A vessel for laying a pipeline includes a plurality of workstations disposed along a pipelaying path that includes an upstream portion away from a first end of the vessel and a plurality of ramps, includes a first ramp and a downstream second ramp disposed along the pipelaying path, in the region of the first end of the vessel. Each of the plurality of ramps has a first upstream end, a second downstream end, and an adjustable inclination. The downstream end of the first ramp is positioned inboard of the first end of the vessel and above the bottom of the vessel and the upstream end of the second ramp is positioned inboard of the first end of the vessel and above the bottom of the vessel. An external ramp assembly includes ramps that can be pivoted relative to one another and locked in a selected position.

A tensioner system holds back elongate products such as subsea pipelines being laid into water. The system comprises at least one endless circulatory track and an array of rollers supporting the track. Each of the rollers of the array is mounted for rotation around a respective shaft. At least one of the shafts comprises a load pin that is arranged to sense loads applied to the surrounding roller in directions normal to an axis of rotation of that roller.

A method of recovering a used pipeline from the seabed to the surface comprises attaching a recovery cap to the pipeline at the seabed to surround an end of the pipeline, and then upending at least an end portion of the pipeline underwater suspended beneath the recovery cap. While the upended pipeline is being lifted toward the surface, hydrocarbon contaminants rising buoyantly from the interior and walls of the pipeline are captured within the recovery cap, floating on water within and surrounding the pipeline. The captured contaminants are then conveyed from the recovery cap to a reservoir that is external to the recovery cap. The reservoir can be lifted toward the surface with the upended pipeline, for example, on a lifting line attached to the recovery cap. The reservoir can expand as it fills with contaminants and as hydrostatic pressure decreases, with gas from the contaminants being vented off.

A tubular handling system for conducting subterranean operations is disclosed and can include a first tubular handling system and a second tubular handling system. The first tubular handling system can include a bridge disposed within a tubular storage area, an arm pivotally coupled to the bridge, and a gripper coupled to the arm and adapted to engage with a tubular in the tubular storage area. The second tubular handling system can include a support structure, a first tubular handler coupled to the support structure, and a second tubular handler coupled to the support structure and distinct from the first tubular handling system.

A pipeline protection and leveling device for an underground pipeline. The device includes a permeable housing structure having a left side, a right side, a bottom and an open top. An excavator hook lift strap, an upright lift strap, and at least one side lift strap each extend from the permeable housing structure. A top opening closure mechanism is configured to close the open top.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of holding high top tension pipeline (101) during pipe-lay from a rolling and pitching vessel (730). In one implementation, a clamp system (711, 712) for supporting a pipe on a vessel includes a first clamp for coupling to the pipe and a second clamp for coupling to the pipe. The second clamp is disposed above the first clamp. At least one of the first clamp or the second clamp is movable relative to the other of the first clamp or the second clamp.

A laying tower for laying pipelines on the bed of a body of water has a supporting structure extending along a longitudinal axis and provided with guides parallel to the longitudinal axis; a first clamp, which is mounted on the supporting structure and configured for selectively clamping and releasing the pipeline in a given point along the longitudinal axis; and a second clamp, which is selectively movable along a path, which extends along a first section above the first clamp; and a second section below the first clamp and, partly, below the supporting structure and configured for selectively clamping and releasing the pipeline along the path.

A device for jointing elements of a pipeline for the transport of fluids includes a support structure on which a pipeline section to be jointed is intended to be mounted, two parallel fixed rails, four plates each comprising a first element capable of cooperating with a rail and a second element fixed on the support structure. The first and the second elements of each plate is linked by a first cylinder aligned along a first adjustment axis and a second cylinder aligned along a second adjustment axis, and a system for controlling the cylinders of the plates to achieve movements along the first and second adjustment axes and capable of cooperating with a system for guiding in translation the support structure along the longitudinal axis of the pipeline section to allow jointing of the pipeline section and the pipeline element.

A method of recovering a used pipeline from the seabed to the surface comprises attaching a recovery cap to the pipeline at the seabed to surround an end of the pipeline, and then upending at least an end portion of the pipeline underwater suspended beneath the recovery cap. While the upended pipeline is being lifted toward the surface, hydrocarbon contaminants rising buoyantly from the interior and walls of the pipeline are captured within the recovery cap, floating on water within and surrounding the pipeline. The captured contaminants are then conveyed from the recovery cap to a reservoir that is external to the recovery cap. The reservoir can be lifted toward the surface with the upended pipeline, for example, on a lifting line attached to the recovery cap. The reservoir can expand as it fills with contaminants and as hydrostatic pressure decreases, with gas from the contaminants being vented off.

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a pipe deployment system that includes pipe deployment equipment, in which a pipe drum having spooled thereon a pipe segment is to be loaded on the pipe deployment equipment, and a pulling device to be secured to an unspooled section of the pipe segment. The pulling device includes a device body having a first body arm and a second body arm, in which the device body is to be disposed around the unspooled section of the pipe segment, the first body arm is to be secured to a first cable branch, and the second body arm is to be secured to a second cable branch. The pulling device includes a first pipe grabber secured to the first body arm and a second pipe grabber secured to the second body arm such that the second pipe grabber and the first pipe grabber open towards one another.