Subsea 7 (us) LLC

Total E&p Research & Technology Usa, Inc.

Shell International Exploration and Production Inc.

Subsea 7 Limited

Karthik Mohan

Khalid Mateen

Ilkay Darilmaz

Steven Mansfield

Florent Hurault De Ligny

A method of assembling a pipeline at a seabed location comprises landing a connection tool on the seabed over a free end portion of a first pipeline section already placed on the seabed. The connection tool is locked to the free end portion of the first pipeline section, a lower end of a second pipeline section is connected to the connection tool via an initiation line. While applying tension to the initiation line against reaction force of the connection tool, at least a lower end portion of the second pipeline section is landed on the seabed with the lower end facing a free end of the first pipeline section. The lower end of the second pipeline section is then pulled into mechanical engagement with the free end of the first pipeline section.

Subsea connection of pipeline sections

A method of installing a subsea pipeline supports at least one elongate pipe stalk at the surface of the sea at a first, relatively shallow-water location by virtue of buoyancy added to the pipe stalk. The pipe stalk is then towed at the surface to a second location that is in deeper water. There, with the pipe stalk supported between leading and trailing towing vessels, at least some of the added buoyancy is removed. This causes the pipe stalk to hang with catenary curvature beneath the surface between the vessels. The catenary-curved pipe stalk hanging between the vessels is then towed to a third location for subsea installation, which may involve upending the pipe stalk before landing a lower end portion of it on the seabed.

Installation of subsea pipelines

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Karthik Mohan