IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0376493
(2003-02-28)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- ABB Offshore Systems, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
15 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
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A method of deploying a subsea line utilizes a subsea deployment unit. A drum wrapped with the line is mounted to the unit. The unit is lowered on a cable into the sea from a surface vessel. An ROV is lowered on an umbilical into the sea and brought into engagement with the unit. The ROV provides th
A method of deploying a subsea line utilizes a subsea deployment unit. A drum wrapped with the line is mounted to the unit. The unit is lowered on a cable into the sea from a surface vessel. An ROV is lowered on an umbilical into the sea and brought into engagement with the unit. The ROV provides thrust and guidance to move the unit along a desired path above the sea floor. The ROV also supplies power to the motor of the unit to cause the drum to rotate and deploy the line from the drum. The ROV disengages from the unit and connects the ends of the line to subsea components.
대표청구항
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1. A method of deploying a line subsea, comprising:(a) wrapping a length of line onto a rotatable drum of a deployment unit;(b) securing a cable to the unit and lowering the unit into the sea from a surface vessel; and(c) causing the drum to rotate and deploy the line, and removing the line entirely
1. A method of deploying a line subsea, comprising:(a) wrapping a length of line onto a rotatable drum of a deployment unit;(b) securing a cable to the unit and lowering the unit into the sea from a surface vessel; and(c) causing the drum to rotate and deploy the line, and removing the line entirely from the drum, and retrieving the unit with the cable while the line remains subsea. 2. A method of deploying a line subsea, comprising:(a) wrapping a length of line onto a rotatable drum of a deployment unit:(b) securing a cable to the unit and lowering the unit into the sea from a surface vessel: and(c) causing the drum to rotate and deploy the line, and connecting a first end of the line to a first subsea component, removing the line entirely from the drum, then connecting a second end of the line to a second subsea component. 3. A method of deploying a line subsea, comprising:(a) wrapping a length of line onto a rotatable drum of a deployment unit;(b) securing a cable to the unit and lowering the unit into the sea from a surface vessel, and providing thrust from the ROV to position the unit at desired positions;(c) lowering an ROV into the sea from the surface vessel and engaging the ROV with the unit; and(d) causing the drum to rotate and deploy the line. 4. A method of deploying a line subsea, comprising:(a) wrapping a length of line onto a rotatable drum of a deployment unit;(b) securing a cable to the unit and lowering the unit into the sea from a surface vessel;(c) lowering an ROV into the sea from the surface vessel and engaging the ROV with the unit; and(d) causing the drum to rotate and deploy the line by supplying power from the ROV. 5. A method of deploying a line subsea, comprising:(a) wrapping a length of line onto a rotatable drum of a deployment unit:(b) securing a cable to the unit and lowering the unit into the sea from a surface vessel;(c) lowering an ROV into the sea from the surface vessel;(d) causing the drum to rotate and deploy the line;(e) engaging the ROV with a first end of the line and, with the assistance of the ROV, connecting the first end of the line to a first subsea component located on the floor of the sea; then(f) moving the unit toward a second subsea component on the floor of the sea while deploying the line from the drum; then(g) engaging the ROV with a second end of the line and, with the assistance of the ROV, connecting the second end of the line to the second subsea component. 6. A method of deploying a line subsea, comprising:(a) wrapping a length of line onto a rotatable drum of a deployment unit;(b) securing a cable to the unit and lowering the unit into the sea from a surface vessel;(c) causing the drum to rotate and deploy the line; and(d) moving the surface vessel generally horizontally to cause the unit to move in a horizontal direction while deploying the line. 7. A method of deploying a line subsea, comprising:(a) wrapping a length of line onto a rotatable drum of a deployment unit;(b) securing a cable to the unit and lowering the unit into the sea from a surface vessel;(c) causing the drum to rotate and deploy the line; and(d) maintaining the surface vessel in a generally stationary position and supplying thrust to the unit subsea to move the unit generally horizontally while deploying the line. 8. A method of deploying a subsea line, comprising:(a) wrapping a length of line onto a drum of a deployment unit, the drum being rotatably driven by a motor;(b) securing a cable to the unit and lowering the unit into the sea from a surface vessel;(c) lowering an ROV on an umbilical into the sea and engaging the ROV with the unit; then(d) providing thrust from the ROV to move the unit along a desired path above the sea floor; and(e) supplying power from the ROV to the motor of the unit to cause the drum to rotate and deploy the line from the drum; then(f) once all of the line is deployed from the drum, retrieving the unit with the cable. 9. The method according to claims 8 , further co mprising disengaging the ROV from the unit, and with the assistance of the ROV, connecting a first end of the line with a first subsea component. 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein step (d) and step (e) occur simultaneously. 11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:prior to completing step (e) disengaging the ROV from the unit, and with the assistance of the ROV, connecting a first end of the line with a first subsea component; then,completing step (e); thendisengaging the ROV from the unit and with the assistance of the ROV, connecting a second end of the line with a second subsea component. 