Pipeline laying system utilizing an inclined ramp

Claim 1

Apparatus for laying pipeline from a floating vessel means Into a body of water, the apparatus comprising: elongate, substantially rigid, ramp means including ramp support means for slidably supporting a generally straight portion of the pipeline on said vessel with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water, and including a pipe section receiving means for supporting a new section of pipe to be added to the pipeline, said pipe section receiving means being bounded by spaced vertical planes; ramp moving means for pivoting said ramp means to selected, stationary pivoted positions; first clamp means mounted on said ramp means for selectively maintaining said pipeline substantially stationary with respect to said ramp means; second clamp means mounted on said ramp means, for longitudinal movement along said ramp means for selectively engaging the pipeline so as to be fixed with respect thereto; means for restraining longitudinal movement of said second clamp means; elongate, substantially rigid, pipe section loader means including loader support means for supporting a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline; loader mounting means for pivotally mounting said loader means on said floating vessel means; and loader moving means for pivoting said loader means to selected, stationary pivoted positions with said loader support means and said ramp support means being generally coplaner, and with said loader support means located between the spaced vertical planes bounding said pipe section receiving means.

Claim 14

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and an elongate substantially rigid pipe section loader means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; slidably supporting a generally straight portion of pipeline on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; supporting, in a stationary position, a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline on the pipe section loader means with the pipe section loader means in a substantially horizontal position; rotating the loader means in said angular direction to a stationary position wherein the longitudinal direction of extend of the loader means and the supported pipe section defines an angle with respect to a horizontal plane substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration to locate the pipe section between the spaced vertical planes through the upper end of the ramp means and the end of the generally straight portion of pipeline supported on the ramp means; aligning the pipe section in generally coaxial relation with said generally straight portion of pipeline; connecting the pipe section to said generally straight portion of pipeline; rotating the loader means in a direction opposite to said angular direction to a substantially horizontal position to receive a further section of pipe to be added to the pipeline by performing said steps of rotating the loader means, aligning the pipe section and connecting the pipe section; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section.

Claim 15

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and an elongate substantially rigid pipe section loader means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; slidably supporting a generally straight portion of pipeline on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; supporting, in a stationary position, a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline on the pipe section loader means with the pipe section loader means in a substantially horizontal position; rotating the loader means in said angular direction to a stationary position wherein the longitudinal direction of extend of the loader means and the supported pipe section defines an angle with respect to a horizontal plane substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration to locate the pipe section between the spaced vertical planes through the upper end of the ramp means and the end of the generally straight portion of pipeline supported on the ramp means; aligning the pipe section in generally coaxial relation with said generally straight portion of pipeline; connecting the pipe section to said generally straight portion of pipeline; rotating the loader means in a direction opposite to said angular direction to a substantially horizontal position to receive a further section of pipe to be added to the pipeline by performing said steps of rotating the loader means, aligning the pipe section and connecting the pipe section; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section.

Claim 16

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and an elongate substantially rigid pipe section loader means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into The body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; slidably supporting a generally straight portion of pipeline on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; supporting, in a stationary position, a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline on the pipe section loader means with the pipe section loader means in a substantially horizontal position; rotating the loader means in said angular direction to a stationary position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the loader means and the supported pipe section defines an angle with respect to a horizontal plane substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; aligning the pipe section in generally coaxial relation with said generally straight portion of pipeline; connecting the pipe section to said generally straight portion of pipeline; rotating the loader means in a direction opposite to said angular direction to a substantially horizontal position to receive a further section of pipe to be added to the pipeline by performing said steps of rotating the loader means, aligning the pipe section and connecting the pipe section; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section, the step of rotating the loader means in a direction opposite to said angular direction being performed prior to the step of connecting the pipe section to the pipeline; the method further including the step of supporting the pipe section on the ramp means prior to rotating the loader means in a direction opposite to said angular direction.

Claim 17

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and an elongate substantially rigid pipe section loader means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into The body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; slidably supporting a generally straight portion of pipeline on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; supporting, in a stationary position, a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline on the pipe section loader means with the pipe section loader means in a substantially horizontal position; rotating the loader means in said angular direction to a stationary position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the loader means and the supported pipe section defines an angle with respect to a horizontal plane substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; aligning the pipe section in generally coaxial relation with said generally straight portion of pipeline; connecting the pipe section to said generally straight portion of pipeline; rotating the loader means in a direction opposite to said angular direction to a substantially horizontal position to receive a further section of pipe to be added to the pipeline by performing said steps of rotating the loader means, aligning the pipe section and connecting the pipe section; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section, the step of rotating the loader means in a direction opposite to said angular direction being performed prior to the step of connecting the pipe section to the pipeline; the method further including the step of supporting the pipe section on the ramp means prior to rotating the loader means in a direction opposite to said angular direction.

