A carousel for storing a subsea cable, a ship for laying a subsea cable and a use of a carousel or ship

Abstract

This invention provides a carousel (301) for storing a subsea cable with a subsea cable minimum bending radius and a subsea cable diameter, comprising a carousel hub (201), wherein the carousel hub comprises a workroom (202), characterized in that the carousel hub further comprises a carousel hub shell (101) encircling the workroom, the carousel hub shell comprises a perforation (106) configured for allowing the subsea cable to intersect with the carousel hub shell into the workroom, the perforation comprises an intersection bending guide (107) configured for bending the subsea cable according to an intersection bending radius (s) when the subsea cable intersects the carousel hub shell through the perforation, the intersection bending radius is greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius. It further provides a ship for laying a subsea cable, and a use of a carousel according to this invention or a ship according to this invention.

Description

[0001] A carousel for storing a subsea cable, a ship for laying a subsea cable and a use of a carousel or ship

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a carousel for storing a subsea cable, a ship for laying a subsea cable, and a use of a carousel according to this invention or a ship according to this invention.

[0004] Background art

[0005] The field of deploying subsea cables in a marine environment encompasses laying subsea cables on the seabed or on the bed of another water body. These can be telecommunications cables, e.g. fiber optic cables, power cables and seismic surveying cables. It further encompasses deploying umbilicals, risers, and flowlines onto the seabed or into the water. These types of subsea cables connect subsea wells, production facilities, and other processing equipment to surface facilities or to each other.

[0006] This field plays a vital role in connecting offshore resources to onshore facilities and enabling various industries, including telecommunications, offshore energy production, and other subsea infrastructure development.

[0007] Specialized ships, such as cable-laying vessels are used for deploying these subsea cables. The subsea cables are stored aboard the cable-laying vessels on large carousels, having a capacity to store kilometers of cables weighing up to 10 000 metric tons per carousel.

[0008] For example, patent publication EP2862828 discloses a cable laying vessel with a carousel, comprising a carousel hub.

[0009] Due to the weights of the subsea cables stored on the carousel, the carousel hub typically needs to be able to withstand large radial forces when cables are wound onto and unwound from the carousel.

[0010] It is a disadvantage of such a carousel that the cable end at which a subsea cable is first put on the carousel during the loading of the subsea cable, is buried under windings of the subsea cable when it is wound up. The cable end is no longer accessible during the winding process. When multiple subsea cables are stored on the same carousel, this disadvantage affects multiple subsea cables. It is a further disadvantage that the carousel hub shell is not configured for having a subsea cable with a minimum bending radius intersecting it, and ensuring that the subsea cable is not bent in excess of the minimum bending radius when it intersects with the carousel hub shell. Hence cables cannot reliably be intersected with the carousel hub shell, without risking damaging the cables.

[0011] It is another disadvantage of such a carousel that when multiple subsea cables are stored on the same carousel, that the carousel hub shell is not configured for having multiple subsea cables with a minimum bending radius intersecting it at different carousel heights, and ensuring that the subsea cables are not bent in excess of the minimum bending radius when they intersect with the carousel hub shell.

[0012] Disclosure of the invention

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least part of the disadvantages of solutions existing in the state of the art. Therefore, the invention provides in a carousel for storing a subsea cable with a subsea cable minimum bending radius and a subsea cable diameter, a ship for laying a subsea cable, comprising a carousel according to this invention, and a use of a carousel according to this invention or a ship according to this invention for loading a subsea cable onto the carousel and / or for paying out a subsea cable from the carousel.

[0014] Subsea cables are telecommunications cables, e.g. fiber optic cables, power cables and seismic surveying cables. In addition, subsea cables encompass umbilicals, risers, and flowlines. These connect subsea wells, production facilities, and other processing equipment to surface facilities or to each other.

[0015] The subsea cable minimum bending radius is the radius above which the structural integrity of the subsea cable is ensured. If the subsea cable is bent in excess of the subsea cable minimum bending radius, and, hence, has bends with a smaller bending radius, the performance of the cable may degrade or the cable may break.

