Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Loop forming
Patent
1998-12-24
2000-07-18
Jillions, John M.
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Loop forming
242362, 13735516, 1378991, 25413435C, 4051683, 406 40, B65H 7536
Patent
active
06089489&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the storage of continuous lengths of rigid pipeline. The invention is most particularly intended for use in the temporary storage of lengths of rigid pipeline prior to said pipeline being spooled onto the storage reel of a reel-type marine pipelaying vessel.
In reel-pipelaying operations, the pipeline to be laid is spooled onto a reel, mounted on the pipelaying vessel, and subsequently unspooled as the pipe is laid. The pipe is plastically deformed during spooling, and is straightened during unspooling prior to departure from the vessel.
The reel pipe-laying vessel "Apache" has a pipelay reel with a capacity of approximately 2000 tonnes of rigid pipeline up to 16 inches diameter. The pipeline is assembled by welding standard 40 foot pipe joints into 1 kilometre stalks which are stored on racks at an onshore spoolbase. The stalks may be assembled and stored whilst the vessel is away from the spoolbase on pipelaying operations. When the vessel is at the spoolbase to receive a load of pipe, the pre-assembled stalks are spooled onto the reel of the vessel with tie-in welds between stalks being made during the spooling process. The need to make, inspect and coat the tie-in welds necessarily prolongs the nonproductive time required to spool a load of pipe onto the vessel. It would be desirable to reduce the length of time occupied by the spooling operation, so as to maximise the availability of the vessel for productive pipelaying operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus whereby a continuous length of rigid pipeline, up to a length substantially equal to or greater than the maximum capacity of the pipelay vessel, may be assembled and stored onshore, whereby a full load of pipe may be spooled onto the vessel in a substantially continuous manner so as to minimise the time required for the spooling operation.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a pipeline storage apparatus comprising a closed loop of rail track (or equivalent) lying on a substantially horizontal plane, a plurality of rail bogies mounted on said track and distributed around said loop, and means for driving said bogies along said track in synchronism with one another, said bogies being adapted to receive and retain a plurality of turns of a continuous length of pipeline extending around said loop.
Preferably, the periphery of said loop is continuously curved such that at every point around the periphery thereof the radius of curvature of the loop is greater than a predetermined minimum value. Preferably also, said minimum radius of curvature of the loop is selected such that, for a pipeline having a predetermined maximum diameter which is intended to be capable of being stored on the apparatus, the elastic yield limit of that pipeline will not be exceeded by bending the pipeline for storage thereon. Most preferably, said minimum radius of curvature is selected so that the stresses induced on said pipeline do not exceed 72% of its elastic yield limit.
Preferably also, the loop is substantially circular, having a substantially constant radius of curvature.
Preferably also, said bogies are spaced substantially equidistantly around the loop.
Preferably, the minimum radius of curvature is at least 150 metres so that the maximum diameter of pipe which may be stored on the apparatus without stresses exceeding 72% of the elastic yield limit is at least 16 inches.
The apparatus preferably further includes a pipe handling apparatus for loading and offloading pipe to and from said loop. The pipe handling apparatus preferably includes: a pipeline path extending from a loading/offloading point on the loop for guiding the pipe towards a firing line extending towards a mooring location for a pipelay vessel; pipe guide means suspended from a gantry traversing said track and said pipe path at or adjacent to said loading/offloading point, said pipe guide means being mounted for transverse moveme
REFERENCES:
patent: 3247674 (1966-04-01), Macardier
patent: 3724567 (1973-04-01), Smitherman
patent: 3817466 (1974-06-01), Reynard et al.
patent: 3941146 (1976-03-01), Chatard
patent: 3955593 (1976-05-01), Umphrey et al.
patent: 5595355 (1997-01-01), Haines
Coflexip Stena Offshore Limited
Jillions John M.
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