Claim 20

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid, elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and supporting a movable clamp means, a fixed clamp means and an elongate, substantially Rigid, pipe section loader means movably mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; releasably engaging, with the fixed clamp means, a generally straight portion of pipeline slidably supported on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; placing a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline on the pipe section loader means located in a lower position thereof; raising the loader means to a stationary position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the loader means and the supported pipe section define an angle with respect to a horizontal plane substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration, and wherein the pipe section is located between the spaced vertical plane through the upper end of the ramp means and the end of the generally straight portion of pipeline supported on the ramp means; transferring the pipe section to the ramp means by which the pipe section is supported in generally coaxial relation with the generally straight portion of pipeline; lowering the loader means to a lower position thereof to receive a further pipe section to be added to the pipeline; during the lowering step, connecting the pipe section to said generally straight portion of pipeline; engaging at least one of the pipe section and the pipeline with the movable clamp means so as to maintain the pipeline fixed with respect thereto; releasing the fixed clamp means from engagement with the pipeline; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section while maintaining tension on the movable clamp means; reengaging the pipeline with the fixed clamp means; releasing the moveable clamp means from engagement with the connected pipe section; retrieving the movable clamp means to its initial position; repeating the step of raising the loader means and transferring the pipe section.

Claim 21

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid, elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and supporting a movable clamp means, a fixed clamp means and an elongate, substantially Rigid, pipe section loader means movably mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; releasably engaging, with the fixed clamp means, a generally straight portion of pipeline slidably supported on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; placing a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline on the pipe section loader means located in a lower position thereof; raising the loader means to a stationary position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the loader means and the supported pipe section define an angle with respect to a horizontal plane substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration, and wherein the pipe section is located between the spaced vertical plane through the upper end of the ramp means and the end of the generally straight portion of pipeline supported on the ramp means; transferring the pipe section to the ramp means by which the pipe section is supported in generally coaxial relation with the generally straight portion of pipeline; lowering the loader means to a lower position thereof to receive a further pipe section to be added to the pipeline; during the lowering step, connecting the pipe section to said generally straight portion of pipeline; engaging at least one of the pipe section and the pipeline with the movable clamp means so as to maintain the pipeline fixed with respect thereto; releasing the fixed clamp means from engagement with the pipeline; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section while maintaining tension on the movable clamp means; reengaging the pipeline with the fixed clamp means; releasing the moveable clamp means from engagement with the connected pipe section; retrieving the movable clamp means to its initial position; repeating the step of raising the loader means and transferring the pipe section.

Claim 26

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid, elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and supporting a movable internal clamp means and a fixed clamp means, and an elongate substantially rigid, pipe section loader means movably mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; releasably engaging, with the fixed clamp means, a generally straight portion of pipeline slidably supported on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; transferring, using the loader means, a pipe section to the ramp means by which the pipe section is supported in generally coaxial relation with the section of pipeline; connecting the pipe section to said generally straight portion of pipeline; internally engaging the pipeline with the movable clamp means to maintain the pipeline fixed with respect thereto; releasing the fixed clamp means from engagement with the pipeline; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section while maintaining tension on the movable clamp means; reengaging the pipeline with the fixed clamp means; releasing the moveable clamp means from engagement with the pipeline section; retrieving the moveable clamp means to its initial position; repeating the step of transferring a pipe section.

Claim 27

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid, elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and supporting a movable internal clamp means and a fixed clamp means, and an elongate substantially rigid, pipe section loader means movably mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; releasably engaging, with the fixed clamp means, a generally straight portion of pipeline slidably supported on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; transferring, using the loader means, a pipe section to the ramp means by which the pipe section is supported in generally coaxial relation with the section of pipeline; connecting the pipe section to said generally straight portion of pipeline; internally engaging the pipeline with the movable clamp means to maintain the pipeline fixed with respect thereto; releasing the fixed clamp means from engagement with the pipeline; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section while maintaining tension on the movable clamp means; reengaging the pipeline with the fixed clamp means; releasing the moveable clamp means from engagement with the pipeline section; retrieving the moveable clamp means to its initial position; repeating the step of transferring a pipe section.