[0016] The subsea cable diameter preferably lies between 25 mm and 1000mm, more preferably between 50mm and 400mm and the subsea cable minimum bending radius is preferably smaller than or equal to 10m, more preferably smaller than or equal to 6m. The carousel according to this invention comprises a carousel hub comprising a workroom. The workroom is a room that can be entered by operators and in which operators can perform activities related to cable storing operations, cable laying operations, and / or activities related to the operations aboard a cable laying vessel. Preferably, the workroom rotates with the carousel.

[0017] It is an advantage of this invention that it more efficiently makes use of the available space. In particular when the carousel according to this invention is situated on a cable laying vessel or in other space limited environments, optimizing the space taken by a carousel is very beneficial. The efficiency gains are correlated with the size of the subsea cable minimum bending radius.

[0018] The carousel hub further comprises a carousel hub shell encircling the workroom and the carousel hub shell comprises a perforation configured for allowing the subsea cable to intersect with the carousel hub shell into the workroom. The perforation comprises an intersection bending guide configured for bending the subsea cable according to an intersection bending radius when the subsea cable intersects the carousel hub shell through the perforation, the intersection bending radius being greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius.

[0019] It is an added advantage of this invention that cables can be stored on the carousel with their cable ends protruding through the carousel hub shell into the workroom and that the workroom can be used to reach the cable ends. Cable ends can be accessed for testing from within the workroom while spooling a cable onto or off a carousel. As a result, spooling operations can be monitored and optimized. An event degrading or damaging the cable while spooling it onto the carousel can be spotted early, before other costly operations have been executed with the cable. It is an added advantage that work can be executed on cable ends while the cable is stored on the carousel, optimizing cable laying vessels operations, for example cable laying operations.

[0020] More preferably, the carousel hub shell comprises at least two of the perforations.

[0021] It is an added advantage of this invention that multiple subsea cables can be stored on the carousel with their cable ends protruding through the carousel hub shell into the workroom. The workroom can be used to work on multiple cables that have been spooled onto the carousel subsequently to each other and that are stored simultaneously on the carousel. Further efficiency gains of cable laying vessel operations are possible.

[0022] Optionally, the carousel comprises a carousel hub axis, configured for being a rotational axis of the carousel hub, the carousel hub axis extending in a carousel hub axis direction, preferably an upright direction, more preferably a substantially vertical direction, most preferably a vertical direction, and the carousel hub shell extends between a first carousel hub shell end and a second carousel hub shell end in the carousel hub axis direction. Preferably, the at least two perforations in the carousel hub shell are aligned along a perforation alignment axis, the perforation alignment axis lying according to the carousel hub axis direction and preferably being substantially parallel to, most preferably parallel to the carousel hub axis.

[0023] It is an additional advantage of this invention that cables protrude the carousel hub shell at a single radial location. As a result, equipment can be efficiently mounted in the workroom and does not need frequent relocation.

[0024] The at least two perforations can be different, either having different components or allowing cables with different diameters to intersect with the carousel hub shell. Preferably, substantially all perforations, more preferably all of the at least two perforations are substantially equal, more preferably equal. Two perforations being equal means they have the same shape, features, components, and dimensions. For example, the perforation closest to the first carousel hub shell end might have another perforation shape or may miss a single feature, all other features and components being equal.

[0025] Preferably, the at least two perforations are evenly distributed between the first carousel hub shell end and the second carousel hub shell end. More preferably, intersecting the carousel hub shell is possible at substantially every distance, more preferably at every distance between the first carousel hub shell end and the second carousel hub shell end along the perforation alignment axis.

