A method for governing the elevation, attitude and structural integrity of a pressure-containing vessel in a body of liquid counterbalances flotation and incompressible ballast mediums against each other in separate serial compartments. Varying the quantity of incompressible ballast medium allows control of the elevation and attitude of the vessel. If the flotation medium is compressible, varying the quantity of flotation medium allows control of the ambient pressure of the vessel. The method facilitates floating and towing and laying of an undersea pipeline on, to and at a deep water site.

A method for governing the elevation, attitude and structural integrity of a pressure-containing vessel in a body of liquid counterbalances flotation and incompressible ballast mediums against each other in separate serial compartments. Varying the quantity of incompressible ballast medium allows control of the elevation and attitude of the vessel. If the flotation medium is compressible, varying the quantity of flotation medium allows control of the ambient pressure of the vessel. The method facilitates floating and towing and laying of an undersea pipeline on, to and at a deep water site.

A method of installing cable through material, for example, concrete, wood, masonry, plastic steel, or the like comprising a drill bit with a distal end having a hollow tip with an attachment mechanism for receiving the cable. The drill bit is drilled through the material, and left in place while the cable is attached to the proximal end of the drill bit. There is no need to remove the drill bit from the aperture or material to attach the cable thereto. After attachment to the drill bit, the cable is inserted through the aperture with the drill bit and removed from the drill bit after it passes through the material so it can be attached to a receiver device.

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).

The invention concerns a process and a device for laying a subsea pipeline according to the J-lay or S-lay method wherein straight sections are mounted onshore, dried and degassed then closed by plugs. The sections are loaded on a pipe-laying ship, are separated from their plugs before the welding. At the welding of each bulkhead a short pumping is operated to reduce the pressure in the part of the annulus located between the two last bulkheads and then the opening leading to the annulus are sealed.

The invention concerns a process and a device for laying a subsea pipeline according to the J-lay or S-lay method wherein straight sections are mounted onshore, dried and degassed then closed by plugs. The sections are loaded on a pipe-laying ship, are separated from their plugs before the welding. At the welding of each bulkhead a short pumping is operated to reduce the pressure in the part of the annulus located between the two last bulkheads and then the opening leading to the annulus are sealed.

A method of joining a first pipe section to a second pipe section includes positioning the two pipe sections in an end-to-end configuration to define therebetween a joint to be welded, measuring the degree of alignment of the pipe sections when they are in the end-to-end configuration in a position ready for welding, ascertaining the relative movement required of the pipe sections in order to improve their alignment, effecting the relative movement so ascertained, and welding together the two pipe sections. The method may include the use of geometric data of the end of the pipes in order to ascertain the relative movement required of the pipe sections. A control unit may be used to calculate, using such data, a target orientation that lines up the pipe sections. The measuring step may be performed using, for example, a laser or a camera and backlight.

A method of joining a first pipe section to a second pipe section includes positioning the two pipe sections in an end-to-end configuration to define therebetween a joint to be welded, measuring the degree of alignment of the pipe sections when they are in the end-to-end configuration in a position ready for welding, ascertaining the relative movement required of the pipe sections in order to improve their alignment, effecting the relative movement so ascertained, and welding together the two pipe sections. The method may include the use of geometric data of the end of the pipes in order to ascertain the relative movement required of the pipe sections. A control unit may be used to calculate, using such data, a target orientation that lines up the pipe sections. The measuring step may be performed using, for example, a laser or a camera and backlight.

A marine pipeline installation vessel and a method are provided for laying an offshore rigid pipeline in the sea, the vessel at least being adapted to carry out the rigid reel lay method. The vessel includes at least one vertical storage reel for the storage of a spooled rigid pipeline. A left and right reel support structure are provided to support the weight of the at least one storage reel. The left and right support structures are embodied to form a pivoting structure allowing an angular adjustment of the horizontal reel axis about a vertical axis to alter the angular position of the at least one storage reel.

A marine pipeline installation vessel and a method are provided for laying an offshore rigid pipeline in the sea, the vessel at least being adapted to carry out the rigid reel lay method. The vessel includes at least one vertical storage reel for the storage of a spooled rigid pipeline. A left and right reel support structure are provided to support the weight of the at least one storage reel. The left and right support structures are embodied to form a pivoting structure allowing an angular adjustment of the horizontal reel axis about a vertical axis to alter the angular position of the at least one storage reel.