Articulated underwater cable riser system

Abstract

An articulated underwater cable riser system includes at least one articulated anchor section having a plurality of modular anchor segments and an articulated mid-span buoy having a plurality of modular buoy segments. The anchor segments and buoy segments encircle the cable and are secured adjacent one another in appropriate positions along the cable by cable clamps. The buoy segments and anchor segments are interfaced to the cable clamps by fairings which present smooth outlines for the anchor sections and mid-span buoy between the segments and the clamps to facilitate handling the anchor sections and mid-span buoy using conventional cable laying equipment. The anchor segments and buoy segments can be one-piece or, preferably, assembled by securing segment halves to one another. Bend limiters are coupled to at least some of the anchor segments to prevent an articulated anchor section from exceeding the minimum bend radius for the cable. The bend limiters can be one-piece collars or they can be formed as two pieces which are secured together to form a single bend limiter. The bend limiters are coupled to adjacent pairs of anchor segments by means of studs which extend from the out surfaces of the anchor segments with the studs extending into axially aligned oblong slots in the bend limiters.