[0026] It is an added advantage of the carousel that different lengths of subsea cable can be stored on the carousel while keeping all the cable ends of the cables available for testing or other operations. This facilitates the logistics of spooling cables onto the carousel when it is desired that all cable ends are available, thereby making it easier to draw up an operational planning. Preferably, the carousel hub shell is cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis and comprises a workroom wall surface and a carousel inner wall surface. Being cylindrically arranged around an axis means forming a cylinder or a cylindrical arc. The workroom wall surface is cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis with a workroom wall radius, the workroom wall radius being greater than the subsea cable minimum bending radius and preferably exceeding the subsea cable minimum bending radius with at least the subsea cable diameter. The workroom wall surface abuts the workroom. The carousel inner wall surface is cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis with a carousel inner wall radius, the carousel inner wall radius being greater than the subsea cable minimum bending radius, and preferably being greater than or equal to the workroom wall radius. The perforation comprises a perforation entry surface connected to the carousel inner wall surface. The perforation entry surface comprises a perforation entry hole. In embodiments, the perforation entry surface coincides with the carousel inner wall surface. The perforation further comprises a perforation exit surface connected to the workroom wall surface. The perforation exit surface comprises a perforation exit hole. In embodiments, the perforation exit surface coincides with the workroom wall surface. The perforation has a perforation axis substantially parallel, preferably parallel to the carousel hub axis. Preferably, the perforation comprises a perforating pipe, extending between a perforating pipe entry opening and a perforating pipe exit opening. The perforating pipe is arranged cylindrically around the perforation axis with a perforation radius. The perforating pipe is donut shaped, preferably donut-segment shaped. The perforation radius is smaller than or equal to the carousel inner wall radius, greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius, and is preferably equal to the intersection bending radius. The perforating pipe entry opening coincides with the perforation entry hole, and the perforating pipe exit opening coincides with the perforation exit hole.

[0027] It is an additional advantage of this invention that a cable is guided by the perforating pipe though the carousel hub shell. This facilitates putting the cable end through the carousel hub shell. An extra advantage of this invention is that the perforating pipes provide strength to the carousel hub shell, especially countering the radial forces exerted on the carousel hub shell by a subsea cable when it is spooled onto or off the carousel. This is of particular importance when multiple perforations are aligned along the perforation alignment axis and when intersecting the carousel hub shell is possible at substantially every, or every, distance between the first carousel hub shell end and the second carousel hub shell end along the perforation alignment axis.

[0028] Preferably, the perforation entry surface is positioned in a perforation entry plane containing the carousel hub axis. Optionally, the perforation exit surface is positioned in a perforation exit plane containing the carousel hub axis.

[0029] It is an additional advantage of this invention that the entry surfaces lend further strength to withstand the radial forces exerted on the carousel hub shell by a subsea cable when it is spooled onto or off the carousel.

[0030] Preferably, the intersection bending guide comprises an intersection bending guidance channel configured for guiding the subsea cable towards the perforation entry surface, and for bending the subsea cable according to the intersection bending radius when the subsea cable runs along the carousel inner wall and the subsea cable intersection guidance channel towards the perforation entry surface.

[0031] It is an additional advantage of this invention that the creation of a radial and / or axial protrusion in the spooled subsea cable near where the subsea cable intersects the carousel hub shell is avoided. As a result, an even fill of the carousel is facilitated.

[0032] Preferably, the intersection bending guidance channel comprises an intersection bending guidance channel surface, extending between a first intersection bending guidance channel surface end and a second intersection bending guidance channel surface end in an intersection bending guidance direction. The intersection bending guidance channel surface is cylindrically arranged around the perforation axis with the intersection radius, preferably the perforation radius, the perforation radius preferably being equal to the intersection radius. The first intersection bending guidance channel surface end is connected to the carousel inner wall surface and the second intersection bending guidance channel surface end is connected to the perforation entry surface.

[0033] Preferably the intersection bending guidance channel further extends between a third intersection bending guidance channel surface end and a fourth intersection bending guidance channel surface end in a support direction transverse, preferably substantially perpendicular, more preferably perpendicular to the intersection bending guidance direction and the intersection bending guidance channel further comprises two intersection bending guidance channel sides, called a pair of intersection bending guidance channel sides. The intersection bending guidance channel sides protrude from the intersection bending guidance channel surface at respectively the third intersection bending guidance channel surface end and the fourth intersection bending guidance channel surface end. The intersection bending guidance channel sides extend along the intersection bending guidance channel surface in the intersection bending guidance direction between the first intersection bending guidance channel surface end and the second intersection bending guidance channel surface end.

[0034] Preferably, the intersection bending guidance channel sides each comprise an intersection bending guidance channel side plane and an intersection bending guidance channel side crest. The intersection bending guidance channel side plane is transversely, preferably substantially perpendicularly, more preferably perpendicularly, connected to the intersection bending guidance channel surface. The intersection bending guidance channel side crest is a surface transversely, preferably substantially perpendicularly, more preferably perpendicularly connected to the respective intersection bending guidance channel side plane. The intersection bending guidance channel side crest is preferably cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis with the carousel inner wall radius.