12. The method according to claim 8, wherein step (a) comprises providing the deployment unit with upper and lower sections, the motor being mounted to the upper section and the drum being mounted to the lower section, the upper and lower sections being releasable from each other; and wherein the method further comprises:in the event of a malfunction or emergency prior to completing step (e), setting the unit on the sea floor;disengaging the ROY from the unit and employing the ROY to disconnect the upper and lower sections from each other; thenretrieving the upper section and the motor with the cable while the lower section, the drum and the line remain on the sea floor. 13. A method of connecting a line from a first subsea component located on a sea floor to a second subsea component located on the sea floor, comprising:(a) wrapping a length of line onto a rotatable drum of a deployment unit;(b) securing a cable to the unit and lowering the unit into the sea from a surface vessel to a point adjacent the first subsea component;(c) lowering an ROV into the sea and with the assistance of the ROV, connecting the first end of the line to the first subsea component; then(d) moving the unit to a point adjacent the second subsea component; and(e) while moving the unit, causing the drum to rotate and deploy the line from the drum; then(f) with the assistance of the ROV, connecting a second end of the line to the second subsea component. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein step (a) further comprises providing the drum with a motor; and step (b) comprises supplying power to the motor from the ROV. 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein step (a) further comprises providing the deployment unit with upper and lower sections, mounting a motor to the upper section that releasably engages the drum to rotate the drum, the drum being mounted to the lower section, the upper and lower sections being releasable from each other; and wherein the method further comprises:in the event of a malfunction or emergency prior to completing step (f), setting the unit on the sea floor;disengaging the ROV from the unit and employing the ROV to disconnect the upper and lower sections from each other; thenretrieving the upper section and the motor with the cable while the lower section, the drum and the line remain on the sea floor. 16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising retrieving the unit with the cable after step (f) while leaving the line connected to the first and second components. 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein step (c) comprises supplying thrust from the ROV. 18. The method according to claim 13, wherein step (d) comprises moving the surface vessel generally horizontally to cause the unit to move from adjacent the first component to adjacent the second component. 19. A deployment unit for deploying line subsea, comprising:a frame adapted to be secured to a cable for lowering subsea;a drum rotatably mounted to the frame for receiving a length of a line for deploying subsea;a hydraulic motor cooperatively engaged with the drum for rotating the drum; anda controls interface mounted to the frame for supplying power to and controlling the motor, the interface adapted to be engaged by an ROV lowered into the sea on an umbilical for supplying thrust to guide the deployment unit and power to operate the motor. 20. The deployment unit according to claim 19, wherein the frame comprises:an upper section releasably mounted to a lower section, the motor and the controls interface being mounted to the upper section, and the drum being mounted to the lower section; anda fastener adapted to be engaged by the ROV for releasing the upper section from the lower section to enable the upper section, the motor and the controls interface to be retrieved while the lower section and drum remain on the sea floor. 21. A deployment unit for deploying line subsea, comprising:a lower frame having a plurality of upward extending legs;an upper frame having a plurality of downward extending legs that telescope into engagement with the upward extending legs, the upper frame adapted to be connected to a cable for lowering the unit into the sea;a drum rotatably mounted to the lower frame for receiving a length of a line for deploying subsea;a hydraulic motor carried by the upper frame and cooperatively engaged with the drum for rotating the drum;a controls interface mounted to the upper frame, the interface adapted to be engaged by an ROV lowered into the sea on an umbilical for supplying thrust to guide the deployment unit and power to operate the motor; andat least one fastener for securing the legs of the lower frame to the legs of the upper frame, the fastener adapted to be released by the ROV to enable the upper frame, the motor and the controls interface to be retrieved on the cable while the lower frame, the drum and the line remain subsea. 22. The unit according to claim 21, wherein the drum comprises a pair of flanges connected by a hub, and wherein the unit further comprises:a plurality teeth extending around at least one of the flanges; anda gear connected with the motor that releasably engages the teeth to rotate the drum. 23. The unit according to claim 22, further comprising an arm pivotally mounted to the upper frame, the motor being mounted to the arm; and whereinthe arm is movable to an upper position relative to the upper frame to disengage the gear of the motor from the teeth of the drum. 24. The unit according to claim 21, further comprising:an arm carried by the upper frame and extending across the drum; anda level wind assembly mounted to the arm for movement along the arm to align wraps of the line on the drum in the event the line is wound back onto the drum. 25. The unit according to claim 22, wherein the motor is mounted to the arm, the motor having a drive member that engages a flange of the drum to rotate the drum; and whereinthe arm is pivotal relative to the frame for disengaging the drive member of the motor from the flange of the drum.
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