Patent ID: 9518682
Filing Date: 2016-12-13
CPC Classification: E21B,F16L

Claim Text:
1. A bottom-to-surface connection installation between a common floating support and the sea bottom, the installation comprising a plurality of flexible lines comprising flexible pipes made in whole or part of tubular thermoplastic layer reinforced with spiral-wound strips made of steel or composite material, said flexible lines extending between said floating support and the sea bottom where the flexible lines are connected to well heads, pieces of equipment, or the ends of undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom of said installation, said flexible lines being supported respectively by a plurality of support and guide elements of arch shape referred to as troughs, each trough lying between two pipe portions comprising a first flexible line portion in a double hanging catenary configuration between the floating support and said trough, and a second flexible line portion in a single catenary configuration between said trough and a point of contact between said flexible pipe and the sea bottom, the installation having at least one trough support structure comprising a bottom portion forming a base resting on and/or anchored to or embedded in the sea bottom and a top portion supporting at least two troughs comprising a bottom trough and a top trough arranged at different heights such that the low point of the hanging double catenary of the first flexible line portion passing via the bottom trough is situated below the low point of the hanging double catenary of said first flexible line portion passing via the top trough.