EP2342488B1 - Method for assembling a marine riser for a fluid in a body of water and associated marine riser - Google Patents

Method for assembling a marine riser for a fluid in a body of water and associated marine riser Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2342488B1
EP2342488B1 EP09768135.7A EP09768135A EP2342488B1 EP 2342488 B1 EP2342488 B1 EP 2342488B1 EP 09768135 A EP09768135 A EP 09768135A EP 2342488 B1 EP2342488 B1 EP 2342488B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
buoy
water
point
downstream
flexible
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP09768135.7A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2342488A2 (en
Inventor
Jeroen Remery
Romain Vivet
Christophe Defreslon
Ange Luppi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Technip Energies France SAS
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Technip France SAS
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from FR0857521A external-priority patent/FR2938001B1/en
Application filed by Technip France SAS filed Critical Technip France SAS
Publication of EP2342488A2 publication Critical patent/EP2342488A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2342488B1 publication Critical patent/EP2342488B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/002—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
    • E21B43/013—Connecting a production flow line to an underwater well head

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of mounting a fluid operating tower in a body of water, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Such towers are intended to convey fluid produced in the bottom of a body of water to the surface, across the body of water.
  • This fluid consists in particular of liquid and / or gaseous hydrocarbons and water collected in production wells formed in the bottom of the body of water.
  • Such a tower generally comprises a lower connecting pipe to the production assembly disposed on the bottom of the body of water, a substantially vertical riser, made from a flexible pipe or a rigid pipe, a buoy holding the riser in its upright position, and an anchor element of a lower point of the riser.
  • the tower further includes a flexible upper link pipe connecting the riser to a floating surface assembly.
  • the hydrocarbons produced by the bottom assembly are conveyed successively through the lower connecting pipe, the riser and the upper connecting pipe to a surface assembly such as a ship, a platform or a barge, where they can be recovered or transported.
  • This type of tower has a relatively simple structure, since its holding in vertical position is ensured exclusively by the anchor element in the bottom of the body of water, and by the tension generated by the buoyancy of the buoy connected to the upper point of the riser.
  • the buoy of buoyancy after being transported on a ship to the installation site of the tower, must be submerged to a depth sufficient to avoid the effects of swell and current.
  • the buoy is gradually lowered into the body of water by lifting it out of the vessel using a handling crane, as described for example in FR 2 911 907 .
  • the buoy To allow vertical maintenance of the pipe in the body of water, the buoy must be very bulky, given the weight of the riser. Thus, the buoy may have a diameter greater than several meters for a height of several tens of meters.
  • the buoy generally has a cylindrical shape elongate along a vertical axis, in particular to facilitate the connection of the riser to the upper connecting pipe, when this connection is under the buoy.
  • buoys elongated vertically are very unstable when immersed in the body of water.
  • FR2768457 discloses a method of mounting a tower comprising an intermediate section rigid tube.
  • GB2426496 and GB2024767 also describe other tower mounting methods.
  • An object of the invention is therefore to obtain a method of setting up a tower comprising a buoy buoyancy, which is simple to implement, especially with vessels that do not have large capacity hoist cranes.
  • the subject of the invention is a method according to claim 1.
  • the method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the features of claims 2 to 9.
  • upstream and downstream refer to the normal direction of circulation of the fluid in a pipe.
  • a first fluid operating installation 10 in a body of water 12, installed by an implementation method according to the invention, is shown schematically on the Figure 1 .
  • This installation is intended to convey a fluid collected in the bottom 14 of the body of water 12 to the surface 16 of the body of water.
  • the collected fluid is for example a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon from a well (not shown) formed in the bottom 14 of the body of water.
  • the body of water 12 is a lake, a sea or an ocean.
  • the depth of the water extent 12, taken between the surface 16 and the bottom 14 opposite the installation 10 is greater than 30 m and is for example between 30 m and 3500 m.
  • the installation 10 comprises a fluid production assembly 18 situated on the bottom of the body of water, hereinafter referred to as the "bottom assembly", a first tower 20 according to the invention, and a surface assembly 22 intended to recover and store the fluid collected in the production assembly 18 conveyed through the tower 20.
  • the bottom assembly 18 comprises for example at least one wellhead and / or a production line (not shown) located on the bottom 14 of the body of water.
  • the surface assembly 22 is a floating assembly. It is for example formed by a ship, a barge, a floating platform, or a floating unit for recovery, storage and treatment of hydrocarbons, designated by the acronym "FPSO”.
  • the surface assembly is alternatively a floating storage and regasification unit designated by the acronym "FSRU”.
  • the surface assembly 22 floats on the body of water in the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18.
  • the tower 20 comprises a fluid transport pipe 24 connecting the bottom assembly 18 to the surface assembly 22, an anchoring element 25 of the pipe 24, fixed in an anchoring region on the bottom 14, and a buoy 26 for holding under tension at least one intermediate section of the transport pipe 24 in a substantially vertical configuration in the body of water 12.
  • the transport pipe 24 comprises, from bottom to top on the Figure 1 , a lower section 28 for connection to the bottom assembly 18, an intermediate section formed by a substantially vertical riser 30, a coupling 32 and an upper section 34 for connection to the surface assembly 22.
  • the transport pipe 24 is flexible over substantially its entire length, taken between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22.
  • the lower section 28 is formed for example by a lower connecting hose 36 extending in a bent or inclined manner with respect to the bottom 14 of the body of water 12.
  • the lower hose 36 is connected upstream to the assembly of bottom 18, and is connected downstream to the riser 30.
  • the riser 30 extends substantially vertically along a vertical axis AA 'in the body of water 12, between a lower upstream point 38, connected to the anchoring element 25 and an upper downstream point 40, connected to the buoy 26.
  • the riser 30 is formed by a flexible pipe 42 over substantially its entire length.
  • the flexible pipe 42 may be a "bundle" type composite bundle comprising at least one fluid transport tube and a set of electrical or optical cables adapted to carry electrical or hydraulic power, or information between the bottom 14 and the surface 16 of the body of water
  • Such a flexible pipe has a minimum radius of curvature in bending without damage ("MBR” or “minimal bending radius” in English) relatively small for example a few meters which makes it particularly suitable for being rolled and unrolled reversibly without significant plastic deformation on a drum or basket, the drum or the basket being carried by a laying ship, as will be seen below .
  • the length of the riser 30, taken between the upper point 40 and the lower point 38 is greater than 20 m and is for example between 500 m and 3500 m.
  • connection 32 typically a gooseneck (in English) is in this example fixed on the buoy 26. It is connected upstream to the downstream point 40 of the riser 30. It is connected downstream to the upper section 34 link.
  • connection 32 is formed by a rigid tube shaped gooseneck.
  • the connector 32 is formed by a flexible pipe as described above, provided for example curvature limiters or buoyancy elements.
  • the upper portion 34 is formed by an upper hose 50 extending between the connector 32 and the surface assembly 22.
  • the upper hose 50 has a catenary configuration, substantially J.-shaped.
  • the upper hose 50 is deformable to absorb the movements of the surface assembly 22 due to disturbances of the body of water such as swell, current or wind.
  • the section 34 thus substantially prevents the transmission of these movements from the surface assembly 22 to the riser 30 whose downstream point 40 remains substantially immobile in the body of water.
  • the lower section 28, riser 30, intermediate fitting 32, and upper section 34 internally define a continuous fluid flow passage 52 extending between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22 to allow the transporting the fluid between these assemblies 18, 22.
  • the anchoring element 25 comprises an anchoring member 60 fixed in the anchoring region on the bottom 14 of the body of water and a line flexible 62 connecting the anchor 60 to the upstream point 38 of the riser.
  • the anchoring member 60 is for example formed by a battery housed in the bottom 14 of the body of water or by a suction anchor.
  • the flexible line 62 extends vertically along the axis A-A 'between the anchoring element 60 and the upstream point 38.
  • the buoy 26 is of substantially flat shape when the tower 20 is mounted in the body of water 12.
  • the buoy 26 thus has a height, taken along the axis A-A ', less than its maximum transverse dimension, taken perpendicularly to the axis A-A'.
  • the buoy 26 is preferably cylindrical in shape of axis A-A '.
  • the height H of the buoy is advantageously less than 1.5 times, in particular less than or equal to 1 times the maximum transverse dimension of the buoy, which in this example is the diameter D of the cylinder.
  • the height H of the buoy is greater than or equal to 1.5 times the maximum transverse dimension of the buoy.
  • the buoy 26 comprises a buoyancy chamber 70 internally defining at least one sealed compartment 72 adapted to be filled selectively with gas or liquid, and means 74 for selective filling of liquid and gas in the compartment 72.
  • the buoy 26 further comprises means 76 for connection to the downstream point 40 of the riser 30, visible on the Figure 1 .
  • the buoyancy chamber 70 delimits a through-hole 78 of axis AA 'for the passage of the riser 30.
  • the light 78 opens upwards and downwards on either side of the box 70.
  • the or each compartment 72 extends around the light 76 in the box 70.
  • the filling means 74 are adapted to selectively introduce gas or liquid into the or each compartment 72 to selectively increase or decrease the buoyancy of the buoy 26.
  • connection means 76 comprise at least one fastening collar 80, fixed on the downstream point 40 of the column 30.
  • the riser 30 is introduced into the lumen 78 to its downstream point 40.
  • the downstream point 40 is secured to the buoy 26 via the collar 80.
  • the connector 32 projects from an upper surface 82 of the buoy 26.
  • This method is implemented using a ship 90 for laying the transport pipe 24 and using at least one towing vessel 92A, 92B of the buoy 26 separate from the laying ship 90.
  • the process is carried out using two towing vessels 92A, 92B.
  • the pipe members 36, 42, 50 for forming the transport pipe 24 are brought into the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18 by means of the laying ship 90.
  • the lower hose 36, the upper hose 50, and the flexible hose 42 are transported by the laying ship 90, for example by being wound on a laying drum or in a basket.
  • the anchoring element 25 is installed in the bottom of the body of water in the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18.
  • the anchoring member 60 is fixed in the bottom 14 of the extension of water.
