Subsea pipeline positioning device based on suction bucket structure

Abstract

The utility model discloses a subsea pipeline positioning device based on suction bucket structures, which comprises two suction bucket structures respectively arranged on the left side and the right side of a subsea pipeline to be laid, a pipeline supporting structure is laid on a mud surface between the suction bucket structures, and the left side and the right side of the pipeline supporting structure are respectively connected with a supporting connecting pipe. Each suction bucket structure comprises a bucket body, a top plate arranged in the bucket body divides the bucket body into an upper cavity and a lower cavity, the top plate is located at the top face position of a mud face, the portion, below the top plate, of the bucket body is inserted into sea mud, and a bucket side connecting pipe is connected to the side wall, close to one side of the to-be-laid sea pipeline, of the upper cavity. Each barrel side connecting pipe is fixedly connected with the supporting connecting pipe on the same side, drainage devices are installed in the two upper cavities respectively, and the water pumping ends of the drainage devices penetrate through the top plate to be communicated with the lower cavity. The subsea pipeline positioning device can be installed before the subsea pipeline is laid formally, the subsea pipeline laying precision can be effectively improved, and the laying period is shortened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a sea pipe fixing device in a routing area where the mud surface is clay or sand, in particular to a sea pipe positioning device based on a suction bucket structure. Background Art

[0002] Subsea pipeline laying is a crucial component of marine resource development. Conventional pipeline laying requires a navigation / positioning system to assist the pipe-laying vessel in real-time monitoring of its position, while also coordinating with the anchor-handling tugboat to maneuver to the designated position. Limited by the complex seabed topography and the influence of hydrological factors such as currents, waves, and marine life, the pipeline laying process is subject to numerous unexpected and routine instabilities. To ensure accurate laying, progress is slow, resulting in a long installation cycle, high costs, and significant risks.

[0003] After laying, the soil beneath the pipeline is excavated to allow the pipeline to sink to a certain depth before being buried. However, due to factors such as ocean currents, the pipeline may shift after a period of service, posing a risk of damage to the connecting structure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the utility model is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a submarine pipe positioning device based on a suction bucket structure, which can position the submarine pipe in advance during installation and can be permanently fixed during service.

[0005] The utility model discloses a sea pipe positioning device based on a suction bucket structure, comprising two suction bucket structures respectively arranged on the left and right sides of a sea pipe to be laid, a semicircular pipe support structure is laid on the mud surface between the two suction bucket structures, the left and right sides of the semicircular pipe support structure are respectively connected to a support connecting pipe, each suction bucket structure comprises a barrel body, a top plate arranged in the barrel body divides the barrel body into two separated cavities, the main body of the lower cavity is a cylindrical shape and the bottom is an open structure, the top plate is located at the top surface position of the mud surface, the barrel body below the top plate is inserted into the sea mud, a barrel side connecting pipe is connected to the side wall of the upper cavity close to the side of the sea pipe to be laid, each of the barrel side connecting pipes is fixedly connected to the support connecting pipe on the same side by a flange, a drainage device is respectively installed in the two upper cavities, and the water pumping end of the drainage device is communicated with the lower cavity through the top plate.

[0006] The beneficial effects of the utility model are:

[0007] 1. Improved the accuracy of submarine pipeline laying and reduced the difficulty of construction;

[0008] 2. Part of the positioning work is completed in advance, shortening the construction period of the pipe-laying vessel.

[0009] 3. Special locations are permanently fixed to reduce the risk of pipeline damage caused by pipeline displacement.

[0010] 4. Because the suction bucket structure primarily bears the lateral forces generated by the submarine pipeline, its depth in the mud can be reduced, making it easier to insert and remove, and enabling reuse. Subsea pipeline diameters vary depending on requirements and the seabed environment. When the diameter changes, only the submarine pipeline support structure can be replaced, while the suction bucket structure remains, reducing installation costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional diagram of the submarine pipe positioning device based on the suction bucket structure of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the suction bucket structure in the structure shown;

[0013] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The front view of the structural sea pipe positioning device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation examples.

[0015] As shown in the figure, a sea pipe positioning device based on a suction bucket structure includes two suction bucket structures 1 respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the sea pipe to be laid. A semicircular pipe support structure 2 is laid on the mud surface between the two suction bucket structures. The left and right sides of the semicircular pipe support structure are respectively connected to a support connecting pipe 5. Each suction bucket structure includes a barrel body. A top plate 10 arranged in the barrel body divides the barrel body into two separated cavities, the main body of the lower cavity is cylindrical and the bottom is an open structure. The top plate 10 is located at the top surface of the mud surface. The part of the barrel body below the top plate is inserted into the sea mud. A barrel-side connecting pipe 4 is connected to the side wall of the upper cavity near the side of the sea pipe to be laid. Each barrel-side connecting pipe is fixedly connected to the support connecting pipe 5 on the same side by a flange 3, forming a complete sea pipe positioning device.

[0016] Preferably, the inner diameter of the pipeline support structure is larger than the outer diameter of the sea pipe, which facilitates the placement of the sea pipe and reduces the impact of lateral vibration of the sea pipe caused by normal construction on the fixing ability of the sea pipe positioning device.

