A method of aligning first and second pipes end-to-end in a position ready for welding. Each pipe has an end bevelled with a shape scanned and stored in memory of a control unit. At least one of the pipes has machine readable codes distributed around their circumference of the pipe. The method includes effecting relative movement of the ends of the first and second pipes towards each other, reading at least one of the codes with a reader, and ascertaining the relative movement required to align the pipes in accordance with a target orientation. The relative movement is ascertained with information provided by the read code and the shapes of the bevelled ends stored in the control unit memory. In other aspects, a closed loop control method and machine-learning may be used to align the pipes. A pipe-laying vessel including pipe handling equipment and the control unit is also provided.

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.

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 vessel-supportable flexible-elongate-element spooling system (100) for spooling a flexible elongate element (12). The system comprises a container (14) having an internal volume defined by a radially inner barrier (22), a radially outer barrier (24), and a base (26). A flexible-elongate-element feeder (18) feeds the flexible elongate element (12) towards the base (26) of the container (14). A flexible-elongate-element force applicator (20) applies a force to the flexible elongate element (12) to retain a curvature imparted to the flexible elongate element (12) on discharge from the flexible-elongate-element feeder (18). The curvature is at least in part defined by the inner barrier (22) and/or the outer barrier (24).

A pipelay vessel having two pipe string manufacturing lines and a firing line, wherein the pipe string manufacturing lines are designed for simultaneously handling two different pipe outer diameters for use as an inner pipe and an outer pipe respectively. Further, the vessel has a pipe-in-pipe assembly workstation for assembling the inner pipe and the outer pipe in a pipe-in-pipe configuration. The vessel is designed with a lay-out which allows for producing offshore pipe-in-pipe strings from single joints, wherein available space is optimally used and pipe-in-pipe strings can be produced safely offshore.

A pipelay vessel having two pipe string manufacturing lines and a firing line, wherein the pipe string manufacturing lines are designed for simultaneously handling two different pipe outer diameters for use as an inner pipe and an outer pipe respectively. Further, the vessel has a pipe-in-pipe assembly workstation for assembling the inner pipe and the outer pipe in a pipe-in-pipe configuration. The vessel is designed with a lay-out which allows for producing offshore pipe-in-pipe strings from single joints, wherein available space is optimally used and pipe-in-pipe strings can be produced safely offshore.

A flexible deployment system is used to deploy subsea/downhole well equipment or modules from a multi-purpose vessel without requiring a moon pool and a derrick or tower. The deployment system may include the vessel and a deployment frame disposed on the vessel. The deployment frame includes a protruding section extending as a cantilever beyond an external edge of the vessel, and the protruding section includes an aperture formed therein to facilitate construction of the well equipment or modules through the protruding section. The deployment system also includes an actuation assembly coupled to the protruding section to selectively transition the protruding section to a collapsed, split, or retracted orientation out of a deployment path of the well equipment or modules. The system allows for controlled deployment of well equipment or modules including at least a string of downhole tools or tubulars coupled end to end from the side of the vessel in a single trip.

A wax control element for subsea processing of well fluids in a wellstream comprises a bundle of flowlines within an elongate tensile structure. That structure defines inlet and outlet ends and has cooling and heating provisions that act on the flowlines, in use, to promote deposition of wax in the flowlines and subsequent entrainment of wax in the wellstream.

A system for monitoring a remote underwater location using an unmanned underwater vessel (5). The system includes an unmanned surface vessel (8), a communication unit (7) for submerged location and connected to the unmanned surface vessel (8) and in which the unmanned surface vessel has a position tracking control system for controlling the position of that vessel on a body of water and relative to the unmanned underwater vehicle (5). The communication unit (7) has a first wireless communication arrangement for communication with the unmanned underwater vehicle, a second wired communication arrangement (10) for communication with the unmanned surface vessel and the unmanned surface vessel has a third communication arrangement for communication with an operator or observer (1) remote from the unmanned surface vessel and the unmanned underwater vehicle. The three communication arrangements are arranged in series such that, in use, the operator or observer may communication with the unmanned/autonomous underwater vehicle via the unmanned surface vessel, the wired connection between the unmanned surface vessel and the communication unit, and the wireless connection between the communication unit and the unmanned underwater vehicle.

A method of converting a subsea laying system of a surface vessel from a laying mode to an abandonment or recovery mode Includes clamping at least one tubular sleeve in at least one clamp of the laying system. A winch wire can then run longitudinally through the or each clamped sleeve when suspending an elongate subsea element such as a pipe string during abandonment or recovery operations. The sleeve protects gripping pads of the clamp from damage due to dashing with the wire and so makes it unnecessary to remove the pads in preparation for abandonment or recovery.