[0035] Preferably, the intersection bending guidance channel further comprises at least one spacer. The at least one space is configured for, optionally jointly configured for if there is a plurality of spacers, allowing a subsea cable to bypass the perforation, and bending the subsea cable according to a bypass bending radius when the subsea cable bypasses the perforation. The bypass bending radius is greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius.

[0036] Optionally, each spacer is configured to be removably connected to an intersection bending guidance channel side crest of the pair of guidance channel sides.

[0037] It is an advantage of this invention that the creation of a radial and / or axial protrusion in the spooled subsea cable near where the subsea cable intersects the carousel hub shell is avoided. As a result, an even fill of the carousel is facilitated. It is an extra advantage of this invention that the radial forces exerted by the subsea cable on the carousel hub are evened out over the circumference of the hub shell, also when a subsea cable intersects the carousel hub shell. As a result, no extra measures to avoid plastic deformation of the carousel hub shell need to be taken and the carousel can be made with less materials and be more lightweight.

[0038] Preferably, each spacer is configured for being carried by a human operator. Optionally, the human operator climbs up or down the carousel inner wall while holding the spacer, in order to reach the right mounting point or in order to remove the spacer from its mounting point.

[0039] It is an advantage of this invention that no heavy machinery is needed to reconfigure the spacers of the intersection bending guidance channels and / or that it can be executed by a single operator. This leads to a simple installation procedure, reduces the need for multiple operators to collaborate and speeds up reconfiguring the intersection bending guidance channels when multiple cables of multiple lengths are spooled onto the carousel.

[0040] Preferably, the perforation further comprises a height bending guide, configured for guiding a subsea cable between the intersection bending guidance channel sides, and for bending the subsea cable according to a height bending radius when the subsea cable runs along the carousel inner wall and the height bending guide between the intersection bending guidance channel sides. The height bending radius is greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius. Preferably, the height bending guide is configured for being removably mounted on the carousel hub shell.

[0041] It is an advantage of this invention that cables are guided into the bending guidance channel while maintaining the minimum bending radius. Kinking, the action of inadvertently bending a cable when you push it into or through a hole, will happen less or will be avoided.

[0042] Preferably, the height bending guide comprises a height bending guide mounting means, configured for removably mounting the height bending guide on the carousel hub shell, and a height bending guide support, configured for protruding from the carousel inner wall when the height bending guide is mounted on the carousel hub shell and for supporting the subsea cable when it runs along the carousel inner wall and the height bending guide between the intersection bending guidance channel sides. For example, the height bending guide mounting means comprises a height bending guide mounting pin, and a height bending guide blind hole. The height bending guide blind hole is positioned in the carousel inner wall, and is configured for receiving the height bending guide mounting pin when the height bending guide is removably mounted on the carousel hub shell. Optionally, the height bending guide blind hold comprises a bayonet fitting.

[0043] It is an advantage of the invention that the creation of a radial and / or axial protrusion in the spooled subsea cable near where the subsea cable enters de bending guidance channel is avoided. An additional advantage is that mounting and unmounting the height bending guide is simple and fast.

[0044] Optionally, the height bending guide support is a guide roller, rotatably connected to the height bending guide mounting means.

[0045] It is an advantage of this invention that friction between the subsea cable and the height bending guide support is reduced. As a results, the risk of kinking the subsea cable is reduced further.

[0046] Preferably, the workroom comprises cable testing equipment.

[0047] Optionally, the workroom further comprises at least one mounting site, in particular a plurality of mounting sites, preferably in the workroom wall surface, a winch, a winch line, fairleads, a winch line height adjuster, a subsea cable support, a working area, a working platform, an overhang, a roof, a hatch, a ladder. The mounting sites are configured for having equipment, such as mentioned in this paragraph, removably mounted to them, enabling reconfiguring the workroom. The winch, winch line, fairleads and winch line height adjuster are configured for exerting a pulling force on the subsea cable when it is intersected with the carousel hub shell. The subsea cable support is configured for receiving and supporting a subsea cable end when an operator works on the cable end. The working area is configured for providing room for an operator to stand on while working on the cable end. The working platform, preferably with a railing, is configured for providing room for an operator to stand on while working on the cable end, at a height the operator cannot reach from the working area. The overhang and roof are configured for protecting the mounting sites as well as mounted equipment, working operators and intersecting subsea cables, from weather conditions, such as rain. The hatch, preferably comprised by the roof, and ladder are configured for providing access to the workroom from the top.

