489results about "Pipe-laying vessels" patented technology

A hauling shroud, a cable termination and methods of hauling a fibre optic cable with a pre-connected optic termination along a conduit. The hauling shroud protects the optic termination when being hauled along the conduit. The hauling shroud includes a first housing member and a second housing member such that the first housing member and the second housing member can be joined together to enclose the optic termination. At least one anchoring member is used, for example, connecting pins, such that at least one strengthening element of the fibre optic cable engages with the anchoring member inside an internal cavity formed within the hauling shroud. Alternatively, at least two strengthening elements of the fibre optic cable are attached together to form a loop which engages with the at least one anchoring member, e.g., the connecting pins. This prevents any hauling forces from being applied to the optic termination.

An apparatus for deploying an underwater pipe string includes a mast, an articulated table, a stinger, and a pipe erector. The mast is affixed to the articulated table and extends above the articulated table. The stinger is affixed to the articulated table and depends below the articulated table. The pipe erector is connected to the mast for loading pipe joints up to the mast. A pipe joint loaded in the mast is welded to the pipe string, which depends from the articulated table and through the stinger toward a seabed. The stationary table is articulated for tilting of the table, the mast, and the stinger azimuthally and angularly for a preferred direction and lay angle of the pipe string being deployed.

Pulling grip housing assemblies for a fiber optic assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, the pulling grip assembly is comprised of a pulling grip housing for receiving part of a fiber optic assembly. A pulling grip sleeve is also provided. The pulling grip sleeve has at least one sleeve locking feature suitable for cooperating with a housing locking feature of the pulling grip housing to secure the pulling grip housing to the pulling grip sleeve. In this manner, the pulling grip housing can easily be secured to the pulling grip sleeve and removed when pulling of a fiber optic assembly is completed. The pulling grip housing and pulling grip sleeve can also be reused for pulling other fiber optic assemblies.

A cable deployment system and method for laying a cable on the sea floor. The cable deployment system includes a cable having a first cable section connected to a riser cable section. The riser cable section includes an armor that is connected to a drum capable of containing a required length of the first cable section. A stinger is attached to the drum and shaped to allow the first cable section to exit the drum. The cable deployment system also includes a tensioning device attached to the drum. The tensioning device is capable of maintaining a tension in the first cable section during deployment of the first cable section from the drum. The method of deploying the cable in deep water from a surface vessel includes the steps of containing the first cable section within the drum and lowering the drum from the surface vessel. An end of the first cable section is secured to the sea floor and the first cable section is deployed from the drum onto the sea floor.

A method and apparatus for near vertical laying of a pipeline offshore by a pipe laying vessel includes a tower to which is attached a strongback that load pipe sections from a supply point on the vessel into the tower where the lower end of the pipe section is welded onto the upper end of a pipe line that extends into the sea while the strongback returns to the supply point for a second pipe joint. Where the pipe section includes a bulky item such as a valve assembly box, after the pipe section has been welded to the pipeline the pipe section is moved generally horizontally out of the tower and a hoisting cable lowers the pipe section to a predetermined depth below the tower. The hoisting cable then returns the pipe section and attached pipeline to their original position.

A system for laying a pipeline from a floating vessel onto the ocean floor in relatively deep ocean water which provides an erector for raising new pipe sections to be added to a pipeline which is depending from the system, the pipe sections being raised into accurate alignment with the mast of the system although the mast is free to be gimbaled in any direction within two degrees of angular freedom.

A system for laying a pipeline from a floating vessel onto the ocean floor in relatively deep ocean water in which a gimbal means provides two degrees of angular freedom of the working table and mast which separates the forces of the pipelines to be supported into vertical and horizontal components and provides separate mechanisms to support the vertical and horizontal components of the pipeline forces.

A rod having an embedded optical fibre has a stiff composite outer layer (10) to make the rod self straightening to enable it to be pushed into a pipe or borehole from a spool. This can help enable a reduction of friction between rod and conduit and can enable longer reach. A barrier layer is provided to separate the fibre from the composite layer. The rod can be retrieved after use. The rod can be narrow enough to enable normal flow along the pipe or borehole, and can be injected and retrieved even when the pipe or borehole is pressurised. The fibre can be used for remote sensing of conditions along the conduit. Other tools can be inserted by the rod during the intervention.