  • the buoy 26 is towed by being partially immersed, with its upper surface 82 located outside the body of water 12, between a position remote from the anchoring region of the element 25 and a position of placement located substantially opposite and above the anchoring region of the element 25.
  • the buoy 26 extends substantially horizontally with its vertical axis A-A '.
  • the buoy 26 having a substantially flat shape, it is very insensitive to the movements of the surface 16 of the body of water 12, including the swell, the current or the wind, so that it can be transported from way safe being only partially submerged in the body of water 12, using towing vessels 92A, 92B. It is also a workstation thanks to its large flat top surface 82.
  • the towing distance of the buoy 26, which horizontally separates the position remote from the positioning position is greater than several hundred meters, or even several hundred kilometers.
  • the buoy 26 is embarked on a partially submersible barge, then is immersed in water by immersion of the barge, before being towed.
  • buoy 26 occupies its positioning position represented on the Figure 3 it is maintained in a horizontal position by the towing vessels 92A, 92B using deployable mooring lines 94.
  • a traction vehicle 96 is then mounted on the buoy 26, for example on its upper surface 82.
  • This traction unit 96 is formed in particular by a winch 96 having a deployable line 98 traction.
  • the line 98 is unwound to be introduced from top to bottom through the central lumen 78 of the buoy 26. The line 98 is then brought to the laying ship 90 to be connected to the flexible pipe 42 at the downstream point 40 .
  • the winch 96 is then activated to bring the downstream point 40 closer to the buoy 26, by retracting an increasing length of the line 98 on the winch 96. Simultaneously, an increasing length of the flexible pipe 42 is unrolled from the laying ship 90.
  • the flexible pipe 42 adopts a substantially U-shaped catenary shape between the laying ship 90 and the buoy 26.
  • the distance separating the laying ship 90 from the buoy 26 being relatively high, for example greater than 50 m, the radius of curvature of the flexible pipe 42 in this configuration is high to prevent any damage to the flexible pipe 42.
  • the pull of the line 98 continues until the connection 32 and the downstream point 40 enter the lumen 78 from below, then ascend along the lumen 78 before being extracted out of the lumen 78 by the high.
  • the connector 32 protrudes upwardly from the upper surface 82.
  • the downstream point 40 is located substantially at the upper surface 82.
  • the fixing collar 80 is then put in place to immobilize the downstream point 40 with respect to the buoy 26.
  • the traction line 98 is then disconnected from the downstream point 40 and the winch 96 is disassembled away from the buoy 26.
  • the mooring lines 94 are released and the filling means 74 are activated to introduce liquid into the compartments 72 to reduce the buoyancy of the buoy 26.
  • the buoy 26 is then lowered and immersed completely in the body of water 12, to a depth greater than several tens of meters, in a region of the body of water 12 which is not affected by the swell. or waves, as depicted on the Figure 5 .
  • the buoy 26 retains its horizontal orientation during its descent, with its axis A-A 'substantially vertical according to its height.
  • a corresponding length of the flexible pipe 42 is unrolled from the laying ship 90.
  • the increasing weight of the flexible pipe 42 deployed promotes the descent of the buoy 26 in the body of water 12.
  • the flexible pipe 42 is then totally immersed and the upstream point 38 is lowered below the downstream point 40 to the vicinity of the bottom 14 facing the anchoring element 25.
  • the upstream point 38 of the flexible pipe 42 is then fixed on the anchoring element 60 via the anchor line 62.
  • a lower hose 36 is lowered by a drop line 100 deployed from the laying ship 90, as illustrated by FIG. Figure 6 .
  • the lower hose 36 is then connected to the riser 30 and to the bottom assembly 18 to form the lower section of the transport pipe 24.
  • the buoyancy of the buoy 26 is possibly modified to apply between the downstream point 40 and the upstream point 38, via the buoy 26, a pulling force directed upwards, this force being compensated by the force of retained by the anchor line 62.
  • the flexible pipe 42 thus forms, between the upstream point 38 and the downstream point 40, a riser 30 extending vertically along the axis A-A ', held in vertical position and under tension along the axis. AA 'between the buoy 26 and the anchoring element 25.
  • the upper hose 50 is lowered into the body of water 12 to be connected to the fitting 32 and to the surface assembly 22, thus forming the upper section 34 of the pipe 24.
  • the continuous passage 52 of hydrocarbon circulation between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22 is then established successively through the lower section 28, the riser 30, the coupling 32 and the upper section 34. collected by the bottom assembly 18 is then transported to the surface assembly 22 through the passage 52.
  • the buoy 26 is immersed under the body of water, before the downstream point 40 of the riser 30 is fixed on the buoy.
  • the buoy 26 is then provided with a winch 96 suitable for being operated while being immersed under the body of water 12.
  • a second installation 120 according to the invention is represented on the Figure 7 .
  • the tower 20 of the second installation 120 comprises a buoy 26 disposed above the downstream point 40 and above the connection 32.
  • connection means 76 comprise a ring 122 secured to the flexible pipe 42 at the downstream point 40 and a flexible chain 124 connecting the ring 122 to a lower surface 126 of the buoy 26.
  • the method of setting up the tower 20 is facilitated in particular by the introduction of a low capacity winch on the buoy 26 to draw the downstream point 40 of the transport pipe 30 and deploy this pipe chain between the laying ship 90 and the buoy 26.
  • the buoy 26 is also stable during its immersion in the body of water 12. It retains substantially its orientation during its descent, which facilitates its handling.
  • the lower section 28 of the pipe 24 is formed by a rigid tubular element which can not be wound on a drum or in a basket without substantial plastic deformation.
  • the intermediate portion 30 is flexible over substantially its entire length.
  • the upstream point 38 of the flexible pipe 42 is fixed directly to the anchoring element 60 immobilized in the bottom of the body of water 12, without using a flexible anchor line 62.
  • a third operating installation 130 according to the invention is represented on the Figure 8 .
  • the upper section 34 is connected to the intermediate section 30 at the level of the buoy 26, for example on the upper surface of the buoyancy chamber 70.
  • the tower 20 is devoid of a rigid connection 32 in beak of swan.
  • the upper section 34 comprises, from upstream to downstream, a first substantially vertical section 132 connected to the buoy, a second curved U-shaped section 134 of concavity directed downwards, a third curved U-shaped section 136 of concavity directed upwardly 136 and a fourth substantially vertical section 138 connected to the surface assembly 22.
  • the first section 132 and the second section 134 are provided with floats 140 distributed along their length to ensure the maintenance of the flexible upper section 34 in a wave configuration, designated by the English term "steep-wave".
  • the tower 20 further comprises a means 142 for limiting the torsion movements of the riser 30.
  • the means 142 is formed by a continuous flexible link 144 connecting a first connection point 146 located on the buoy 26 to a auxiliary connecting point 148 located on the upper flexible section 34 away from the connection point between the intermediate section 30 and the upper section 34, and away from the downstream point 40 of attachment to the buoy 26.
  • the link 144 is substantially continuous over its entire length. It is hanged in a chain between the points 146, 148.
  • the point of connection 146 is located on a lateral surface of the buoyancy chamber 70 located on the same side as the third section 136 of the flexible upper section 34.
  • the auxiliary connection point 148 is located on a rising portion of the third U-shaped section 136, away from the lowest point.
  • the buoy 26 further comprises a ballast element 149 located opposite the point of connection 146 with respect to a vertical axis of the box 70, to compensate for the weight of the flexible link 144.
  • At least a portion of the transport pipe 24 of non-zero length extends between the downstream point 40 located on the buoy and the auxiliary connection point 148 located above and away from the buoy 26.
  • the flexible link 144 is mounted between the connection point 146 and the auxiliary connection point 148 once the flexible section 34 is connected to the riser 30.
  • the flexible link 144 then generates a friction force in the water substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis A-A 'of the riser 30 preventing or limiting the torsion of this column 30.
  • a fourth installation 150 according to the invention is represented on the Figure 9 .
  • the flexible link 144 forming the torsion limitation means 142 comprises an upstream flexible region 152 fixed on the connection point 146, a downstream flexible region 154 fixed on the auxiliary connection point 148 and a ballast element 156 connecting at their lower points the upstream flexible region 152 and the downstream flexible region 154.
  • the flexible link 144 is substantially V-shaped.
  • the assembly and operation of the fourth installation 150 is moreover identical to that of the third installation 130.
  • a fifth installation 160 according to the invention is represented on the Figure 10 .
  • the transport pipe 24 comprises a connection 32 in the shape of a gooseneck interposed above the buoy 26.
  • the auxiliary connecting point 148 is located at the upstream end of the flexible upper section 34, or slightly downstream of this end. It is fixed rigidly on a connection point 146 defined on the periphery of the buoyancy chamber 70.
  • the upper flexible section 34 has a catenary shape with a substantially U-shaped bottom section 162 of concavity directed upwards and a substantially vertical upper section 164 connected to the surface assembly 22.
  • the limiting means 142 are formed by the rigid connection between the auxiliary connection point 148 and the connection point 146.
  • the buoy 26 has two lateral connecting arms 170A, 170B which protrude laterally away from the buoyancy chamber.
  • Each arm 170A, 170B has a free end 172 connected to the other arm to thereby define a support of generally triangular shape.
  • the attachment point 146 is located at the free ends 172, radially away from the periphery of the buoyancy chamber 70.
  • the buoy 26 comprises a stabilizing member 180 movably mounted in the central lumen 78 of the buoyancy chamber 70.
  • the stabilizing member 180 is formed by a rigid vertical hollow tube 182 provided at its ends with abutment flanges 184, 186. It internally defines a channel 188 for passage of the transport pipe 24.
  • the stabilizing member 180 is movably mounted in the buoyancy buoyancy box 70 along a vertical axis AA 'between a retracted upper configuration, shown in FIG. Figure 13 , and a deployed lower configuration shown on the Figure 12 .
  • the rigid tube 182 projects upward from an upper surface 190 of the buoyancy chamber 70.
  • the length of the rigid tube 182 protruding towards the bottom from a bottom surface 192 of the buoyancy chamber 70 is minimal or even zero.
  • the draft of the buoy 26 is thus substantially equal to that of the buoyancy chamber 70.
  • the tube 182 has been moved down. Its protruding length from the bottom surface 192 is maximum. The draft of the buoy 26 is then much greater than that of the buoyancy chamber 70, which increases the stability of the buoy 26 when it is partially immersed in the body of water.
  • the end flange 184 is disposed in abutment on the upper surface 190 to retain the tube 182.
  • the transport pipe 24 is disposed through the channel 188 as shown in FIG. Figure 12 .