Claim 34

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid, elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and supporting a movable clamp means and a fixed clamp means, and an elongate substantially rigid pipe section loader means movably mounted on the floating vessel and including loader clamp means, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines the angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; releasably engaging, with the fixed clamp means, a portion of pipeline slidably supported on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; placing a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline on the pipe section loader means located in a lower position thereof; clamping the pipe section on the loader means with the loader clamp means so as to maintain the pipe section substantially stationary with respect thereto; raising the loader means to a stationary position adjacent the ramp means; transferring the pipe section to the ramp means by which the pipe section is supported in generally aligned relation with the end of the pipeline, the step of transferring including releasing the loader clamp means; lowering the loader means to a lower position thereof to receive a further pipe section to be added to the pipeline; connecting the pipe section to said portion of pipeline; engaging at least one of the pipe section and the pipeline with the movable clamp means so As to maintain the pipeline fixed with respect thereto; releasing the fixed clamp means from engagement with the pipeline; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section while maintaining tension on the movable clamp means; reengaging the pipeline with the fixed clamp means; releasing the movable clamp means from engagement with the connected pipe section; and retrieving the movable clamp means to its initial position.

Claim 35

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid, elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and supporting a movable clamp means and a fixed clamp means, and an elongate substantially rigid pipe section loader means movably mounted on the floating vessel and including loader clamp means, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines the angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; releasably engaging, with the fixed clamp means, a portion of pipeline slidably supported on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; placing a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline on the pipe section loader means located in a lower position thereof; clamping the pipe section on the loader means with the loader clamp means so as to maintain the pipe section substantially stationary with respect thereto; raising the loader means to a stationary position adjacent the ramp means; transferring the pipe section to the ramp means by which the pipe section is supported in generally aligned relation with the end of the pipeline, the step of transferring including releasing the loader clamp means; lowering the loader means to a lower position thereof to receive a further pipe section to be added to the pipeline; connecting the pipe section to said portion of pipeline; engaging at least one of the pipe section and the pipeline with the movable clamp means so As to maintain the pipeline fixed with respect thereto; releasing the fixed clamp means from engagement with the pipeline; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section while maintaining tension on the movable clamp means; reengaging the pipeline with the fixed clamp means; releasing the movable clamp means from engagement with the connected pipe section; and retrieving the movable clamp means to its initial position.

Claim 36

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and an elongate substantially rigid pipe section loader means movably mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; slidably supporting a portion of pipeline on the ramp means, on ramp support means, so as to extend generally in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; supporting, in a stationary position, a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline on support means of the pipe section loader means with the pipe section loader means in a lower position; moving the loader means to a stationary position adjacent the ramp means with the loader support means and the ramp support means being generally coplaner to locate the pipe section between the spaced vertical planes through the upper end of the ramp means and the end of the portion of pipeline supported on the ramp means; transferring the pipe section to the ramp means; connecting the pipe section to the pipeline; returning the loader means to its lower position; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section.

Claim 37

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel and an elongate substantially rigid pipe section loader means movably mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; slidably supporting a portion of pipeline on the ramp means, on ramp support means, so as to extend generally in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; supporting, in a stationary position, a section of pipe to be added to the pipeline on support means of the pipe section loader means with the pipe section loader means in a lower position; moving the loader means to a stationary position adjacent the ramp means with the loader support means and the ramp support means being generally coplaner to locate the pipe section between the spaced vertical planes through the upper end of the ramp means and the end of the portion of pipeline supported on the ramp means; transferring the pipe section to the ramp means; connecting the pipe section to the pipeline; returning the loader means to its lower position; and, paying out the pipeline into the body of water by an amount substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the connected pipe section.

Claim 38

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; slidably supporting a portion of pipeline on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; and, controlling the radius of bend of the pipeline as it leaves the terminal portion of the ramp means while permitting the pipeline leaving the terminal portion of the ramp means to attain a predetermined radius of bend by surrounding the pipeline by at least about 180* with elongate guide shoe means positioned at the terminal portion of the ramp means adjacent the portion of the pipeline supported thereby and defining a predetermined radius of bend at that terminal portion of the ramp means.

Claim 39

A method of laying pipeline from a floating vessel into a body of water, the method utilizing a substantially rigid elongate ramp means pivotally mounted on the floating vessel, the method comprising: establishing a desired angle of penetration of the pipeline into the body of water; rotating the ramp means in an angular direction about a substantially horizontal axis to a fixed angular position wherein the longitudinal direction of extent of the elongate ramp means defines an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, substantially equal to the desired angle of penetration; slidably supporting a portion of pipeline on the ramp means so as to extend in said longitudinal direction with the remainder of the pipeline depending into the body of water; and, controlling the radius of bend of the pipeline as it leaves the terminal portion of the ramp means while permitting the pipeline leaving the terminal portion of the ramp means to attain a predetermined radius of bend by surrounding the pipeline by at least about 180* with elongate guide shoe means positioned at the terminal portion of the ramp means adjacent the portion of the pipeline supported thereby and defining a predetermined radius of bend at that terminal portion of the ramp means.