The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 2019
Filed:
Feb. 11, 2016
Acergy France Sas, Suresnes, FR;
Stephane Bombino, Suresnes, FR;
Acergy France SAS, Suresnes, FR;
Abstract
A method lowers a hollow structure through water and installs that structure at a subsea location. The structure has an internal space containing a ballast material such as sea salt that is substantially denser than water. Upon being lowered with the aid of the ballast material to a subsea destination, the structure is anchored at that destination. Then, water is introduced into the internal space to dissolve, suspend or dilute the ballast material. Thus dissolved, suspended or diluted, the ballast material is evacuated or dispersed from the internal space in a liquid or fluidized form. For example, a solution or suspension of the ballast material can be entrained in a flushing flow of water through and from the internal space. The internal space is then available to perform another, primary function in subsea operation of the structure, for example as a flowline to convey oil or gas.