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
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  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
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  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
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Description

La présente invention concerne un procédé de montage d'une tour d'exploitation de fluide dans une étendue d'eau, selon le préambule de la revendication 1.The present invention relates to a method of mounting a fluid operating tower in a body of water, according to the preamble of claim 1.

De telles tours sont destinées à transporter un fluide produit dans le fond d'une étendue d'eau jusqu'à la surface, à travers l'étendue d'eau. Ce fluide est notamment constitué d'hydrocarbures liquides et/ou gazeux et d'eau recueillis dans des puits de production ménagés dans le fond de l'étendue d'eau.Such towers are intended to convey fluid produced in the bottom of a body of water to the surface, across the body of water. This fluid consists in particular of liquid and / or gaseous hydrocarbons and water collected in production wells formed in the bottom of the body of water.

Une telle tour comprend généralement une conduite inférieure de liaison à l'ensemble de production disposée sur le fond de l'étendue d'eau, une colonne montante sensiblement verticale, réalisée à base d'une conduite flexible ou d'un tube rigide, une bouée de maintien sous tension de la colonne montante dans sa position verticale, et un élément d'ancrage d'un point inférieur de la colonne montante.Such a tower generally comprises a lower connecting pipe to the production assembly disposed on the bottom of the body of water, a substantially vertical riser, made from a flexible pipe or a rigid pipe, a buoy holding the riser in its upright position, and an anchor element of a lower point of the riser.

La tour comprend en outre une conduite flexible supérieure de liaison raccordant la colonne montante à un ensemble de surface flottant.The tower further includes a flexible upper link pipe connecting the riser to a floating surface assembly.

Ainsi, les hydrocarbures produits par l'ensemble de fond sont transportés successivement à travers la conduite inférieure de liaison, la colonne montante et la conduite supérieure de liaison jusqu'à un ensemble de surface tel qu'un navire, une plateforme ou une barge, où ils peuvent être récupérés ou transportés.Thus, the hydrocarbons produced by the bottom assembly are conveyed successively through the lower connecting pipe, the riser and the upper connecting pipe to a surface assembly such as a ship, a platform or a barge, where they can be recovered or transported.

Ce type de tour présente une structure relativement simple, puisque son maintien en position verticale est assuré exclusivement par l'élément d'ancrage dans le fond de l'étendue d'eau, et par la tension engendrée par la flottabilité de la bouée de maintien raccordée au point supérieur de la colonne montante.This type of tower has a relatively simple structure, since its holding in vertical position is ensured exclusively by the anchor element in the bottom of the body of water, and by the tension generated by the buoyancy of the buoy connected to the upper point of the riser.

Toutefois, de telles tours restent difficiles à installer, notamment en raison de la profondeur de l'étendue d'eau, ainsi que des mouvements à la surface de l'étendue d'eau dus à la houle et/ou au vent.However, such towers are difficult to install, especially because of the depth of the water body, as well as movements on the surface of the body of water due to swell and / or wind.

Ainsi, la bouée de sustentation, après avoir été transportée sur un navire jusqu'au site d'installation de la tour, doit être immergée à une profondeur suffisante pour ne pas subir les effets de la houle et du courant. A cet effet, la bouée est descendue progressivement dans l'étendue d'eau en la soulevant hors du navire à l'aide d'une grue de manutention, comme décrit par exemple dans FR 2 911 907 .Thus, the buoy of buoyancy, after being transported on a ship to the installation site of the tower, must be submerged to a depth sufficient to avoid the effects of swell and current. For this purpose, the buoy is gradually lowered into the body of water by lifting it out of the vessel using a handling crane, as described for example in FR 2 911 907 .

Pour permettre un maintien vertical de la conduite dans l'étendue d'eau, la bouée doit être très volumineuse, compte tenu du poids de la colonne montante. Ainsi, la bouée peut présenter un diamètre supérieur à plusieurs mètres pour une hauteur de plusieurs dizaines de mètres.To allow vertical maintenance of the pipe in the body of water, the buoy must be very bulky, given the weight of the riser. Thus, the buoy may have a diameter greater than several meters for a height of several tens of meters.

La bouée présente généralement une forme cylindrique allongée suivant un axe vertical, notamment pour faciliter le raccordement de la colonne montante à la conduite supérieure de liaison, lorsque ce raccordement s'effectue sous la bouée.The buoy generally has a cylindrical shape elongate along a vertical axis, in particular to facilitate the connection of the riser to the upper connecting pipe, when this connection is under the buoy.

Une telle méthode d'installation nécessite donc de pouvoir disposer d'un navire présentant une grue de levage de très grande capacité et de grande hauteur.Such a method of installation therefore requires to be able to have a ship with a hoist crane very large capacity and high.

Un tel navire n'est pas toujours disponible. En outre, les bouées allongées verticalement sont très instables lors de leur immersion dans l'étendue d'eau.Such a ship is not always available. In addition, buoys elongated vertically are very unstable when immersed in the body of water.

FR2768457 décrit un procédé de montage d'une tour comprenant un tronçon intermédiaire en tube rigide. FR2768457 discloses a method of mounting a tower comprising an intermediate section rigid tube.

GB2426496 et GB2024767 décrivent également d'autres procédés de montage de tour. GB2426496 and GB2024767 also describe other tower mounting methods.

Un but de l'invention est donc d'obtenir un procédé de mise en place d'une tour comprenant une bouée de sustentation, qui soit simple à mettre en oeuvre, notamment avec des navires ne disposant pas de grues de levage de grande capacité.An object of the invention is therefore to obtain a method of setting up a tower comprising a buoy buoyancy, which is simple to implement, especially with vessels that do not have large capacity hoist cranes.

A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet un procédé selon la revendication 1.For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a method according to claim 1.

Le procédé selon l'invention peut comprendre l'une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques des revendications 2 à 9.The method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the features of claims 2 to 9.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui va suivre, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple, et faite en se référant aux dessins annexés, sur lesquels:

  • la Figure 1 est une vue schématique, prise en coupe partielle suivant un plan vertical médian d'une première tour d'exploitation de fluide selon l'invention ;
  • la Figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un exemple de bouée destinée à la tour de la Figure 1 ;
  • la Figure 3 est une vue analogue à la Figure 1 lors d'une première étape de mise en place de la tour de la Figure 1 par le procédé selon l'invention ;
  • la Figure 4 est une vue analogue à la Figure 3 lors d'une deuxième étape du procédé selon l'invention ;
  • la Figure 5 est une vue analogue à la Figure 3 lors d'une troisième étape du procédé selon l'invention ;
  • la Figure 6 est une vue analogue à la Figure 3 lors d'une quatrième étape du procédé selon l'invention ;
  • la Figure 7 est une vue partielle en coupe suivant un plan vertical médian d'une deuxième tour d'exploitation de fluide selon l'invention ;
  • la Figure 8 est une vue schématique agrandie d'un détail d'une troisième tour d'exploitation de fluide selon l'invention ;
  • la Figure 9 est une vue analogue à la Figure 8 d'une quatrième tour d'exploitation de fluide selon l'invention ;
  • la Figure 10 est une vue analogue à la Figure 8 d'une cinquième tour d'exploitation selon l'invention ;
  • la Figure 11 est une vue partielle de dessus d'une variante de bouée pour une tour d'exploitation selon l'invention ;
  • la Figure 12 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une autre variante de bouée pour une tour selon l'invention, la bouée étant installée sur la tour et comprenant un organe de stabilisation dans une configuration déployée ;
  • la Figure 13 est une vue analogue à la Figure 12, avant l'installation de la tour, l'organe de stabilisation occupant une configuration rétractée.
The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • the Figure 1 is a schematic view taken in partial section along a median vertical plane of a first fluid operating tower according to the invention;
  • the Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a buoy for the tower of the Figure 1 ;
  • the Figure 3 is a view similar to the Figure 1 during a first stage of setting up the tower of the Figure 1 by the process according to the invention;
  • the Figure 4 is a view similar to the Figure 3 during a second step of the process according to the invention;
  • the Figure 5 is a view similar to the Figure 3 in a third step of the process according to the invention;
  • the Figure 6 is a view similar to the Figure 3 during a fourth step of the process according to the invention;
  • the Figure 7 is a partial sectional view along a median vertical plane of a second fluid operating tower according to the invention;
  • the Figure 8 is an enlarged schematic view of a detail of a third fluid operating tower according to the invention;
  • the Figure 9 is a view similar to the Figure 8 a fourth fluid operating tower according to the invention;
  • the Figure 10 is a view similar to the Figure 8 a fifth operating tower according to the invention;
  • the Figure 11 is a partial top view of a buoy variant for an exploitation tower according to the invention;
  • the Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of another variant of buoy for a tower according to the invention, the buoy being installed on the tower and comprising a stabilizing member in an expanded configuration;
  • the Figure 13 is a view similar to the Figure 12 before the installation of the tower, the stabilizing member occupying a retracted configuration.

