Marine Pipe Laying Methods

American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines. Abstract A number of marine pipelaying techniques have developed over the years, but their potential for installing large diameter pipe in deep water is severely limited. A survey of present day technology is desirable to evaluate its limitations for the needs at hand, and to determine where new techniques are required. All present day techniques have many elements in common. These can be combined in a variety of ways, and some of the combinations offer possible solutions to the problems of laying pipe in deep water. pipe in deep water. This paper describes the most common components of marine pipelaying systems, and discusses the present day combinations. The components include: barges, stingers, launchways, reels, winches, tensioners, pontoons, caissons, chambers and submersible vehicles. The combinations include: lay barges, tie-in barges, lowering barges, reel barges, and pull barges. The paper then goes on to describe the potential applications of other systems to the problems of laying pipe in deep water. It suggests that economical solutions to those problems are within the capability of present day technology, without excessive developmental effort. Introduction When petroleum discoveries stepped from dry land into the marshes, and eventually into the sea, the associated pipelines had to go into the water as pipelines had to go into the water as well. Short lines in shallow water could readily be made up on shore and pushed or pulled into position. However, pushed or pulled into position. However, long pipelines, even through marsh lands, required a different solution, and the pipelaying spread took to the water pipelaying spread took to the water on a lay barge. From these beginnings various marine pipelaying methods have evolved and are in use today. As the: need grows to lay pipelines of larger diameter in deeper water, even present day techniques are becoming present day techniques are becoming restrictive.