[0048] Optionally, the carousel further comprises the subsea cable. Optionally, the subsea cable intersects the carousel hub shell into the workroom through the perforation and the intersection bending guide bends the subsea cable according to the intersection bending radius.

[0049] The ship for laying a subsea cable according to this invention comprises the carousel according to this invention.

[0050] It is an advantage of this invention that the ship for laying a subsea cable can be equipped more efficiently, requiring less deck-space. It is a further advantage of this invention that the cable loading and cable laying operations can be executed more efficiently with this ship. It is an added advantage that subsea cable quality can be determined after it has been spooled onto a carousel, potentially when multiple subsea cables are spooled onto the same carousel.

[0051] The use of the carousel according to this invention or of a ship according to this invention for loading a subsea cable onto the carousel preferably further comprises inserting a cable through the perforation into the workroom. One end of the cable is lead through the perforation, optionally while rotating the carousel slightly. Preferably, the cable is led through the perforation at the start of loading the cable onto the carousel.

[0052] The use of the carousel according to this invention or of a ship according to this invention for loading a subsea cable onto the carousel and / or for paying out a subsea cable from the carousel, optionally further comprises testing the subsea cable. Preferably, it comprises the simultaneous execution of testing the subsea cable and loading the subsea cable onto the carousel. Alternatively, it comprises the simultaneous executing of testing the subsea cable and paying out the subsea cable from the carousel.

[0053] It is an advantage of this invention that the use of the carousel is more efficient, enabling the simultaneous execution of activities.

[0054] Brief description of the drawings

[0055] The present invention will be further elucidated by means of the following description and the appended figures.

[0056] Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a carousel hub shell of a carousel hub of a carousel according to the present invention.

[0057] Figure 2a shows a vertical section of a carousel hub of a carousel according to the present invention. Figure 2b shows a horizontal section of a carousel hub of a carousel according to the present invention.

[0058] Figure 3a shows a vertical section of a carousel according to the present invention.

[0059] Figure 3b shows a top view of a carousel according to the present invention.

[0060] Figure 4 shows a side view of a ship according to the current invention.

[0061] Modes for carrvina out the invention

[0062] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

[0063] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. The terms are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention can operate in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0064] Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. The terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

[0065] The term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It needs to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

[0066] Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of a carousel hub shell 101 of a carousel hub of a carousel according to the present invention. The carousel has a carousel hub axis a, which is a rotational axis of the carousel hub. The carousel hub axis a extends in a carousel hub axis direction d, in particular an upright direction.

[0067] The carousel hub shell 101 extends between a first carousel hub shell end 102 and a second carousel hub shell end 103 in the carousel hub axis direction d. The carousel hub shell 101 is cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis a. The carousel hub shell 101 comprises a workroom wall surface 104 and a carousel inner wall surface 105. The workroom wall surface 104 is cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis a with a workroom wall radius w, the workroom wall radius w being greater than the subsea cable minimum bending radius and exceeding the subsea cable minimum bending radius with at least the subsea cable diameter. The carousel inner wall surface 105 is cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis a with a carousel inner wall radius c. The carousel inner wall radius c is greater than the subsea cable minimum bending radius and greater than the workroom wall radius w.

[0068] The carousel hub shell 101 comprises at least one perforation 106, in particular ten perforations, configured for allowing the subsea cable to intersect with the carousel hub shell 101. The perforations are aligned along a perforation alignment axis p, the perforation alignment axis p lying according to the carousel hub axis direction d. The perforations are evenly distributed between the first carousel hub shell end 102 and the second carousel hub shell end 103. Intersecting the carousel hub shell 101 is possible at substantially every distance between the first carousel hub shell end 102 and the second carousel hub shell end 103 along the perforation alignment axis p. The perforations have a perforation axis q parallel to the carousel hub axis a.