Dans tout ce qui suit, les termes « amont » et « aval » s'entendent par rapport au sens normal de circulation du fluide dans une conduite.In what follows, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the normal direction of circulation of the fluid in a pipe.

Une première installation 10 d'exploitation de fluide dans une étendue d'eau 12, installée par un procédé de mise en place selon l'invention, est représentée schématiquement sur la Figure 1.A first fluid operating installation 10 in a body of water 12, installed by an implementation method according to the invention, is shown schematically on the Figure 1 .

Cette installation est destinée à convoyer un fluide recueilli dans le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau 12 vers la surface 16 de l'étendue d'eau.This installation is intended to convey a fluid collected in the bottom 14 of the body of water 12 to the surface 16 of the body of water.

Le fluide recueilli est par exemple un hydrocarbure gazeux ou liquide issu d'un puits (non représenté) ménagé dans le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau.The collected fluid is for example a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon from a well (not shown) formed in the bottom 14 of the body of water.

L'étendue d'eau 12 est un lac, une mer ou un océan. La profondeur de l'étendue d'eau 12, prise entre la surface 16 et le fond 14 en regard de l'installation 10 est supérieure à 30 m et est par exemple comprise entre 30 m et 3500 m.The body of water 12 is a lake, a sea or an ocean. The depth of the water extent 12, taken between the surface 16 and the bottom 14 opposite the installation 10 is greater than 30 m and is for example between 30 m and 3500 m.

L'installation 10 comprend un ensemble 18 de production de fluide, situé sur le fond de l'étendue d'eau, désigné dans ce qui suit par le terme « ensemble de fond », une première tour 20 selon l'invention, et un ensemble 22 de surface, destiné à récupérer et à stocker le fluide recueilli dans l'ensemble de production 18 convoyé à travers la tour 20.The installation 10 comprises a fluid production assembly 18 situated on the bottom of the body of water, hereinafter referred to as the "bottom assembly", a first tower 20 according to the invention, and a surface assembly 22 intended to recover and store the fluid collected in the production assembly 18 conveyed through the tower 20.

L'ensemble de fond 18 comprend par exemple au moins une tête de puits et/ou une ligne de production (non représentée) située sur le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau.The bottom assembly 18 comprises for example at least one wellhead and / or a production line (not shown) located on the bottom 14 of the body of water.

L'ensemble de surface 22 est dans cet exemple un ensemble flottant. Il est par exemple formé par un navire, une barge, une plateforme flottante, ou une unité flottante de récupération, de stockage et de traitement des hydrocarbures, désignée par l'acronyme anglais « FPSO ». L'ensemble de surface est en variante une unité flottante de stockage et de regazéification désignée par l'acronyme anglais « FSRU ».In this example, the surface assembly 22 is a floating assembly. It is for example formed by a ship, a barge, a floating platform, or a floating unit for recovery, storage and treatment of hydrocarbons, designated by the acronym "FPSO". The surface assembly is alternatively a floating storage and regasification unit designated by the acronym "FSRU".

L'ensemble de surface 22 flotte sur l'étendue d'eau au voisinage de l'ensemble de fond 18.The surface assembly 22 floats on the body of water in the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18.

La tour 20 selon l'invention comprend une conduite 24 de transport de fluide raccordant l'ensemble de fond 18 à l'ensemble de surface 22, un élément d'ancrage 25 de la conduite 24, fixé dans une région d'ancrage sur le fond 14, et une bouée 26 de maintien sous tension d'au moins un tronçon intermédiaire de la conduite de transport 24 dans une configuration sensiblement verticale dans l'étendue d'eau 12.The tower 20 according to the invention comprises a fluid transport pipe 24 connecting the bottom assembly 18 to the surface assembly 22, an anchoring element 25 of the pipe 24, fixed in an anchoring region on the bottom 14, and a buoy 26 for holding under tension at least one intermediate section of the transport pipe 24 in a substantially vertical configuration in the body of water 12.

La conduite de transport 24 comprend, de bas en haut sur la Figure 1, un tronçon inférieur 28 de raccordement à l'ensemble de fond 18, un tronçon intermédiaire formé par une colonne montante 30 sensiblement verticale, un raccord 32 et un tronçon supérieur 34 de raccordement à l'ensemble de surface 22.The transport pipe 24 comprises, from bottom to top on the Figure 1 , a lower section 28 for connection to the bottom assembly 18, an intermediate section formed by a substantially vertical riser 30, a coupling 32 and an upper section 34 for connection to the surface assembly 22.

Dans cet exemple, la conduite de transport 24 est flexible sur sensiblement toute sa longueur, prise entre l'ensemble de fond 18 et l'ensemble de surface 22.In this example, the transport pipe 24 is flexible over substantially its entire length, taken between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22.

Le tronçon inférieur 28 est formé par exemple par un flexible inférieur 36 de liaison s'étendant de manière coudée ou inclinée par rapport au fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau 12. Le flexible inférieur 36 est raccordé en amont à l'ensemble de fond 18, et est raccordé en aval à la colonne montante 30.The lower section 28 is formed for example by a lower connecting hose 36 extending in a bent or inclined manner with respect to the bottom 14 of the body of water 12. The lower hose 36 is connected upstream to the assembly of bottom 18, and is connected downstream to the riser 30.

La colonne montante 30 s'étend sensiblement verticalement le long d'un axe vertical A-A' dans l'étendue d'eau 12, entre un point amont inférieur 38, raccordé à l'élément d'ancrage 25 et un point aval supérieur 40, raccordé à la bouée 26.The riser 30 extends substantially vertically along a vertical axis AA 'in the body of water 12, between a lower upstream point 38, connected to the anchoring element 25 and an upper downstream point 40, connected to the buoy 26.

Dans cet exemple, la colonne montante 30 est formée par une conduite flexible 42 sur sensiblement toute sa longueur.In this example, the riser 30 is formed by a flexible pipe 42 over substantially its entire length.

On entend par « flexible » ou « conduite flexible » au sens de la présente invention, une conduite telle que décrite dans les documents normatifs publiés par l'American Petroleum Institute (API), API 17J et API RP17B, bien connus de l'homme du métier. Cette définition englobe indifféremment les conduites flexibles de type non liées (« unbounded » en anglais), ou liées (« bounded » en anglais).The term "flexible" or "flexible pipe" within the meaning of the present invention, a pipe as described in the normative documents published by the American Petroleum Institute (API), API 17J and API RP17B, well known to man of career. This definition embraces indifferently the flexible conduits of unbound type ("unbounded" in English), or bound ("bounded" in English).

- Plus généralement et en variante, la conduite flexible 42 peut être un faisceau composite de type « bundle » comprenant au moins un tube de transport de fluide et un ensemble de câbles électriques ou optiques propres à transporter une puissance électrique ou hydraulique, ou une information entre le fond 14 et la surface 16 de l'étendue d'eau- More generally and alternatively, the flexible pipe 42 may be a "bundle" type composite bundle comprising at least one fluid transport tube and a set of electrical or optical cables adapted to carry electrical or hydraulic power, or information between the bottom 14 and the surface 16 of the body of water

Un exemple de conduite flexible est décrit dans la demande française FR 2 911 907 .An example of flexible driving is described in the application French FR 2 911 907 .

Une telle conduite flexible a un rayon minimal de courbure en flexion sans endommagement (« MBR » ou « minimal bending radius » en anglais) relativement petit par exemple de quelques mètres qui la rend particulièrement propre à être enroulée et déroulée de manière réversible sans déformation plastique significative sur un tambour ou un panier, le tambour ou le panier étant portés par un navire de pose, comme on le verra plus bas.Such a flexible pipe has a minimum radius of curvature in bending without damage ("MBR" or "minimal bending radius" in English) relatively small for example a few meters which makes it particularly suitable for being rolled and unrolled reversibly without significant plastic deformation on a drum or basket, the drum or the basket being carried by a laying ship, as will be seen below .

La longueur de la colonne montante 30, prise entre le point supérieur 40 et le point inférieur 38 est supérieure à 20 m et est par exemple comprise entre 500 m et 3500 m.The length of the riser 30, taken between the upper point 40 and the lower point 38 is greater than 20 m and is for example between 500 m and 3500 m.

Le raccord 32, typiquement un col de cygne (ou « gooseneck » en anglais) est dans cet exemple fixé sur la bouée 26. Il est raccordé en amont au point aval 40 de la colonne montante 30. Il est raccordé en aval au tronçon supérieur 34 de liaison.The connection 32, typically a gooseneck (in English) is in this example fixed on the buoy 26. It is connected upstream to the downstream point 40 of the riser 30. It is connected downstream to the upper section 34 link.

Dans cet exemple, le raccord 32 est formé par un tube rigide en forme de bec de cygne.In this example, the connection 32 is formed by a rigid tube shaped gooseneck.

En variante, le raccord 32 est formé par une conduite flexible telle que décrite plus haut, munie par exemple de limiteurs de courbure ou d'éléments de flottabilité.Alternatively, the connector 32 is formed by a flexible pipe as described above, provided for example curvature limiters or buoyancy elements.

Le tronçon supérieur 34 est formé par un flexible supérieur 50 s'étendant entre le raccord 32 et l'ensemble de surface 22.The upper portion 34 is formed by an upper hose 50 extending between the connector 32 and the surface assembly 22.

Le flexible supérieur 50 présente une configuration en caténaire, sensiblement en forme de J.The upper hose 50 has a catenary configuration, substantially J.-shaped.

Le flexible supérieur 50 est déformable pour absorber les mouvements de l'ensemble de surface 22 dus aux perturbations de l'étendue d'eau comme la houle, le courant ou le vent. Le tronçon 34 empêche ainsi substantiellement la transmission de ces mouvements depuis l'ensemble de surface 22 vers la colonne montante 30 dont le point aval 40 reste sensiblement immobile dans l'étendue d'eau.The upper hose 50 is deformable to absorb the movements of the surface assembly 22 due to disturbances of the body of water such as swell, current or wind. The section 34 thus substantially prevents the transmission of these movements from the surface assembly 22 to the riser 30 whose downstream point 40 remains substantially immobile in the body of water.