[0017] Figure 3 H shown in the figure is the depth of the suction bucket into the mud, and D is the diameter of the barrel structure; the pipe support structure 2 is a semicircular structure (with a diameter of d), and the specific size can be calculated based on actual engineering data.

[0018] In order to prevent the top plate 10 of the suction barrel from buckling during the sinking process, it is preferred that a plurality of reinforcing ribs arranged in a well-shaped pattern are arranged in the upper cavity above the top plate, wherein two central reinforcing ribs 6 arranged in the transverse direction are arranged at positions corresponding to the barrel side connecting pipes 4 and are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the upper cavity. A horizontal rib plate 7 is fixed on the two central reinforcing ribs to resist the lateral force caused by the sea pipe. A side reinforcing rib 8 parallel to the central reinforcing rib is arranged on each side of the central reinforcing rib, and three longitudinal reinforcing ribs 9 are arranged perpendicular to the central reinforcing rib.

[0019] According to the force transmission direction and stress distribution characteristics, the suction bucket structure needs to bear a larger lateral force on the side where the submarine pipeline is laid, and the structural stress is larger, while the structural stress gradually decreases away from the submarine pipeline. Figure 1 As shown, preferably, the height of the barrel wall and the horizontal ribs on the side of the barrel body close to the sea pipeline are respectively higher than the height of the barrel wall and the horizontal ribs on the other side of the barrel body away from the sea pipeline. This design can reduce the weight of the structure while maintaining structural strength, thereby lowering construction costs.

[0020] Drainage devices are respectively installed in the two upper cavities. The drainage devices can be drainage pumps. The water pumping end of the drainage device passes through the top plate and is communicated with the lower cavity.

[0021] After the final pipeline route is determined and before the pipeline is laid, the positioning device is installed. After the pipeline positioning device is assembled into a single unit, it is hoisted and lowered to the installation location. When the suction bucket structure, under its own weight, has penetrated the mud to a certain depth and no longer sinks, a drainage device is used to slowly drain the seawater remaining in the lower cavity. The two drainage devices should be operated simultaneously. During this process, the resistance of the suction bucket inserted into the mud surface is less than the pressure, and the device slowly sinks. Once it sinks to the designed depth, the pipeline positioning device is installed.

[0022] After laying the pipeline, the sea mud beneath the pipeline is excavated, allowing the pipeline to sink and then be buried. This process disturbs the soil, weakening the securing effect on the pipeline positioning device and increasing the device's buoyancy. After removing the bolts at flange 3, the pipeline positioning device can be separated into three parts and hoisted for reuse in other projects. Due to the reusable nature of the pipeline positioning device, the flange connection design allows the pipeline support structure to be replaced according to the size of the pipeline in use, expanding the device's applicability.

[0023] The subsea pipe positioning device can also be used as a permanent device. In this case, the depth of the suction bucket structure under the mud can be appropriately increased to reduce the impact of surface soil changes on the device's fixing effect.

Claims

1. A subsea pipe positioning device based on a suction bucket structure, characterized by: The utility model comprises two suction bucket structures respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the sea pipe to be laid, a semicircular pipe support structure is laid on the mud surface between the two suction bucket structures, and the left and right sides of the semicircular pipe support structure are respectively connected to a support connecting pipe, each suction bucket structure comprises a barrel body, and a top plate arranged in the barrel body divides the barrel body into two separated cavities, the main body of the lower cavity is a cylindrical shape and the bottom is an open structure, the top plate is located at the top surface position of the mud surface, the barrel body below the top plate is inserted into the sea mud, a barrel side connecting pipe is connected to the side wall of the upper cavity close to the side of the sea pipe to be laid, each of the barrel side connecting pipes is fixedly connected to the support connecting pipe on the same side by a flange, and a drainage device is respectively installed in the two upper cavities, and the water pumping end of the drainage device passes through the top plate and is communicated with the lower cavity.

2. The subsea pipe positioning device based on the suction bucket structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that: A plurality of reinforcing ribs arranged in a well shape are arranged in the upper cavity above the top plate.

3. The subsea pipe positioning device based on the suction bucket structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: Two of the transversely arranged central reinforcing ribs are arranged at positions corresponding to the barrel side connecting pipes and are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the upper cavity. Horizontal rib plates are fixed on the two central reinforcing ribs. One side reinforcing rib is arranged on each side of the central reinforcing rib and is arranged parallel to the central reinforcing rib. Three longitudinal reinforcing ribs are arranged perpendicular to the central reinforcing rib.

4. The subsea pipe positioning device based on the suction bucket structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the pipeline support structure is larger than the outer diameter of the submarine pipeline.

5. The subsea pipe positioning device based on the suction bucket structure according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The height of the barrel wall and the height of the horizontal rib plate of the barrel body on the side close to the sea pipeline are respectively higher than the height of the barrel wall and the height of the horizontal rib plate of the barrel body on the other side away from the sea pipeline.

Images