Modular Lay Tower Pipe Handling for Flexible Offshore Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The high costs and inefficiencies associated with traditional pipe laying and recovery operations, particularly in marginal fields, due to the need for dedicated vessels and equipment, as well as the challenges of decommissioning subsea pipelines, which are time-consuming and costly, and limited availability of ports for vessels without dedicated craneage.
Innovation Solution
A tubular installation and recovery apparatus featuring a lay tower with a storage module and feed mechanism that allows for pre-loading of tubular sections, eliminating the need for dedicated vessel cranes and enabling efficient extension of catenaries, and a hoisting mechanism that allows for vessel flexibility and reduced port requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated pipe laying vessels with permanently installed pipe laying systems are used, then the capability to lay pipelines in deep water environments is improved, but the cost of development and vessel operation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe laying system is divided into modular components: a pipe laying apparatus with lay tower that can be detached from the vessel, allowing the vessel to be separated from the specialized equipment. This enables the pipe laying function to be performed by smaller, more versatile vessels rather than requiring permanently installed systems on dedicated vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static, permanently installed pipe laying systems on dedicated vessels to a dynamic configuration where the pipe laying apparatus can be mounted on and dismounted from various vessel types. This flexibility allows the same equipment to be deployed on different vessels depending on operational requirements.
2Reliability
If dedicated vessel cranes and handling systems are installed, then the capability to perform pipe laying and recovery operations is improved, but the vessel availability and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe laying apparatus is designed as a self-contained unit that can be mounted on various types of vessels without requiring dedicated craneage or handling systems. The apparatus includes its own hoisting mechanism and pipe handling capabilities, making it universally applicable to different vessel types and increasing vessel availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe laying apparatus incorporates its own hoisting mechanism and pipe handling systems, eliminating the need for the vessel to provide dedicated craneage or external handling equipment. The apparatus serves its own pipe laying and recovery functions independently, reducing dependency on vessel-specific infrastructure.
3Ease of manufacture
If subsea pipelines are cut into sections for decommissioning using subsea craneage, then the pipeline recovery process is enabled, but the time and cost intensity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe laying apparatus includes a magazine pre-loaded with multiple tubular sections before deployment. During decommissioning operations, these pre-stored sections can be quickly installed to replace recovered pipeline sections, eliminating the need for time-consuming section-by-section handling and significantly reducing overall decommissioning time.
4Adaptability or versatility
If vessels travel long distances from deep water locations to reach shallower water fields, then the capability to access marginal fields is enabled, but the mobilization cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe laying system is segmented into a removable apparatus that can be mounted on smaller, more maneuverable vessels capable of accessing shallow water and marginal fields that larger dedicated vessels cannot reach. This segmentation enables deployment in previously inaccessible locations without requiring long-distance transit of specialized deep-water equipment.
Data Source
Figure 1~3(c)
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
A tubular installation apparatus (1) including a lay tower (2) mounted to a support structure (4). The lay tower (2) is configured to lower a tubular section along a firing line (L) extending along the lay tower (2). A magazine (3) is removably mounted to the lay tower (2) and configured to be pre-loaded with a plurality of tubular sections. A feed mechanism (23, 25) is configured to feed one or more tubular sections from the magazine (3) to the firing line (L) of the lay tower (2) for connection to the end of a catenary.