Le tronçon inférieur 28, la colonne montante 30, le raccord intermédiaire 32, et le tronçon supérieur 34 définissent intérieurement un passage continu 52 de circulation de fluide s'étendant entre l'ensemble de fond 18 et l'ensemble de surface 22 pour permettre le transport du fluide entre ces ensembles 18, 22.The lower section 28, riser 30, intermediate fitting 32, and upper section 34 internally define a continuous fluid flow passage 52 extending between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22 to allow the transporting the fluid between these assemblies 18, 22.

Dans cet exemple, l'élément d'ancrage 25 comprend un organe d'ancrage 60 fixé dans la région d'ancrage sur le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau et une ligne flexible 62 raccordant l'organe d'ancrage 60 au point amont 38 de la colonne montante.In this example, the anchoring element 25 comprises an anchoring member 60 fixed in the anchoring region on the bottom 14 of the body of water and a line flexible 62 connecting the anchor 60 to the upstream point 38 of the riser.

L'organe d'ancrage 60 est par exemple formé par une pile logée dans le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau ou par une ancre à succion.The anchoring member 60 is for example formed by a battery housed in the bottom 14 of the body of water or by a suction anchor.

La ligne flexible 62 s'étend verticalement le long de l'axe A-A' entre l'élément d'ancrage 60 et le point amont 38.The flexible line 62 extends vertically along the axis A-A 'between the anchoring element 60 and the upstream point 38.

Selon l'invention, la bouée 26 est de forme sensiblement plate lorsque la tour 20 est montée dans l'étendue d'eau 12.According to the invention, the buoy 26 is of substantially flat shape when the tower 20 is mounted in the body of water 12.

La bouée 26 présente ainsi une hauteur, prise le long de l'axe A-A', inférieure à sa dimension transversale maximale, prise perpendiculairement à l'axe A-A'.The buoy 26 thus has a height, taken along the axis A-A ', less than its maximum transverse dimension, taken perpendicularly to the axis A-A'.

Comme illustré par la Figure 2, la bouée 26 est avantageusement de forme cylindrique d'axe A-A'. La hauteur H de la bouée est avantageusement inférieure à 1.5 fois, notamment inférieure ou égale à 1 fois la dimension transversale maximale de la bouée, qui est dans cet exemple le diamètre D du cylindre.As illustrated by Figure 2 , the buoy 26 is preferably cylindrical in shape of axis A-A '. The height H of the buoy is advantageously less than 1.5 times, in particular less than or equal to 1 times the maximum transverse dimension of the buoy, which in this example is the diameter D of the cylinder.

En variante, la hauteur H de la bouée est supérieure ou égale à 1,5 fois la dimension transversale maximale de la bouée.Alternatively, the height H of the buoy is greater than or equal to 1.5 times the maximum transverse dimension of the buoy.

La bouée 26 comprend un caisson de flottabilité 70 délimitant intérieurement au moins un compartiment étanche 72 propre à être rempli sélectivement de gaz ou de liquide, et des moyens 74 de remplissage sélectifs de liquide et de gaz dans le compartiment 72.The buoy 26 comprises a buoyancy chamber 70 internally defining at least one sealed compartment 72 adapted to be filled selectively with gas or liquid, and means 74 for selective filling of liquid and gas in the compartment 72.

La bouée 26 comprend en outre des moyens 76 de raccordement au point aval 40 de la colonne montante 30, visibles sur la Figure 1.The buoy 26 further comprises means 76 for connection to the downstream point 40 of the riser 30, visible on the Figure 1 .

Dans l'exemple représenté sur les Figures 1 et 2, le caisson de flottabilité 70 délimite une lumière traversante 78 d'axe A-A' pour le passage de la colonne montante 30. La lumière 78 débouche vers le haut et le bas de part et d'autre du caisson 70.In the example shown on the Figures 1 and 2 , the buoyancy chamber 70 delimits a through-hole 78 of axis AA 'for the passage of the riser 30. The light 78 opens upwards and downwards on either side of the box 70.

Le ou chaque compartiment 72 s'étend autour de la lumière 76 dans le caisson 70.The or each compartment 72 extends around the light 76 in the box 70.

Les moyens de remplissage 74 sont propres à introduire sélectivement du gaz ou du liquide dans le ou chaque compartiment 72 pour augmenter ou diminuer sélectivement la flottabilité de la bouée 26.The filling means 74 are adapted to selectively introduce gas or liquid into the or each compartment 72 to selectively increase or decrease the buoyancy of the buoy 26.

Dans l'exemple représenté sur la Figure 1, les moyens de raccordement 76 comprennent au moins un collier de fixation 80, fixé sur le point aval 40 de la colonne 30.In the example shown on the Figure 1 , the connection means 76 comprise at least one fastening collar 80, fixed on the downstream point 40 of the column 30.

La colonne montante 30 est introduite dans la lumière 78 jusqu'à son point aval 40. Le point aval 40 est solidarisé à la bouée 26 par l'intermédiaire du collier 80.The riser 30 is introduced into the lumen 78 to its downstream point 40. The downstream point 40 is secured to the buoy 26 via the collar 80.

Le raccord 32 fait saillie à partir d'une surface supérieure 82 de la bouée 26.The connector 32 projects from an upper surface 82 of the buoy 26.

Un premier procédé de mise en place de l'installation 10 selon l'invention va maintenant être décrit, en regard des Figures 3 à 6.A first method of setting up the installation 10 according to the invention will now be described, with regard to Figures 3 to 6 .

Ce procédé est mis en oeuvre à l'aide d'un navire 90 de pose de la conduite de transport 24 et à l'aide d'au moins un navire 92A, 92B de remorquage de la bouée 26 distinct du navire de pose 90. Dans l'exemple représenté sur la Figure 3, le procédé est mis en oeuvre à l'aide de deux navires 92A, 92B de remorquage.This method is implemented using a ship 90 for laying the transport pipe 24 and using at least one towing vessel 92A, 92B of the buoy 26 separate from the laying ship 90. In the example shown on the Figure 3 the process is carried out using two towing vessels 92A, 92B.

Initialement, les éléments de conduite 36, 42, 50 destinés à former la conduite de transport 24 sont amenés au voisinage de l'ensemble de fond 18 à l'aide du navire de pose 90.Initially, the pipe members 36, 42, 50 for forming the transport pipe 24 are brought into the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18 by means of the laying ship 90.

A cet effet, le flexible inférieur 36, le flexible supérieur 50, et la conduite flexible 42 sont transportés par le navire de pose 90 en étant par exemple enroulés sur un tambour de pose ou dans un panier.For this purpose, the lower hose 36, the upper hose 50, and the flexible hose 42 are transported by the laying ship 90, for example by being wound on a laying drum or in a basket.

L'élément d'ancrage 25 est installé dans le fond de l'étendue d'eau au voisinage de l'ensemble de fond 18. A cet effet, l'organe d'ancrage 60 est fixé dans le fond 14 de l'étendue d'eau.The anchoring element 25 is installed in the bottom of the body of water in the vicinity of the bottom assembly 18. For this purpose, the anchoring member 60 is fixed in the bottom 14 of the extension of water.

Selon l'invention, la bouée 26 est remorquée en étant partiellement immergée, avec sa surface supérieure 82 située hors de l'étendue d'eau 12, entre une position éloignée de la région d'ancrage de l'élément 25 et une position de mise en place située sensiblement en regard et au-dessus de la région d'ancrage de l'élément 25.According to the invention, the buoy 26 is towed by being partially immersed, with its upper surface 82 located outside the body of water 12, between a position remote from the anchoring region of the element 25 and a position of placement located substantially opposite and above the anchoring region of the element 25.

Lors de ce transport, la bouée 26 s'étend sensiblement horizontalement avec son axe A-A' vertical.During this transport, the buoy 26 extends substantially horizontally with its vertical axis A-A '.

La bouée 26 présentant une forme sensiblement plate, elle est très peu sensible aux mouvements de la surface 16 de l'étendue d'eau 12, et notamment à la houle, au courant ou au vent, de sorte qu'elle peut être transportée de manière sûre en étant seulement partiellement immergée dans l'étendue d'eau 12, à l'aide des navires de remorquage 92A, 92B. Elle est également une station de travail grâce à sa large surface supérieure plate 82.The buoy 26 having a substantially flat shape, it is very insensitive to the movements of the surface 16 of the body of water 12, including the swell, the current or the wind, so that it can be transported from way safe being only partially submerged in the body of water 12, using towing vessels 92A, 92B. It is also a workstation thanks to its large flat top surface 82.

La distance de remorquage de la bouée 26, qui sépare horizontalement la position éloignée de la position de mise en place est supérieure à plusieurs centaines de mètres, voire plusieurs centaines de kilomètres.The towing distance of the buoy 26, which horizontally separates the position remote from the positioning position is greater than several hundred meters, or even several hundred kilometers.

Dans une variante, la bouée 26 est embarquée sur une barge partiellement submersible, puis est immergée dans l'eau par immersion de la barge, avant d'être remorquée.In a variant, the buoy 26 is embarked on a partially submersible barge, then is immersed in water by immersion of the barge, before being towed.

Puis, lorsque la bouée 26 occupe sa position de mise en place représentée sur la Figure 3, elle est maintenue en position horizontale par les navires de remorquage 92A, 92B à l'aide de lignes d'amarre déployables 94.Then, when the buoy 26 occupies its positioning position represented on the Figure 3 it is maintained in a horizontal position by the towing vessels 92A, 92B using deployable mooring lines 94.

