Abstract:
Tube-bundle equipment of the falling liquid film type, comprising a vertical cylindrical body closed at the ends and divided into at least an upper section, an intermediate section and a lower section by means of two perforated tube sheets arranged transversally to support the tubes forming the bundle, wherein each of said tubes is surmounted, on the upper end, by a ferrule, for the inlet and distribution of the liquid in the form of a film, which comprises in the upper part, one or more openings for the outlet of vapors, at an intermediate height one or more openings, preferably tangential, for the inlet of the liquid and below, a circular base for resting on said tube from which an internal cylindrical section, inserted in the tube for a length varying from 10 to 200 mm, protrudes downwards together with an outer metallic strip for a length of at least 2 mm, so that, in the circular area defined between said outer metallic strip and said protruding cylindrical section, there is a gasket, inserted between said circular base of the ferrule and said upper edge of the tube.
Abstract:
A vessel for operating on underwater wells has a deck; a moon pool extending through the deck; a further deck elevated above the moon pool and having a hole; and a compensation unit, which is mounted on the deck above the moon pool, is arranged between the deck and the further deck, and is provided with a frame sliding along the deck, a support carrier moveable with respect to the frame in a direction substantially vertical and suitable to support items, and a driving assembly connecting the support carrier to the frame and suitable to be selectively set so as to displace in the direction the support carrier either in a heave compensation mode or in a elevator mode.
Abstract:
A method of laying a pipeline on the bed of a body of water includes constructing, on a laying vessel, a pipeline having pipe sections of a designated or given thickness, and thicker pipe sections distributed along the pipeline; moving the laying vessel forward and laying the pipeline in the body of water as the pipeline is constructed; and propelling a train, configured to plug the pipeline, in steps inside the pipeline laid on the bed of the body of water; the step travel of the train being related to the position of the thicker pipe sections, and to the touchdown point of the pipeline on the bed of the body of water.
Abstract:
A method of joining two portions of an underwater pipeline for conducting fluid and/or gas on the bed of a body of water, the method including the steps of: joining a telescopic sleeve, having a first coupling head, to a first end of a first pipeline portion above the body of water; positioning the first end, the telescopic sleeve, and the first coupling head in a first given position on the bed of the body of water; joining a second coupling head to a second end of a second pipeline portion above the body of water; positioning the second end and the second coupling head in a second given position, close to the first coupling head, below the body of water; and connecting the first and second coupling head hermetically below the body of water.
Abstract:
A method of joining two portions of an underwater pipeline laid on the bed of a body of water to conduct fluid and/or gas, the method including: joining a telescopic sleeve, having a first coupling head, to a first end of a first pipeline portion above the body of water; laying the first end, the telescopic sleeve, and the first coupling head on the bed of the body of water; joining a second coupling head to a second end of a second pipeline portion above the body of water; laying the second end and the second coupling head on the bed of the body of water, close to the first coupling head; roughly aligning the first and second coupling head in the body of water; and clamping the first and second coupling head to each other in the body of water.
Abstract:
A multipurpose deepwater vessel equipped with a floating structure having a bow, a stern, a weather deck, a first board, and a second board; a J-lay tower hinged to the floating structure along the second board, and movable about a first axis into a number of work positions to join pipe assemblies into an underwater pipeline, and to lay an underwater pipeline; a heavy-duty crane connected at the bow to the floating structure to rotate about a second axis, and having a boom defining an operating range within which the J-lay tower is located in any one of its work positions; and a preassembly line, below the weather deck, for joining pipes into pipe assemblies for supply to the J-lay tower.
Abstract:
A submarine pipeline towing equipment including: a floater of prismatic shape with a horizontal or vertical axis, with a variable or partially variable buoyancy, whose lower base is at least partially open by an opening or hole to operate as an air chamber. The floater includes: at least one inlet including a valve through which air is supplied; at least one outlet including a valve through which air is discharged; an actuator to control the valve to supply air; an actuator to control the valve to discharge air; a mechanism connecting the equipment to the pipeline; a mechanism transferring air to the floater; a mechanism actuating the actuator to control the valve to supply air in function of a predefined level in the floater; and a mechanism actuating the actuator to control the valve to discharge air in function of the distance of the floater itself from the seabed.
Abstract:
A clamp assembly, for a laying tower for laying continuous, elongated members in a body of water, has a supporting frame; and three clamping units arranged in series to simultaneously clamp and release a continuous, elongated member extending along a given axis, and each having at least two opposite jaws, and self-adjusting mechanisms, each of which is interposed between a respective jaw and the supporting frame, has a spring, and allows an adjustment movement of the respective jaw with respect to the supporting frame in a direction parallel to the axis, under the weight of the continuous, elongated member, and in opposition to the spring, when the continuous, elongated member is gripped simultaneously by the clamping units.
Abstract:
A welding bug (1) comprising a welding torch (3) for welding in a groove (19). The welding torch (3) is mounted for rotational movement about an axis (21) that is substantially horizontal, relative to the welding bug, (typically tangential to a pipe during use) so that the torch is moveable, during use of the welding bug (1) when arranged to enable the torch to weld in a groove, between (i) an operating position, and (ii) a disengaged position in which the welding torch is positioned away from the groove (19). The welding bug may be less cumbersome and more compact than some known arrangements.
Abstract:
A method of transferring pipes from a carrier vessel to a laying vessel includes gripping the pipes in the hold of the carrier vessel and releasing the pipes, in a given position, inside a transfer station on the carrier vessel by means of a manipulator mounted on the carrier vessel. The method also includes guiding a gripping device, connected to a crane, into said given position at the transfer station.