Abstract:
An energy management system of a ROV has a generating unit (1) located in a remote station (2) on a water body (3) and configured to generate a generated electrical power (P1) with a first maximum value (PM1); a ROV (4) configured to operate in the water body (3) and configured to absorb a second maximum value (PM2) of an absorbed electrical power (P2) greater than the first maximum value (PM1); an electrical energy transmission line (6) connected to the generating unit (1) and to the ROV (4); and an electrical energy storage device (7) located along the transmission line (6) and/or on board the ROV (4).
Abstract:
A method for burying a pipeline in a bed of a body of water that provides for: making a trench (T) with a bottom surface (22) in a bed (9) of a body of water (10) by means of a bed working vehicle (12) advanced in an advancing direction (Dl); advancing a floating unit (11) in the body of water (10); releasing a pipeline (1) in the body of water (10) by means of a tensioner (17) and along a lay device (15) tilted in an adjustable manner and constrained to the floating unit (11); guiding the pipeline (1) to the bottom surface (22) of the trench (T) by means of a guide vehicle (13) advanced on the bed (9) of the body of water (10); and controlling the tensioner (17), the floating unit (11), the lay device (15), the bed working vehicle (12), and the guide vehicle (13) for minimizing stress along the pipeline (1).
Abstract:
A vessel for laying a pipeline includes a plurality of workstations (12) disposed along a pipelaying path that includes an upstream portion away from a first end of the vessel and a plurality of ramps (21, 22) in the region of the first end of the vessel. The plurality of ramps (21, 22) includes a first ramp (21) which is disposed along the pipelaying path, whose inclination is adjustable and which has a first upstream end and a second downstream end, and a second ramp (22) which is disposed along the pipelaying path downstream of the first ramp (21), whose inclination is adjustable and which has a first upstream end and a second downstream end. The downstream end of the first ramp is positioned inboard of the first end of the vessel and above the bottom of the vessel and the upstream end of the second ramp is positioned inboard of the first end of the vessel and above the bottom of the vessel. An external ramp assembly (66) is provided, including ramps (68) and (69) that can be pivoted relative to one another and locked in a selected position by a locking arrangement (88).
Abstract:
An assembly (1) for trenching underwater cables, comprising a cutting and lifting device (7) for cutting and lifting at least one seabed clod (11) from the seabed (4) avoiding this seabed clod (11) from separating from the remaining part of the seabed (4) but freeing up an excavation path (P) adapted to create a trench (6); an excavation device (5) for excavating the seabed (4) where the at least one seabed clod (11) has been cut and lifted to form said trench (6) producing excavated material; a depression device (19), adapted to guide a cable (13) which is to be trenched in said trench (6) for laying it in said trench (4); a suction device (18) for sucking up said excavated material; a diffusion device (20) for distributing said excavated material and filling said trench (6) once said cable (13) has been laid on the bottom; a recirculation device (39) which collects the excavated material from said suction device (18) and sends it to said diffusion device (20) so as to isolate said excavated material inside said trench (6) forming a closed circuit for the excavated material which, having been collected in the formation of the trench (6), returns to the trench (6); a device for restoring the at least one seabed clod (11) in the site thereof by closing said trench (6) at the top and preserving the area above said seabed clod (11) avoiding the dispersion of said excavated material outside said trench (6).
Abstract:
An apparatus for coupling pipe sections into a body of water has a frame (30) comprising an elongated portion (31), which extends along a longitudinal axis (A) and is configured to be arranged within a first pipe section (3); an alignment device (32), which is supported by the elongated portion (31) of the frame (30) and is configured to be at least partially inserted inside a second pipe section (4) so as to align the first pipe section (3) with the second pipe section (4); and a locking device (33), which is supported by the elongated portion (31) of the frame (30) and is configured to lock the position of the first pipe section (3) with respect to the second pipe section (4) when the first pipe section (3) is aligned with the second pipe section (4).
Abstract:
A system for power and data transmission in a body of water to unmanned underwater vehicles comprises a floating surface station (3) for generating electric energy and receiving and transmitting data; an underwater station (2) connectable to at least one unmanned underwater vehicle (4); at least one submerged depth buoy (8; 23; 26); and an umbilical (5), which comprises a power transmission line and a data transmission line, is mechanically and electrically connected to the surface station (3) and to the underwater station (2), and is mechanically coupled to the depth buoy (8; 23; 26) so that the umbilical (5) comprises a first umbilical section (9) that is stretched between the underwater station (2) and the depth buoy (8; 23; 26) and a second umbilical section (10) that extends loose between the depth buoy (8; 23; 26) and the surface station (3).
Abstract:
A joining device (9) for joining two facing and aligned pipeline sections presents two coupling members (37, 38) selectively couplable to respective pipeline sections (4, 5) at two respective facing flanges (27, 28) located at the ends of respective pipeline sections (4, 5); a pulling mechanism (39) suitable to move the coupling members (37, 38) towards each other in abutment against the flanges (27, 28) and to temporarily tighten the flanges (27, 28) by moving the coupling members (37, 38) towards each other; and a tightening mechanism (40) suitable to definitively tighten the coupling members (37, 39) while the pulling mechanism (39) keeps the flanges (27, 28) tight.
Abstract:
A connection assembly for engaging a tubular member (1) underwater to restrain the tubular member (1) from radial movement relative to the connection assembly comprises a plurality of pads (5) for engaging the tubular member at circumferentially spaced positions; and a plurality of biasing arrangements (6, 7, 8), each for biasing a respective pad (5) radially inwardly into engagement with the tubular member (1); wherein each biasing arrangement (6, 7, 8) comprises a pre-loadable, mechanical, compressed spring arrangement (7) for resiliently pressing its respective pad (5) against the tubular member (1). The assembly need not employ any hydraulic components.
Abstract:
A vessel for laying a pipeline includes a plurality of workstations (12) disposed along a pipelaying path that includes an upstream portion away from a first end of the vessel and a plurality of ramps (21, 22) in the region of the first end of the vessel. The plurality of ramps (21, 22) includes a first ramp (21) which is disposed along the pipelaying path, whose inclination is adjustable and which has a first upstream end and a second downstream end, and a second ramp (22) which is disposed along the pipelaying path downstream of the first ramp (21), whose inclination is adjustable and which has a first upstream end and a second downstream end. The downstream end of the first ramp is positioned inboard of the first end of the vessel and above the bottom of the vessel and the upstream end of the second ramp is positioned inboard of the first end of the vessel and above the bottom of the vessel.
Abstract:
An unmanned underwater vehicle for the maintenance and inspection of permanent underwater installations has a frame (21); a plurality of motorized thrusters (22) directable to navigate in a body of water; a tether (16) to supply power and control the underwater vehicle (15) from a remote location; and a tether management device (23) to selectively wind and unwind the tether (16) on board the underwater vehicle (15).