Un engin de traction 96 est alors monté sur la bouée 26, par exemple sur sa surface supérieure 82. Cet engin de traction 96 est formé notamment par un treuil 96 comportant une ligne déployable 98 de traction.A traction vehicle 96 is then mounted on the buoy 26, for example on its upper surface 82. This traction unit 96 is formed in particular by a winch 96 having a deployable line 98 traction.

La ligne 98 est déroulée pour être introduite de haut en bas à travers la lumière centrale 78 de la bouée 26. La ligne 98 est ensuite amenée jusqu'au navire de pose 90 pour être raccordée sur la conduite flexible 42 au niveau du point aval 40.The line 98 is unwound to be introduced from top to bottom through the central lumen 78 of the buoy 26. The line 98 is then brought to the laying ship 90 to be connected to the flexible pipe 42 at the downstream point 40 .

Le treuil 96 est alors activé pour rapprocher le point aval 40 de la bouée 26, en rétractant une longueur croissante de la ligne 98 sur le treuil 96. Simultanément, une longueur croissante de la conduite flexible 42 est déroulée hors du navire de pose 90. La conduite flexible 42 adopte une forme sensiblement de caténaire en U entre le navire de pose 90 et la bouée 26.The winch 96 is then activated to bring the downstream point 40 closer to the buoy 26, by retracting an increasing length of the line 98 on the winch 96. Simultaneously, an increasing length of the flexible pipe 42 is unrolled from the laying ship 90. The flexible pipe 42 adopts a substantially U-shaped catenary shape between the laying ship 90 and the buoy 26.

La distance séparant le navire de pose 90 de la bouée 26 étant relativement élevée, par exemple supérieure à 50 m, le rayon de courbure de la conduite flexible 42 dans cette configuration est élevé pour empêcher tout endommagement de la conduite flexible 42.The distance separating the laying ship 90 from the buoy 26 being relatively high, for example greater than 50 m, the radius of curvature of the flexible pipe 42 in this configuration is high to prevent any damage to the flexible pipe 42.

En outre, le poids de la conduite flexible 42 étant réparti entre le navire de pose 90 et la bouée 26, il n'est pas nécessaire de munir la bouée 26, ni le navire de pose 90 d'un treuil 96 de grande capacité.In addition, the weight of the flexible pipe 42 being distributed between the laying ship 90 and the buoy 26, it is not necessary to provide the buoy 26 or the laying ship 90 of a winch 96 of large capacity.

La traction de la ligne 98 se poursuit jusqu'à ce que le raccord 32 et le point aval 40 entrent dans la lumière 78 par le bas, puis remontent le long de la lumière 78 avant d'être extraits hors de la lumière 78 par le haut.The pull of the line 98 continues until the connection 32 and the downstream point 40 enter the lumen 78 from below, then ascend along the lumen 78 before being extracted out of the lumen 78 by the high.

Dans cette configuration, le raccord 32 fait saillie vers le haut à partir de la surface supérieure 82. Le point aval 40 est situé sensiblement au niveau de la surface supérieure 82.In this configuration, the connector 32 protrudes upwardly from the upper surface 82. The downstream point 40 is located substantially at the upper surface 82.

Le collier de fixation 80 est alors mis en place pour immobiliser le point aval 40 par rapport à la bouée 26.The fixing collar 80 is then put in place to immobilize the downstream point 40 with respect to the buoy 26.

La ligne de traction 98 est alors déconnectée du point aval 40 et le treuil 96 est démonté à l'écart de la bouée 26.The traction line 98 is then disconnected from the downstream point 40 and the winch 96 is disassembled away from the buoy 26.

Puis, les lignes d'amarre 94 sont relâchées et les moyens de remplissage 74 sont activés pour introduire du liquide dans les compartiments 72 afin de diminuer la flottabilité de la bouée 26.Then, the mooring lines 94 are released and the filling means 74 are activated to introduce liquid into the compartments 72 to reduce the buoyancy of the buoy 26.

La bouée 26 est alors descendue et immergée totalement dans l'étendue d'eau 12, jusqu'à une profondeur supérieure à plusieurs dizaines de mètres, dans une région de l'étendue d'eau 12 qui n'est pas affectée par la houle ou les vagues, comme représenté sur la Figure 5.The buoy 26 is then lowered and immersed completely in the body of water 12, to a depth greater than several tens of meters, in a region of the body of water 12 which is not affected by the swell. or waves, as depicted on the Figure 5 .

La bouée 26 conserve son orientation horizontale lors de sa descente, avec son axe A-A' sensiblement vertical suivant sa hauteur.The buoy 26 retains its horizontal orientation during its descent, with its axis A-A 'substantially vertical according to its height.

Une longueur correspondante de la conduite flexible 42 est déroulée hors du navire de pose 90.A corresponding length of the flexible pipe 42 is unrolled from the laying ship 90.

Le poids croissant de la conduite flexible 42 déployée favorise la descente de la bouée 26 dans l'étendue d'eau 12.The increasing weight of the flexible pipe 42 deployed promotes the descent of the buoy 26 in the body of water 12.

Ensuite, le déploiement de la conduite flexible 42 se poursuit jusqu'à ce que le point amont 38 soit situé au voisinage de la surface 16 de l'étendue d'eau.Then, the deployment of the flexible pipe 42 continues until the upstream point 38 is located in the vicinity of the surface 16 of the body of water.

La conduite flexible 42 est alors totalement immergée et le point amont 38 est descendu sous le point aval 40 jusqu'au voisinage du fond 14 en regard de l'élément d'ancrage 25.The flexible pipe 42 is then totally immersed and the upstream point 38 is lowered below the downstream point 40 to the vicinity of the bottom 14 facing the anchoring element 25.

Le point amont 38 de la conduite flexible 42 est alors fixé sur l'élément d'ancrage 60 par l'intermédiaire de la ligne d'ancrage 62.The upstream point 38 of the flexible pipe 42 is then fixed on the anchoring element 60 via the anchor line 62.

Un flexible inférieur 36 est descendu par une ligne de largage 100 déployée à partir du navire de pose 90, comme illustré par la Figure 6.A lower hose 36 is lowered by a drop line 100 deployed from the laying ship 90, as illustrated by FIG. Figure 6 .

Le flexible inférieur 36 est alors raccordé sur la colonne montante 30 et sur l'ensemble de fond 18 pour former le tronçon inférieur de la conduite de transport 24.The lower hose 36 is then connected to the riser 30 and to the bottom assembly 18 to form the lower section of the transport pipe 24.

Ensuite, la flottabilité de la bouée 26 est éventuellement modifiée pour appliquer entre le point aval 40 et le point amont 38, par l'intermédiaire de la bouée 26, une force de traction dirigée vers le haut, cette force étant compensée par la force de retenue assurée par la ligne d'ancrage 62.Then, the buoyancy of the buoy 26 is possibly modified to apply between the downstream point 40 and the upstream point 38, via the buoy 26, a pulling force directed upwards, this force being compensated by the force of retained by the anchor line 62.

La conduite flexible 42 forme ainsi, entre le point amont 38 et le point aval 40, une colonne montante 30 s'étendant verticalement le long de l'axe A-A', maintenue en position verticale et sous tension le long de l'axe A-A' entre la bouée 26 et l'élément d'ancrage 25.The flexible pipe 42 thus forms, between the upstream point 38 and the downstream point 40, a riser 30 extending vertically along the axis A-A ', held in vertical position and under tension along the axis. AA 'between the buoy 26 and the anchoring element 25.

Ensuite, le flexible supérieur 50 est descendu dans l'étendue d'eau 12 pour être raccordé au raccord 32 et à l'ensemble de surface 22, formant ainsi le tronçon supérieur 34 de la conduite 24.Then, the upper hose 50 is lowered into the body of water 12 to be connected to the fitting 32 and to the surface assembly 22, thus forming the upper section 34 of the pipe 24.

Le passage continu 52 de circulation d'hydrocarbures entre l'ensemble de fond 18 et l'ensemble de surface 22 est alors établi à travers successivement le tronçon inférieur 28, la conduite montante 30, le raccord 32 et le tronçon supérieur 34. Le fluide recueilli par l'ensemble de fond 18 est alors transporté jusqu'à l'ensemble de surface 22 à travers le passage 52.The continuous passage 52 of hydrocarbon circulation between the bottom assembly 18 and the surface assembly 22 is then established successively through the lower section 28, the riser 30, the coupling 32 and the upper section 34. collected by the bottom assembly 18 is then transported to the surface assembly 22 through the passage 52.

Dans une variante du procédé d'installation décrit précédemment, la bouée 26 est immergée sous l'étendue d'eau, avant que le point aval 40 de la colonne montante 30 ne soit fixé sur la bouée.In a variant of the installation method described above, the buoy 26 is immersed under the body of water, before the downstream point 40 of the riser 30 is fixed on the buoy.

La bouée 26 est alors munie d'un treuil 96 propre à être opéré en étant immergé sous l'étendue d'eau 12.The buoy 26 is then provided with a winch 96 suitable for being operated while being immersed under the body of water 12.

Une deuxième installation 120 selon l'invention est représentée sur la Figure 7. A la différence de la tour 20 de la première installation 10, la tour 20 de la deuxième installation 120 comprend une bouée 26 disposée au-dessus du point aval 40 et au-dessus du raccord 32.A second installation 120 according to the invention is represented on the Figure 7 . Unlike the tower 20 of the first installation 10, the tower 20 of the second installation 120 comprises a buoy 26 disposed above the downstream point 40 and above the connection 32.

Les moyens de raccordement 76 comprennent un anneau 122 solidaire de la conduite flexible 42 au niveau du point aval 40 et une chaîne 124 flexible raccordant l'anneau 122 à une surface inférieure 126 de la bouée 26.The connection means 76 comprise a ring 122 secured to the flexible pipe 42 at the downstream point 40 and a flexible chain 124 connecting the ring 122 to a lower surface 126 of the buoy 26.