The invention relates to a process for introducing an optical cable, in the form of a microcable or minicable (1), in solid ground (17) with the aid of a laying unit (23). The microcable or minicable (1) used for this purpose comprises a homogeneous and pressurized-water-tight tube (8) which has an external diameter of from 2.0 to 10 mm and into which optical waveguides (3) are introduced.

A device and method for clamping and pulling an elongated item such as a wire or cable through a path such as in a conduit for a main body with a bore, and inwardly directed pivoting teeth. The teeth are arranged in circular bands. The end of the item is gripped after insertion of the item, and is cut off and ejected when the pulling is completed.

A technique for installing a length of cable assembly and coiled tubing includes application of both compressive and tensile forces on the cable assembly. The compressive forces are applied to the cable assembly in a compression station at an entry end of the coiled tubing. Tensile forces are applied to the cable assembly by a wire line or a similar structure situated at an exit end of the coiled tubing. Following installation of the cable assembly in the coiled tubing, the coiled tubing may be transported to an application site, and coupled to equipment, such as a submersible pumping system. The submersible pumping system may then be deployed by extension of the coiled tubing and cable assembly. Additional lengths may be obtained by joining subassemblies formed by the tensile and compressive force technique. The technique reduces residual elongation or strain in the cable assembly as compared to conventional methods.

A pipe conduit bundle for installation into a wellbore using horizontal drilling techniques is disclosed. The pipe conduit does not require an outer casing for construction. The pipe bundle configuration is formed by pipes of varying sizes in a particular configuration, with bindings interspaced along the length of the pipes such that the pipe bundle deflects as a single unit during installation. A pulling head is attached to the bundle, which is hollow to allow liquid entering one pipe to be distributed to other pipes. Liquids such as water may be used to fill the pipes to reduce buoyancy, and thereby reduce drag, during installation of the bundle.

An apparatus includes a frame having a drive shaft mounting portion, a power tool restraint portion, and an adjustable forearm portion, wherein the power tool restraint portion is adapted to register a portable rotary power tool with the frame. A drive shaft is mounted with the frame in the drive shaft mounting portion, wherein the drive shaft is sized to be coupled with a rotary output of the power tool. A mounting bracket having arms ending in angled arm ends to facilitate the use of the apparatus in confined spaces is adjustably mounted to the forearm portion. An adapter set includes at least two adapters of differing sizes that may be removably attached to the mounting bracket and used to supply a force to the structure through which the line is being pulled that opposes the force on the structure produced by the line itself, thus stabilizing the structure.

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing point-to-point fiber insertion within a passive optical network (“PON”) communications system. The PON communications system, associated with a first service provider or a first service, might include an F1 line(s) routed from a central office or DSLAM to a fiber distribution hub (“FDH”) located within a block or neighborhood of customer premises, via at least an apical conduit source slot, an F2 line(s) routed via various apical conduit components to a network access point (“NAP”) servicing customer premises, and an F3 line(s) distributed, at the NAP and from the F2 line(s), to a network interface device or optical network terminal at each customer premises via various apical conduit components (e.g., in roadway surfaces). Point-to-point fiber insertion of another F1 line(s), associated with a second service provider or a second service, at either the NAP or the FDH (or outside these devices).

A micro-trench filling system and method of filling a trench holding a conduit is provided. The micro-trench filling system includes a trench formed into a covering surface, a conduit disposed in the bottom of the trench, a structural filler disposed on the conduit in the bottom of the trench, the structural filler made of a mesh material and having a plurality of openings; and a flowable filler poured into the trench and over the structural filler and surrounding the conduit. The flowable filler flows through the plurality of openings of the structural filler creating a bond between the flowable filler and structural filler, the flowable filler cures after a predetermined amount of time, and the structural filler and the flowable filler hold the conduit in place.

