US 12,007,044 B2
Subsea connection of pipeline sections
Karthik Mohan, Houston, TX (US); Ilkay Darilmaz, Houston, TX (US); Khalid Mateen, Katy, TX (US); Steven Mansfield, Katy, TX (US); and Florent Hurault de Ligny, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to SUBSEA 7 (US) LLC, Houston, TX (US); SHELL INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION INC., Houston, TX (US); and TOTAL E&P RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY USA, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Appl. No. 17/420,488
Filed by Subsea 7 (US) LLC, Houston, TX (US); Shell International Exploration and Production Inc., Houston, TX (US); and TOTAL E&P Research & Technology USA, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 2, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/012096
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 2, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/142637, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1900076 (GB), filed on Jan. 3, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0082183 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 1/16 (2006.01); F16L 1/20 (2006.01); F16L 1/26 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 1/165 (2013.01) [F16L 1/161 (2013.01); F16L 1/20 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of assembling a pipeline at a seabed location, the method comprising:
landing a connection tool on the seabed over a free end portion of a first pipeline section already placed on the seabed;
locking the connection tool to the free end portion of the first pipeline section;
connecting a lower end of a second pipeline section to the connection tool via an initiation line after landing the connection tool on the seabed, and before the second pipeline section is landed on the seabed;
while applying tension to the initiation line against reaction force of the connection tool, landing at least a lower end portion of the second pipeline section on the seabed with the lower end facing a free end of the first pipeline section; and
pulling the lower end of the second pipeline section into mechanical engagement with the free end of the first pipeline section.