Shell Oil Comapny

Shell Usa, Inc.

Michael Hosokawa Dupre

Ray R Ayers

Jack D Miller

Michael Lee Eckstein

Kevin Ouyang

A method for controlling buckling in subsea pipelines involves identifying spaced-apart sections of a subsea pipeline suitable for controlled lateral buckling. Sets of inclined sleepers are installed at each spaced-apart section and are selected to support the spaced-apart sections of the subsea pipeline in an orientation that is perpendicular to the initial as-laid position. Any buckling caused by thermal expansion of the subsea pipeline is distributed to two or more of the spaced-apart sections, causing the two or more spaced-apart sections to deflect laterally along the inclined sleepers outwardly from an initial as-laid position.

Method for controlling buckling in deepwater pipeline with inclined sleepers

A subsea hot-tapping system, comprising an existing pipeline; a hot-tap body fitted around the pipeline; and a fluid injected between the pipeline and the body. In some embodiments, the system also includes a radial arm cutter, adapted to cut a hole in the existing pipeline.

Subsea hot tap systems and methods

There is disclosed a system comprising a structure in a body of water, wherein the body of water comprises a depth comprising a top-section from a surface of the body of water to one-third of the depth, and a second-section from one-third of the depth to two-thirds of the depth, a first buoyant apparatus attached to the structure in the top-section of the depth, a second buoyant apparatus attached to the structure in the second-section of the depth, wherein the second buoyant apparatus provides a second buoyancy effect average per length of the structure at least 30% less than a first buoyancy effect average per length of the structure provided by the first buoyant apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Michael Hosokawa Dupre