A transition section (10) disposed between successively-spoolable electrically trace-heated PiP pipelines (12) comprises an inner pipe, an outer pipe and an annulus between the inner and outer pipes. The annulus contains heating cables (26) that extend longitudinally between annuli of the pipelines and longitudinally-spaced seals (44) that, when deactivated, allow fluid communication between the annuli of the pipelines and, when activated, isolate the annuli of the pipelines from each other. Longitudinally-spaced blocking plates (32) close the lumen of the inner pipe and define an inner chamber between them. Longitudinally-spaced openings (40) penetrate a wall of the inner pipe at locations longitudinally inboard of the blocking plates and the seals. The openings effect fluid communication between the annulus and the inner chamber and also define a diversion path for the heating cables that extends from the annulus to the inner chamber and back to the annulus

A pliant link to mitigate fatigue-inducing motion of a subsea catenary riser has an articulated spine having a longitudinal series of interconnected rigid segments. The spine can be coupled to upper and lower sections of the riser to transmit loads along the riser through the link on a load path that extends through the segments. The link also has a pliant pipe terminating in end fittings that can be joined, respectively, to the upper and lower sections of the riser for fluid communication along the riser through the link.

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.

In a method of joining a structure to a water-filled pipeline aboard a reel-lay vessel, a trailing end portion of the pipeline is suspended upright on a reel-lay tower. Water is drained from the trailing end portion while being retained in an inclined portion of the pipeline extending from the tower to a reel of the vessel and in a spooled portion of the pipeline coiled on the reel. The structure is joined to a trailing end of the pipeline after inserting a pig into the trailing end portion through the trailing end. Pumping additional water into a leading end of the pipeline on the reel propels the pig from the trailing end portion into a conduit of the structure while flooding the trailing end portion. This expels air through a port of the structure that was trapped in the trailing end portion between the pig and the structure.

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.

A method for laying a pipeline on a seabed in order to provide controlled thermal expansion includes feeding the pipeline from a pipeline reel through a straightener system; and at the straightener system, imparting an alternating and continuously varying degree of residual curvature on at least a portion of the pipeline.

A reel support apparatus (100) for supporting a pipeline storage reel (102) on a vessel (104) is disclosed. A method for supporting a pipeline storage reel (102) on a vessel (104) using the reel support apparatus (100) is also disclosed. The reel support apparatus (100) comprises a hub body (112) for locating within a hollow central bore (140) of a pipeline storage reel (102) and a plurality of discrete roller elements (114), spaced apart at locations on an outer surface of the hub body (112). In use, a pipeline storage reel (102) is supported by the plurality of discrete and spaced apart roller elements (114).

A marine pipeline installation system for laying an offshore pipeline and/or installing a subsea riser includes a pipeline launch tower, a pipeline guide provided at an elevated position for guiding said pipeline to the pipeline launch trajectory along said tower, one or more tensioners, an abandonment and recovery (A&R) system including at least one A&R cable and associated A&R winch and a sheave arrangement with one or more sheaves supported by the pipeline launch tower at an upper position thereof. An auxiliary trolley is provided which is adapted to support the weight of the launched pipeline and which is movable along a rail in the pipeline launch trajectory when the one or more tensioner frames are in the retracted non-operable position, from a position above the uppermost tensioner to a position below the lowermost tensioner, the rail being supported by the pipeline launch tower.

A method of making mechanically-lined pipe with primary expansion by plastically expanding a liner sleeve within an outer pipe, under lining pressure applied internally to the liner sleeve. On relieving the lining pressure, elastic radial contraction of the outer pipe makes a mechanical bond between the outer pipe and the liner sleeve. Then, secondary expansion of the outer pipe is performed under fixing pressure, which may be greater than the lining pressure, applied internally to the liner sleeve at an end portion of the pipe. This makes or strengthens a mechanical bond at the end portion. The resulting pipe joint has an end portion and a body portion inboard of the end portion. The body portion has a first, lesser bonding pressure between the outer pipe and the liner sleeve. The end portion has a second, greater bonding pressure between the outer pipe and liner sleeve.

The invention concerns a capstan reel (10) and a method for transporting an elongated article (6, 6a, 6b, 39, 42, 43, 45a, 47) between a floating vessel (2) and a body of water situated below the vessel, and a vessel applying such a capstan reel. The capstan reel comprises a rotatable cylindrical body (100) for spooling the elongated article around the body's axial axis (11), said body comprising a cylindrical contacting surface (35) for indirectly supporting at least a portion of the elongated article. Furthermore, the capstan reel comprises an endless chain (18) spooled at least partly around the cylindrical body in a helical direction relative to the axial axis of the body, acting as an intermediate layer between the cylindrical contacting surface and the intended elongated article, and a chain transfer guide (17) extending across the axial length of the cylindrical body for guiding the endless chain between a chain exit region (T) in a first axial end region (7a) of the cylindrical body and a chain entry region (E) in a second axial end region (7b), the second axial end region being situated at the opposite axial end of the cylindrical body.