A gelled composition for pipeline, flowline, pipeline jumper or flowline jumper dewatering or preventing ingress of seawater into open pipeline systems or components during tie-in operations of jumpers or additional pipe, valving, manifolds, subsea pipeline architecture or flow conduits operations is disclosed, where the composition includes a concentrated metal formate solution and a hydratable polymer. The gelled formate compositions have improved dewatering properties with 100% or 360 pipe coverage. The gelled formate compositions have can also be reused by breaking and reformulation.

A vessel with moonpool capable of being used offshore comprising a monohull with moonpool; a multipurpose tower mounted on the vessel; an equipment handling system removably mounted on the vessel; a movable hatch installed on top of the moonpool; and a hoist system installed inside the vessel, as well as an improved multipurpose tower, a moveable hatch and modular features for the tower. The invention is also a moveable hatch and a multipurpose tower.

Equipment and associated methods for replacing existing overhead transmission line conductors with new ones while the transmission line remains in service and carrying power. The old conductor is used to pull the new conductor through a series of sheaves installed at the bottom of the insulator at each tower. Conventional tension-stringing equipment is used but it is elevated to line potential that is achieved by use of an insulating platform or insulating jacks. Current transfer between stationary and moving conductors is achieved by a current transfer device that may consist of transmission line contacting wheels and liquid metal contactors. Sag control in various conductor spans is enhanced by a stringing block with controllable friction. Equipment is also introduced which will prevent release of the conductor by the pulling device should it break while engaged by that device.

The cable support block is for temporarily supporting a lower cable to an upper aerial cable. The support block comprises a rigid arcuate frame having an upper yoke straddling the upper cable, and an idle load-bearing roller rotatably mounted on the frame and supporting the lower cable. An elongated coil spring is fixedly attached at a first end thereof to the frame and defines a second opposite free end portion thereof movable relative to the first end by resilient: deformation of the coil spring. To insert a cable into the arcuate frame, the cable is forcibly abutted against the coil spring which will resiliently yield to allow access of the cable into the arcuate frame by being inwardly deformed.

Devices and methods are provided for deploying optical fiber-optic cables or other cables. A general planar device is formed with a conduit disposed along the device. One or more fiber-optic cables or other types of communication cables are inserted through the conduit. The device with the embedded cables is pressed into the ground and can be used to provide high-bandwidth communications to a user's home from a service provider.

A pipelayer having an undercarriage with at least two tracks and a main assembly. Each track has a track frame coupled to the undercarriage and a track shoe supported by and movable around the track frame. The main assembly is supported by and rotatable relative to the undercarriage, and has a main frame, a boom pivotally mounted to the main frame, an operator cab, and a cab riser connecting the operator cab to the main frame. The cab riser is operable to selectively raise and lower the operator cab relative to the main frame. Also provided is a movable cab assembly having an operator cab, an adjustment mechanism to connect the cab to a vehicle frame and move to change the operator's view, and a guide to align the cab. A method for laying pipe using a pipelayer having a movable cab is also provided.

A fiber optic network for a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) is disclosed. The fiber optic network comprises a riser cable preconnectorized with a first riser optical connector. The riser cable is optically connected to a feeder cable providing optical communication service to the MDU. The riser cable has one or more preset mid-span access points along the length of the riser cable. One or more optical fibers of the riser cable extend from the riser cable at the one or more preset mid-span access points and are preconnectorized with a second riser optical connector. A payout reel is adapted to pay out the riser cable such that the riser cable extends between the lower level and at least one of the one or more distribution levels. The payout reel is adapted to store a length of the riser.

Method and system for handling riser pipe on an offshore vessel, comprising taking the pipe from the stack of riser pipes using two trolleys placed on opposite sides of the stack, each trolly having means to engage with a respective end of the pipe, and loading the pipe into the cradle of a lifting device for lifting the riser pipe from the storage zone onto the deck of the vessel.

A subsea insulation device is described. The device includes a frame coupled to and at least partially enclosing a subsea component. A bag may be at least partially enclosed in the frame. The bag may substantially seal against at least one surface of the subsea component when the bag is at least partially inflated. A port may be attached to the bag. The port may allow the bag to be coupled to a fluid provider connector so that fluid can be provided into the bag to inflate the bag.