Saipem Limited

Adalberto Raimondi

Ambrogio Scodino

Apparatus for and a method of recovering a submerged pipeline is provided with such apparatus and method being particularly useful with pipelines laid on the bottom of a deep body of water. The apparatus includes support means haivng clamping means thereon for clamping the pipeline and lifting it from its bed, cutter means mounted on the support means for cutting the clamped pipeline to provide a pipeline end, and a recovery header removably mounted to the support. In operation, drive means move the header from its rest position into the clamped and cut pipeline end in an inserted state and retaining means on the support means retain the header in its inserted position. The header and pipeline section are ready for removal. A pulling and guiding flexible cable system from a vessel or barge associated with the apparatus can be used to position the apparatus under water and to move the header with the retained pipeline from the body of water to the vessel. The invention greatly facilitates the recovery of pipeline from a deep sea bottom and can dispense with use of divers normally required heretofore.

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Nerviano, Italy

Adalberto Raimondi