[0069] The perforations each comprise an intersection bending guide 107 configured for bending the subsea cable according to an intersection bending radius s, equal to a perforation radius r, when the subsea cable intersects the carousel hub shell 101 through the respective perforation 106. The intersection bending radius s is greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius and smaller than or equal to the carousel inner wall radius c. The perforations each comprise a perforation entry surface 108 connected to the carousel inner wall surface 105, comprising a perforation entry hole 109. Each perforation entry surface 108 is positioned in a perforation entry plane v containing the carousel hub axis a. The perforations each comprise a perforation exit surface 110 connected to the workroom wall surface 104, comprising a perforation exit hole. The perforations each comprise a perforating pipe 1 11 , extending between a perforating pipe entry opening 1 12 and a perforation pipe exit opening and cylindrically arranged around the perforation axis q with the perforation radius r. Each pipe is donut-segment shaped. Each perforating pipe entry opening 1 12 coincides with the respective perforation entry hole 109, and each perforation pipe exit opening coincides with the respective perforation exit hole.

[0070] Each intersection bending guide 107 comprises an intersection bending guidance channel 113 configured for guiding the subsea cable towards the perforation entry surface 108, and for bending the subsea cable according to the intersection bending radius s when the subsea cable runs along the carousel inner wall and the subsea cable intersection guidance channel towards the perforation entry surface 108.

[0071] Each intersection bending guidance channel 1 13 comprises an intersection bending guidance channel surface 1 14, extending between a first intersection bending guidance channel surface end 115 and a second intersection bending guidance channel surface end 1 16 in an intersection bending guidance direction i and extending between a third intersection bending guidance channel surface end 117 and a fourth intersection bending guidance channel surface end 118 in a support direction j transverse to the intersection bending guidance direction i. Each first intersection bending guidance channel surface end 1 15 is connected to the carousel inner wall surface 105 and each second intersection bending guidance channel surface end 116 is connected to the respective perforation entry surface 108. Each bending guidance channel surface is cylindrically arranged around the perforation axis q with the perforation radius r. Each intersection bending guidance channel 113 further comprises two intersection bending guidance channel sides 1 19 called a pair of intersection bending guidance channel sides, protruding from the respective intersection bending guidance channel surface 1 14 at respectively the respective third intersection bending guidance channel surface end 117 and the respective fourth intersection bending guidance channel surface end 118. The intersection bending guidance channel sides 1 19 extend along the respective intersection bending guidance channel surface 1 14 in the intersection bending guidance direction i between the respective first intersection bending guidance channel surface end 1 15 and the respective second intersection bending guidance channel surface end 1 16.

[0072] Each intersection bending guidance channel side 1 19 comprises an intersection bending guidance channel side plane 120, transversely, preferably perpendicularly, connected to the respective intersection bending guidance channel surface 114, and an intersection bending guidance channel side crest 121 , being a surface transversely, preferably perpendicularly, connected to the respective intersection bending guidance channel side plane 120. Each intersection bending guidance channel side crest 121 is cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis a with the carousel inner wall radius c.

[0073] A guidance channel further comprises a plurality of spacers 122, jointly configured for allowing a subsea cable to bypass the perforation 106, and bending the subsea cable according to a bypass bending radius when the subsea cable bypasses the perforation 106. The bypass bending radius is greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius. Each spacer 122 is removably connected to an intersection bending guidance channel side crest 121 of the pair of guidance channel sides. Each spacer 122 is configured for being carried by a human operator.

[0074] A perforation 106 further comprises a height bending guide 123, configured for guiding a subsea cable between the respective intersection bending guidance channel sides 119, and for bending the subsea cable according to a height bending radius when the subsea cable runs along the carousel inner wall and the height bending guide 123 between the intersection bending guidance channel sides 1 19. The height bending radius is greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius. The height bending guide 123 is removably mounted on the carousel hub shell 101 , and comprises a height bending guide mounting means 124, configured for removably mounting the height bending guide 123 on the carousel hub shell 101 , and a height bending guide support 125, protruding from the carousel inner wall and configured for supporting the subsea cable when it runs along the carousel inner wall and the height bending guide 123 between the intersection bending guidance channel sides 119. The height bending guide mounting means 124 comprises a height bending guide mounting pin, and a height bending guide blind hole 126, positioned in the carousel inner wall, the height bending guide blind hole 126 configured for receiving the height bending guide mounting pin when the height bending guide 123 is removably mounted on the carousel hub shell 101. The height bending guide support 125 is a guide roller, rotatably connected to the height bending guide mounting means 124.

