Pipelines with a control system and forced circulation of fluids through the annulus between an inner barrier and an outer cover of a pipe use a system configured to force circulation of fluids through the annulus. The pipe includes segments (T1, T2, T3, TN) joined together by means of connectors, wherein each segment of the pipe has an injector pipe (I1, I2, I3, IN) for injecting fluid into the annulus at a first end of the segment, and a return pipe (R1, R2, R3, RN) for removing fluid from the annulus at a second end of the segment.

A system for transporting hydrocarbons from reserves located under the sea floor to a turret connected to a hydrocarbon production vessel floating at the sea surface, the hydrocarbons being transferred through at least one rigid catenary riser extending from the sea floor to a buoy, the system for transporting hydrocarbons includes an upper section of the at least one substantially rigid riser directly attached to the buoy and provided with fairings, a middle section of the rigid riser is provided with buoyancy modules so to give it a lazy wave shape and a lower section of the substantially rigid riser is in contact with the seafloor at a distance X from the buoy vertical axis that is smaller than a distance Y between the buoy vertical axis and the mooring lines anchoring elements.

A riser top connector assembly (20) is shown. The assembly (20) includes a first connector part (21) arranged on a flexible jumper prepared for connection with a second connector part (40) arranged on top of a marine riser tower assembly projecting from the seabed. The first connector part (21) is provided with suspension means adapted to engage with supporting means in order to be supported and be able to tilt in the marine riser tower assembly. The first connector part (21) includes a housing (22) that receives an extendable termination hub (23) having a clamp connector (24) attached thereto. The jumper termination hub (23) is alignable with a riser hub (44) on the second connector part (40) when the first connector part (21) is being tilted relative to the marine riser tower assembly.

A connector assembly for connecting a hose to a tubular element. The connector assembly includes a housing, a hose connector, and a latch. The housing encloses a main passage which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing and which has a side passage extending through the housing from an exterior of the housing into the main passage. The side passage extends through a connector tube mounted on an exterior of the housing. A hose connector is secured to an end of the hose and engages with the connector tube to connect the hose to the tubular element. The hose connector comprises a pipe portion which mates with the connector tube to connect an interior of the hose to the side passage. The latch urges the connector tube and the pipe portion into engagement and prevents a separation thereof.

An offloading system for conveying hydrocarbons from a buoyancy-supported subsea riser to a surface tanker vessel comprises a flexible hose that hangs from the riser structure in a U-shape having first and second limbs. An upper end of the first limb communicates with the riser and an upper end of the second limb terminates in a pulling head for connecting the hose to the tanker. A clump weight acts on a lowermost bend of the hose between the limbs to maintain tension in the limbs. A subsurface holder fixed to the riser structure is arranged to hold the pulling head against the tension in the second limb of the hose when the system is in a standby state. The holder is offset laterally from a central longitudinal axis of the riser structure and a counterweight is positioned to a side of that axis opposed to the holder.

A subsea riser is installed by lowering at least one riser conduit to the seabed when piggybacked to an elongate support that comprises at least one flowline. The elongate support may be a pipeline bundle, which may be attached to one or more towheads in a towable bundle unit. The riser conduit may be in fluid communication with the flowline. At the seabed, a free end portion of the riser conduit is detached from the elongate support by releasing subsea-releasable fastenings. Then, with the elongate support and a root end of the riser remaining at the seabed, the detached free end portion of the riser conduit is lifted away from the elongate support to a riser support, such as a platform, an FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading vessel), or a buoy.

A method of installing a wave-configuration subsea riser of unbonded flexible pipe comprises lowering the riser progressively into the sea from an installation vessel while suspending an elongate clump weight in a catenary shape that comprises first and 5 second limbs extending upwardly from a conjoining bottom portion. An upper end of the first limb, at a distal end of the clump weight, is attached to the riser and an upper end of the second limb, at a proximal end of the clump weight, is suspended from a winch or crane of the vessel. While lowering the riser from the vessel, the weight load applied to the riser by the clump weight is controlled by adjusting the relative lengths of the first 0 and second limbs of the clump weight.

The invention proposes a method of modernizing a flexible conduit line (50), wherein the modernization method comprises the following steps performed in at least one end fittings joint (11, 12, 13), namely, removing a check valve (16) or a plug (17) from at least one outlet port (15) of an end fitting (111, 121, 131), removing a check valve (16′) or a plug (17′) of at least one outlet port (15′) of an adjacent end fitting (111′, 121′, 131′), installing a tubular line (90) in an external position to provide fluid communication between said at least one outlet port (15) of the end fitting (111, 121, 131) and said at least one outlet port (15′) of the adjacent end fitting (111′, 121′, 131′). The invention further proposes an end fittings joint (12) comprising an end fitting (121) and an adjacent end fitting (121′), the end fittings joint (12) comprising a tubular line (90) positioned externally to the end fittings (121, 121′) in order to establish fluid communication between at least one outlet port (15) of the end fitting and at least one outlet port (15′) of the adjacent end fitting (121′). The invention further proposes an interconnection module (80) connectable to a first end fitting (121) suitable to be installed in a first flexible conduit segment (52) and connectable to a second end fitting (121′) suitable to be installed in a second flexible conduit segment (53). The interconnection module (80) further comprises a tubular line (90) in an external position configured to provide fluid communication between at least one outlet port (15) of the first end fitting (121) and at least one port (15′) of the second end fitting (121′).

A float apparatus includes a buoyant device that has an outer surface with a first end portion, a second end portion and an elongated portion. The elongated portion extends from the first end portion to the second end portion. The buoyant device is shaped and configured to attach to a conduit. The elongated portion of the outer surface has a concaved section that extends from the first end portion to the second end portion. The concaved section has a shape that complements an outer radius of the conduit with the buoyant device attached to the conduit.

This invention relates to oil and gas exploration and comprises a direct connection system referred to as a Lower Riser Termination Assembly (LRTA), between risers made of composite material and horizontal lines installed on the seabed (flowlines). The system is applicable to a hybrid riser and its construction method allows cost reduction and system assembly/installation time optimization. The LRTA connection system is applicable to both rigid and flexible flowlines without need for any intermediate connection section/equipment between these and the risers. The construction of the system allows free vertical expansion of the risers along the entire structure. In addition, in the construction method developed for this system, the required area is significantly reduced.