Diverless Systems, Inc.

J. Ray Mcdermott, S.a.

Sonsub Inc.

David A Gray

Walter E Gray, Jr

Charles R Yemington

William C Parks

Stephen T McCoy

Gary E Harrison

A pipeline branch arrangement that forms a piggable-Y at the intersection with the trunkline and is oriented vertically relative to the trunkline. The approach piping to all legs of the piggable-Y are configured to incorporate 3D bend or larger radii as required. This arrangement permits the passage of foam pigs, hard pigs, and smart pigs. Rotation of the piggable-Y to the vertical plane configures all of the branch piping in the vertical plane, which permits the support sled width for pipe laying to be kept to a minimum. The arrangement of the 3D bends fore and aft of the piggable-Y aligns the trunkline ends in a co-linear manner. This permits the configuration to be installed by conventional S-Lay techniques.

Pipeline branch arrangement

An improved umbilical connector for preferable use in a subsea application. The apparatus includes a female portion and a male portion having connections located within, and a threadable fastener on the male and female halves intended to threadably engage thereby advancing and locking the male half within the female half of the present invention.

Subsea umbilical connector

A recovery head for use in retrieving a submerged pipeline to the water surface. The recovery head includes a center of gravity arm attached to one end of the recovery head by a connecting pin. The center of gravity arm maintains the recovery head in a level orientation to allow divers or an ROV to more easily insert the head into the pipeline. After insertion into the pipeline, the center of gravity arm is removed from the recovery head. With the center of gravity arm removed, the recovery head does not obstruct or interfere with any steps involved in the actual retrieval and securing of the pipeline on the lay barge. The rear portion of the recovery head includes two T-posts which connect to oval links attached to the end of a retrieving cable. The links are such that, when placed over the T-posts and the retrieval cable is pulled to retrieve the pipeline to the surface, the links rotate. In this manner, the links are unable to slip off of the T-posts on the recovery head while the recovery head is being pulled to the water surface.

Pipeline recovery head

A method for severing and recovering a submerged pipeline is disclosed. The severing and recovering operation may be performed with divers or with a remotely operated vehicle. The deflated lift bag is lowered to the submerged pipeline. The deflated lift bag is positioned under the submerged pipeline and then inflated until a section of the pipeline has been raised off of the sea floor. A cutoff saw is next lowered to the raised section of the pipeline. The cutoff saw is clamped to the pipeline prior to severing the pipeline. The cutoff saw is then removed from the severed pipeline. A recovery head is lowered to the raised end of the severed pipeline. The recovery head is aligned and placed in the raised end of the severed pipeline. The recovery head is activated to establish a gripping relationship with the pipeline. A recovery cable is lowered and connected to the recovery head. The recovery cable is retrieved to recover the recovery head and the pipeline to the water surface.

Growing community of inventors

Cypress, TX, United States of America

David A Gray