[0075] All perforations of the at least one perforation 106 are substantially equal. In one of the perforations, the respective spacers 122 are not mounted. In eight of the perforations the respective height bending guide support 125 is not mounted. One of the perforations lacks a height bending guide 123. The intersection bending guidance channel 1 13 closest to the second carousel hub shell end 103 has an intersection bending guidance channel side 1 19 that looks different from that of the other channels.

[0076] Figs. 2a and 2b show a carousel hub 201 of a carousel according to the present invention. The carousel hub 201 comprises a workroom 202. The carousel hub 201 further comprises a carousel hub shell 101 as shown in Fig. 1. More information on the carousel hub shell 101 is available in the description of Fig. 1. For clarity, some of the references of Fig. 1 are repeated in Figs. 2a and 2b. The carousel hub shell 101 encircles the workroom 202 and comprises at least one perforation 106 configured for allowing the subsea cable to intersect with the carousel hub shell 101 into the workroom 202. The workroom wall surface 104 abuts the workroom 202.

[0077] The workroom 202 comprises cable testing equipment, a plurality of mounting sites 203, preferably in the workroom wall surface 104, a winch 211 , a winch line, fairleads 204, a winch line height adjuster, a subsea cable support 205, a working area 206, a working platform 207, a railing 208, an overhang 209 and a ladder 210. The mounting sites 203 are configured for having equipment, such as mentioned in this paragraph, removable mounted to them, enabling reconfiguring the workroom 202. The winch 21 1 , winch line, fairleads 204 and winch line height adjuster are configured for exerting a pulling force on the subsea cable when it is intersected with the carousel hub shell 101. The subsea cable support 205 is configured for receiving and supporting a subsea cable end when an operator works on the cable end. The working area 206 is configured for providing room for an operator to walk on while working on the cable end. The working platform 207 is configured for providing room for an operator to walk on while working on the cable end, at a height the operator cannot reach from the working area 206. The overhang 209 and roof are configured for protecting the mounting sites 203 as well as mounted equipment, working operators and intersecting subsea cables, from weather conditions, such as rain. The hatch and ladder 210 are configured for providing access to the workroom 202 from the top.

[0078] Fig. 2a shows a vertical section of a carousel hub 201 of a carousel according to the present invention.

[0079] Fig. 2b shows a horizontal section of a carousel hub 201 of a carousel according to the present invention.

[0080] Figs. 3a and 3b show a carousel hub 201 of a carousel 301 according to the present invention. The carousel 301 comprises a carousel hub 201 as shown in Figs. 2a and 2b. More information on the carousel hub 201 is available in the description of Figs. 2a and 2b. For clarity, some of the references of Figs. 2a and 2b are repeated in Figs. 3a and 3b.

[0081] Fig. 3a shows a vertical section of a carousel 301 according to the present invention.

[0082] Fig. 3b shows a top view of a carousel 301 according to the present invention.

[0083] Fig. 4 shows a side view of a ship 401 according to the current invention. The ship 401 comprises a carousel 301 as shown in Figs. 3a and 3b. More information on the carousel 301 is available in the description of Figs. 3a and 3b.

Claims

Claims1. A carousel (301 ) for storing a subsea cable with a subsea cable minimum bending radius and a subsea cable diameter, comprising a carousel hub (201 ), wherein the carousel hub comprises a workroom (202), characterized in that- the carousel hub further comprises a carousel hub shell (101 ) encircling the workroom,- the carousel hub shell comprises a perforation (106) configured for allowing the subsea cable to intersect with the carousel hub shell into the workroom,- the perforation comprises an intersection bending guide (107) configured for bending the subsea cable according to an intersection bending radius (s) when the subsea cable intersects the carousel hub shell through the perforation,- the intersection bending radius is greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius.

2. The carousel according to claim 1 , characterized in that the carousel hub shell comprises at least two of the perforations.

3. The carousel according to 2, characterized in that- it further comprises a carousel hub axis (a), configured for being a rotational axis of the carousel hub, the carousel hub axis extending in a carousel hub axis direction (d), preferably an upright direction,- the carousel hub shell extends between a first carousel hub shell end (102) and a second carousel hub shell end (103) in the carousel hub axis direction,- the at least two perforations are aligned along a perforation alignment axis (p), the perforation alignment axis lying according to the carousel hub axis direction.

