out an elongated flexible article from a vessel in a more efficient way.

A system for deploying a coil of spoolable pipe from a vessel includes a first tower configured to move longitudinally and transversely along a first track coupled to the vessel, a second tower configured to move longitudinally along a second track coupled to the vessel, and a coil drum assembly coupled to the first tower. The first tower is configured to insert the coil drum assembly transversely into an interior channel of the coil when the coil drum assembly is in a retracted position, the coil drum assembly is configured to support the coil when the coil drum assembly is in an extended position and rotate during deployment of the spoolable pipe, and the first tower and the second tower are configured to move the coil drum assembly vertically.