Grâce à l'invention qui vient d'être décrite, il est possible de remorquer la bouée 26 de la tour 20 jusqu'à sa position de mise en place à la faisant flotter sur l'étendue d'eau 12. Il n'est donc pas nécessaire de la convoyer sur un navire de pose équipé d'une grue de grande capacité et de la descendre dans l'étendue d'eau à l'aide de la grue de grande capacité.Thanks to the invention which has just been described, it is possible to tow the buoy 26 of the tower 20 to its position of installation by floating it on 12. It is therefore not necessary to convey it on a laying ship equipped with a large capacity crane and to descend it into the body of water using the crane. big capacity.

En outre, le procédé de mise en place de la tour 20 est facilité notamment par la mise en place d'un treuil de faible capacité sur la bouée 26 pour tracter le point aval 40 de la conduite de transport 30 et déployer cette conduite en chaînette entre le navire de pose 90 et la bouée 26.In addition, the method of setting up the tower 20 is facilitated in particular by the introduction of a low capacity winch on the buoy 26 to draw the downstream point 40 of the transport pipe 30 and deploy this pipe chain between the laying ship 90 and the buoy 26.

La bouée 26 est par ailleurs stable lors de son immersion dans l'étendue d'eau 12. Elle conserve sensiblement son orientation lors de sa descente, ce qui facilite son maniement.The buoy 26 is also stable during its immersion in the body of water 12. It retains substantially its orientation during its descent, which facilitates its handling.

Dans une variante (non représentée), le tronçon inférieur 28 de la conduite 24 est formé par un élément tubulaire rigide qui ne peut pas être enroulé sur un tambour ou dans un panier sans déformation plastique substantielle.In a variant (not shown), the lower section 28 of the pipe 24 is formed by a rigid tubular element which can not be wound on a drum or in a basket without substantial plastic deformation.

Dans ce cas, le tronçon intermédiaire 30 est flexible sur sensiblement toute sa longueur.In this case, the intermediate portion 30 is flexible over substantially its entire length.

Dans une autre variante, le point amont 38 de la conduite flexible 42 est fixé directement sur l'élément d'ancrage 60 immobilisé dans le fond de l'étendue d'eau 12, sans utiliser de ligne d'ancrage 62 flexible.In another variant, the upstream point 38 of the flexible pipe 42 is fixed directly to the anchoring element 60 immobilized in the bottom of the body of water 12, without using a flexible anchor line 62.

Une troisième installation d'exploitation 130 selon l'invention est représentée sur la Figure 8.A third operating installation 130 according to the invention is represented on the Figure 8 .

A la différence de la première installation 10, le tronçon supérieur 34 est raccordé sur le tronçon intermédiaire 30 au niveau de la bouée 26, par exemple sur la surface supérieure du caisson de flottabilité 70. La tour 20 est dépourvue de raccord rigide 32 en bec de cygne.Unlike the first installation 10, the upper section 34 is connected to the intermediate section 30 at the level of the buoy 26, for example on the upper surface of the buoyancy chamber 70. The tower 20 is devoid of a rigid connection 32 in beak of swan.

Le tronçon supérieur 34 comprend, d'amont en aval, une première section sensiblement verticale 132 raccordée sur la bouée, une deuxième section 134 courbée en forme de U de concavité dirigée vers le bas, une troisième section 136 courbée en forme de U de concavité dirigée vers le haut 136 et une quatrième section 138 sensiblement verticale raccordée sur l'ensemble de surface 22.The upper section 34 comprises, from upstream to downstream, a first substantially vertical section 132 connected to the buoy, a second curved U-shaped section 134 of concavity directed downwards, a third curved U-shaped section 136 of concavity directed upwardly 136 and a fourth substantially vertical section 138 connected to the surface assembly 22.

La première section 132 et la deuxième section 134 sont munies de flotteurs 140 répartis sur leur longueur pour assurer le maintien du tronçon supérieur flexible 34 dans une configuration en vague, désignée par le terme anglais « steep-wave ».The first section 132 and the second section 134 are provided with floats 140 distributed along their length to ensure the maintenance of the flexible upper section 34 in a wave configuration, designated by the English term "steep-wave".

La tour 20 comprend en outre un moyen 142 de limitation des mouvements de torsion de la colonne montante 30. Dans cet exemple, le moyen 142 est formé par un lien flexible continu 144 raccordant un premier point de liaison 146 situé sur la bouée 26 à un point de liaison auxiliaire 148 situé sur le tronçon flexible supérieur 34 à l'écart du point de raccordement entre le tronçon intermédiaire 30 et le tronçon supérieur 34, et à l'écart du point aval 40 de fixation sur la bouée 26.The tower 20 further comprises a means 142 for limiting the torsion movements of the riser 30. In this example, the means 142 is formed by a continuous flexible link 144 connecting a first connection point 146 located on the buoy 26 to a auxiliary connecting point 148 located on the upper flexible section 34 away from the connection point between the intermediate section 30 and the upper section 34, and away from the downstream point 40 of attachment to the buoy 26.

Dans l'exemple représenté sur la Figure 8, le lien 144 est sensiblement continu sur toute sa longueur. Il est pendu en chaînette entre les points 146, 148.In the example shown on the Figure 8 , the link 144 is substantially continuous over its entire length. It is hanged in a chain between the points 146, 148.

Le point de liaison 146 est situé sur une surface latérale du caisson de flottabilité 70 située du même côté que la troisième section 136 du tronçon supérieur flexible 34.The point of connection 146 is located on a lateral surface of the buoyancy chamber 70 located on the same side as the third section 136 of the flexible upper section 34.

Le point de liaison auxiliaire 148 est situé sur une partie montante de la troisième section 136 en forme de U, à l'écart du point le plus bas.The auxiliary connection point 148 is located on a rising portion of the third U-shaped section 136, away from the lowest point.

La bouée 26 comprend en outre un élément de ballast 149 situé à l'opposé du point de liaison 146 par rapport à un axe vertical du caisson 70, pour compenser le poids du lien flexible 144.The buoy 26 further comprises a ballast element 149 located opposite the point of connection 146 with respect to a vertical axis of the box 70, to compensate for the weight of the flexible link 144.

Au moins une partie de la conduite de transport 24 de longueur non nulle s'étend entre le point aval 40 situé sur la bouée et le point de liaison auxiliaire 148 situé au-dessus et à l'écart de la bouée 26.At least a portion of the transport pipe 24 of non-zero length extends between the downstream point 40 located on the buoy and the auxiliary connection point 148 located above and away from the buoy 26.

Lors du procédé de fabrication, le lien flexible 144 est monté entre le point de liaison 146 et le point de liaison auxiliaire 148 une fois le tronçon flexible 34 raccordé sur la colonne montante 30.During the manufacturing process, the flexible link 144 is mounted between the connection point 146 and the auxiliary connection point 148 once the flexible section 34 is connected to the riser 30.

Le lien flexible 144 engendre alors une force de frottement dans l'eau sensiblement perpendiculaire à l'axe vertical A-A' de la colonne montante 30 empêchant ou limitant la torsion de cette colonne 30.The flexible link 144 then generates a friction force in the water substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis A-A 'of the riser 30 preventing or limiting the torsion of this column 30.

Une quatrième installation 150 selon l'invention est représentée sur la Figure 9. A la différence de la troisième installation 130, le lien flexible 144 formant les moyens 142 de limitation de la torsion comporte une région flexible amont 152 fixée sur le point de liaison 146, une région flexible aval 154 fixée sur le point de liaison auxiliaire 148 et un élément de lest 156 raccordant à leurs points inférieurs la région flexible amont 152 et la région flexible aval 154.A fourth installation 150 according to the invention is represented on the Figure 9 . Unlike the third installation 130, the flexible link 144 forming the torsion limitation means 142 comprises an upstream flexible region 152 fixed on the connection point 146, a downstream flexible region 154 fixed on the auxiliary connection point 148 and a ballast element 156 connecting at their lower points the upstream flexible region 152 and the downstream flexible region 154.

Ainsi, le lien flexible 144 présente sensiblement une forme de V.Thus, the flexible link 144 is substantially V-shaped.

Le montage et le fonctionnement de la quatrième installation 150 est par ailleurs identique à celui de la troisième installation 130.The assembly and operation of the fourth installation 150 is moreover identical to that of the third installation 130.

Une cinquième installation 160 selon l'invention est représentée sur la Figure 10.A fifth installation 160 according to the invention is represented on the Figure 10 .

A la différence de la troisième installation 130 représentée sur la Figure 8, la conduite de transport 24 comprend un raccord 32 en forme de bec de cygne interposé au-dessus de la bouée 26.Unlike the third installation 130 shown on the Figure 8 , the transport pipe 24 comprises a connection 32 in the shape of a gooseneck interposed above the buoy 26.

Le point auxiliaire de liaison 148 est situé à l'extrémité amont du tronçon supérieur flexible 34, ou légèrement en aval de cette extrémité. Il est fixé rigidement sur un point de liaison 146 défini sur la périphérie du caisson de flottabilité 70.The auxiliary connecting point 148 is located at the upstream end of the flexible upper section 34, or slightly downstream of this end. It is fixed rigidly on a connection point 146 defined on the periphery of the buoyancy chamber 70.

Dans cette configuration, le tronçon flexible supérieur 34 présente une forme en caténaire avec une section inférieure 162 sensiblement en forme de U de concavité dirigée vers le haut et une section supérieure 164 sensiblement verticale raccordée à l'ensemble de surface 22.In this configuration, the upper flexible section 34 has a catenary shape with a substantially U-shaped bottom section 162 of concavity directed upwards and a substantially vertical upper section 164 connected to the surface assembly 22.