4. The carousel according to claim 3, characterized in that- the carousel hub shell is cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis,- the carousel hub shell further comprises a workroom wall surface (104),- abutting the workroom,- cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis with a workroom wall radius (w), the workroom wall radius being greater than thesubsea cable minimum bending radius and preferably exceeding the subsea cable minimum bending radius with at least the subsea cable diameter,- a carousel inner wall surface (105), cylindrically arranged around the carousel hub axis with a carousel inner wall radius (c), the carousel inner wall radius being greater than the subsea cable minimum bending radius and being greater than or equal to the workroom wall radius,- the perforation comprises- a perforation entry surface (108) connected to the carousel inner wall surface, comprising a perforation entry hole (109),- a perforation exit surface (110) connected to the workroom wall surface, comprising a perforation exit hole,- a perforation axis (q) parallel to the carousel hub axis,- a perforating pipe (1 11 ),- extending between a perforating pipe entry opening (112) and a perforating pipe exit opening,- cylindrically arranged around the perforation axis with a perforation radius (r), the perforation radius- being smaller than or equal to the carousel inner wall radius, and- being greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius,- the perforating pipe entry opening coinciding with the perforation entry hole, and- the perforating pipe exit opening coinciding with the perforation exit hole.

5. The carousel according to claim 4, characterized in that the perforation entry surface is positioned in a perforation entry plane (v) containing the carousel hub axis.

6. The carousel according to any of the claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the intersection bending guide comprises an intersection bending guidance channel (1 13) configured- for guiding the subsea cable towards the perforation entry surface, and- for bending the subsea cable according to the intersection bending radius when the subsea cable runs along the carousel inner wall and the subsea cable intersection guidance channel towards the perforation entry surface.

7. The carousel according to claim 6, characterized in that- the intersection bending guidance channel further comprises a spacer (122) configured for- allowing a subsea cable to bypass the perforation, and- bending the subsea cable according to a bypass bending radius when the subsea cable bypasses the perforation, and- the bypass bending radius is greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius.

8. The carousel according to any of the claims 6 to 7, characterized in that- the intersection bending guidance channel comprises- an intersection bending guidance channel surface (1 14),- extending between a first intersection bending guidance channel surface end (115) and a second intersection bending guidance channel surface end (116) in an intersection bending guidance direction (i),- cylindrically arranged around the perforation axis with the perforation radius,- two intersection bending guidance channel sides (1 19) protruding from the intersection bending guidance channel surface, the intersection bending guidance channel sides extending along the intersection bending guidance channel surface in the intersection bending guidance direction between the first intersection bending guidance channel surface end and the second intersection bending guidance channel surface end,- the first intersection bending guidance channel surface end is connected to the carousel inner wall surface and the second intersection bending guidance channel surface end is connected to the perforation entry surface,- the perforation comprises a height bending guide (123), configured for- guiding a subsea cable between the intersection bending guidance channel sides, and- bending the subsea cable according to a height bending radius when the subsea cable runs along the carousel inner wall and the height bending guide between the intersection bending guidance channel sides, and- the height bending radius is greater than or equal to the subsea cable minimum bending radius.

9. The carousel according to claim 8, characterized in that the height bending guide is configured for being removably mounted on the carousel hub shell.

10. The carousel according to any of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the workroom comprises cable testing equipment.1 1. The carousel according to any of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it further comprises the subsea cable.

12. The carousel according to claim 11 , wherein- the subsea cable intersects the carousel hub shell into the workroom through the perforation, and- the intersection bending guide bends the subsea cable according to the intersection bending radius.

13. A ship (401 ) for laying a subsea cable, comprising the carousel of any of the claims 1 to 12.

14. A use of the carousel according to any of the claims 1 to 12 or a ship according to claim 13 for loading a subsea cable onto the carousel and / or for paying out a subsea cable from the carousel.

15. The use of the carousel or ship for loading a subsea cable onto the carousel according to claim 14, further comprising inserting a cable through the perforation into the workroom.

16. The use of the carousel or ship according to any of the claims 14 to 15, further comprising testing the subsea cable.

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