Patent ID: 8905676
Filing Date: 2014-12-09
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A marine pipeline installation system for laying a pipeline, wherein the marine pipeline installation system comprises: one or more storage reels for storage of rigid pipeline to be installed; a pipeline launch tower adapted for launching the rigid pipeline in a firing line; one or more tensioners supported by the pipeline launch tower, the one or more tensioners being configured to engage the pipeline and support at least part of the weight of a launched pipeline; a pipeline guide supported at an elevated position by said pipeline launch tower for guiding said rigid pipeline from a first trajectory extending between the one or more reels and the pipeline guide to the firing line along said pipeline launch tower; and a guide support frame for supporting the pipeline guide to the pipeline launch tower, the guide support frame being adapted to allow for displacement of the pipeline guide relative to the pipeline launch tower between a pipelaying position, in which one end of the pipeline guide is positioned in the firing line, and a retracted, non-operable position; a linkage member positioned above the one or more tensioners, and pivotably connected to the pipeline launch tower via a first pivot axis, the linkage member further being pivotably connected to the guide support frame via a second pivot axis; and hydraulic cylinders pivotably connected between the pipeline launch tower and the linkage member to pivot the linkage member and thereby displace the pipeline guide relative to the pipeline launch tower in a combined upward direction and a direction towards the one or more storage reels, wherein when the pipeline guide is in the retracted, non-operable position, a length of the first trajectory is essentially the same as the length of the first trajectory when the pipeline guide is in the pipelaying position.