Dans ce cas, les moyens de limitation 142 sont formés par la liaison rigide entre le point de liaison auxiliaire 148 et le point de liaison 146.In this case, the limiting means 142 are formed by the rigid connection between the auxiliary connection point 148 and the connection point 146.

Dans la variante représentée sur la Figure 11, la bouée 26 présente deux bras de liaison latéraux 170A, 170B qui font saillie latéralement à l'écart du caisson de flottabilité. Chaque bras 170A, 170B présente une extrémité libre 172 reliée à l'autre bras pour définir ainsi un support de forme générale triangulaire.In the variant shown on the Figure 11 , the buoy 26 has two lateral connecting arms 170A, 170B which protrude laterally away from the buoyancy chamber. Each arm 170A, 170B has a free end 172 connected to the other arm to thereby define a support of generally triangular shape.

Le point de fixation 146 est situé au niveau des extrémités libres 172, à l'écart radialement de la périphérie du caisson de flottabilité 70.The attachment point 146 is located at the free ends 172, radially away from the periphery of the buoyancy chamber 70.

Dans une autre variante, représentée sur les Figures 12 et 13, la bouée 26 comprend un organe 180 de stabilisation monté mobile dans la lumière centrale 78 du caisson de flottabilité 70.In another variant, shown in Figures 12 and 13 the buoy 26 comprises a stabilizing member 180 movably mounted in the central lumen 78 of the buoyancy chamber 70.

L'organe de stabilisation 180 est formé par un tube creux rigide 182 vertical muni à ses extrémités de collerettes de butée 184, 186. Il définit intérieurement un canal 188 de passage de la conduite de transport 24.The stabilizing member 180 is formed by a rigid vertical hollow tube 182 provided at its ends with abutment flanges 184, 186. It internally defines a channel 188 for passage of the transport pipe 24.

L'organe de stabilisation 180 est monté mobile dans le caisson de flottabilité de flottabilité 70 le long d'un axe vertical A-A' entre une configuration supérieure rétractée, représentée sur la Figure 13, et une configuration inférieure déployée représentée sur la Figure 12.The stabilizing member 180 is movably mounted in the buoyancy buoyancy box 70 along a vertical axis AA 'between a retracted upper configuration, shown in FIG. Figure 13 , and a deployed lower configuration shown on the Figure 12 .

Dans la configuration supérieure rétractée, utilisée lors du transport du caisson 70 sur le navire, le tube rigide 182 fait saillie vers le haut à partir d'une surface supérieure 190 du caisson de flottabilité 70. La longueur du tube rigide 182 faisant saillie vers le bas à partir d'une surface inférieure 192 du caisson de flottabilité 70 est minimale, voire nulle. Le tirant d'eau de la bouée 26 est ainsi sensiblement égal à celui du caisson de flottabilité 70.In the retracted upper configuration, used during the transport of the box 70 on the ship, the rigid tube 182 projects upward from an upper surface 190 of the buoyancy chamber 70. The length of the rigid tube 182 protruding towards the bottom from a bottom surface 192 of the buoyancy chamber 70 is minimal or even zero. The draft of the buoy 26 is thus substantially equal to that of the buoyancy chamber 70.

Dans la configuration déployée représentée sur la Figure 12, le tube 182 a été déplacé vers le bas. Sa longueur en saillie à partir de la surface inférieure 192 est maximale. Le tirant d'eau de la bouée 26 est alors largement supérieur à celui du caisson de flottabilité 70, ce qui augmente la stabilité de la bouée 26 lorsqu'elle est partiellement immergée dans l'étendue d'eau.In the deployed configuration shown on the Figure 12 the tube 182 has been moved down. Its protruding length from the bottom surface 192 is maximum. The draft of the buoy 26 is then much greater than that of the buoyancy chamber 70, which increases the stability of the buoy 26 when it is partially immersed in the body of water.

La collerette d'extrémité 184 est disposée en appui sur la surface supérieure 190 pour retenir le tube 182.The end flange 184 is disposed in abutment on the upper surface 190 to retain the tube 182.

Dans cette configuration, la conduite de transport 24 est disposée à travers le canal 188 comme représenté sur la Figure 12.In this configuration, the transport pipe 24 is disposed through the channel 188 as shown in FIG. Figure 12 .

Claims (9)

  1. A method for assembling an operating rig (20) for a fluid in a body of water (12), of the type comprising the following steps:
    - bringing a buoy (26) to the surface (16) of the body of water (12) substantially facing an anchoring region on the bottom (14) of the body of water (12);
    - connecting a downstream point (40) of a fluid transport pipe (24) to the buoy (26);
    - completely immerging the buoy (26) under the surface (16) of the body of water before or after the connection step;
    - deploying in the body of water an intermediate section (30) of the transport pipe (24) from the downstream point (40) to at least as far as an upstream point (38); the intermediate section being formed by a flexible pipe, the flexible pipe being capable of being wound and unwound reversibly without any significant plastic deformation on a drum or on a basket;
    - anchoring the upstream point (38) on an anchoring element (25) fixed on the bottom (14) of the body of water in the anchoring region;
    - tensioning the intermediate section (30) of the transport pipe (24) between the downstream point and the upstream point under the effect of the buoyancy of the buoy (26), in order to maintain the intermediate section (30) substantially vertical in the body of water (12);
    - connecting on the intermediate section (30) a lower section (28) intended to be connected to the bottom assembly (18) and an upper flexible section (34) intended to be connected to the surface assembly (32);
    characterized in that the buoy (26) has a height, taken along a vertical axis (A-A') when the intermediate section (30) is tensioned, of less than 1.5 time its maximum transverse dimension, taken transversely with respect to the vertical axis (A-A'), the step for bringing it comprising the displacement of the buoy (26) between a remote position located away from the anchoring region and a placement position located facing the anchoring region, while maintaining the buoy (26) partly immersed at the surface (16) of the body of water (12), and in that the displacement of the buoy (26) comprises towing of the buoy (26) partly immersed in the body of water between its remote position and its placement position by at least one floating towing structure (92A, 92B).
  2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate section (30) is flexible over substantially the whole of its length between the downstream point (40) and the upstream point (38), the intermediate section (30) being gradually deployed in the body of water between the downstream point (40) fixed on the buoy (26) and a laying structure (90) floating on the body of water during the deployment step, the flexible section being unwound from the laying structure on which it is transported while being wound on a laying drum or on a basket.
  3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the step for connecting the downstream point (40) comprises immersion of the downstream point (40) from the floating laying structure (90) into the body of water (12), and traction of the downstream point (40) towards the buoy (26), the intermediate section (30) occupying a chain configuration between the floating laying structure (90) and the buoy (26) during the deployment step.
  4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the buoy (26) comprises a floatability can (70) and at least one device (96) for pulling the downstream point (40), the traction device (96) being borne by the floatability can (70) at least during the connection step, the connection step comprising the actuation of the traction device (96) for raising the downstream point (40) on the buoy (26).
  5. The method according to any of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the traction of the downstream point (40) is achieved after complete immersion of the buoy (26) under the surface (16) of the body of water.
  6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the buoy (26) delimits a lumen (78) for letting through the transport pipe (24) opening out upwards and downwards, the step for connecting the downstream point (40) comprising the introduction from bottom to top of the downstream point (40) through the passage lumen (78).
  7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an additional step for connecting an auxiliary connecting point (148) located on the upper flexible section (34) downstream from the downstream connecting point (40) between the transport pipe (24) and the buoy (26) with a connecting point (146) located on the buoy (26).
  8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the additional connecting step comprises the placement of a flexible link (144) between the auxiliary connecting point (148) located on the upper flexible section (34) and the connecting point (146) located on the buoy (26), and in that the intermediate section is formed with a flexible pipe, the flexible pipe being capable of being wound and unwound reversibly without any significant plastic deformation on a drum or on a basket.
  9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the buoy (26) retains its horizontal orientation when moving down in the body of water (12), with its axis (A-A') substantially vertical along its height.
EP09768135.7A 2008-11-05 2009-11-03 Method for assembling a marine riser for a fluid in a body of water and associated marine riser Not-in-force EP2342488B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0857521A FR2938001B1 (en) 2008-11-05 2008-11-05 METHOD OF MOUNTING A FLUID OPERATING TOWER IN A WATER EXTEND AND ASSOCIATED TOWER.
FR0952387 2009-04-10
PCT/FR2009/052123 WO2010052422A2 (en) 2008-11-05 2009-11-03 Method for assembling an operating rig for a fluid in a body of water and associated operating rig

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2342488A2 EP2342488A2 (en) 2011-07-13
EP2342488B1 true EP2342488B1 (en) 2015-01-07

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EP09768135.7A Not-in-force EP2342488B1 (en) 2008-11-05 2009-11-03 Method for assembling a marine riser for a fluid in a body of water and associated marine riser

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US (1) US8734055B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2342488B1 (en)
AP (1) AP3176A (en)
AU (1) AU2009312647B2 (en)
BR (1) BRPI0921088A2 (en)
CA (1) CA2742499C (en)
EG (1) EG26639A (en)
MY (1) MY158881A (en)
WO (1) WO2010052422A2 (en)

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US20090126937A1 (en) * 2007-11-19 2009-05-21 Millheim Keith K Self-Standing Riser System Having Multiple Buoyancy Chambers

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AU2009312647B2 (en) 2016-01-14
AP3176A (en) 2015-03-31
US20110274501A1 (en) 2011-11-10
EP2342488A2 (en) 2011-07-13
AU2009312647A1 (en) 2010-05-14
MY158881A (en) 2016-11-30
BRPI0921088A2 (en) 2015-12-15
CA2742499C (en) 2017-05-23
WO2010052422A3 (en) 2011-03-03
CA2742499A1 (en) 2010-05-14
WO2010052422A2 (en) 2010-05-14
AP2011005737A0 (en) 2011-06-30
EG26639A (en) 2014-04-15
US8734055B2 (en) 2014-05-27

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