Patent ID: 9080699
Filing Date: 2015-07-14
Classification: E21B,F16L

Abstract:
1. A connecting device for mating and connection on the sea bed of a first and second pipeline having respective first and second pipe ends at the connection point, comprising: a first connecting part retaining the first end of the first pipeline, which first connecting part and first pipeline are designed to be lowered and deployed on the seabed in advance, and where the first connecting part includes a guide structure located a distance apart from the first end; a second submersible connecting part retaining the second end of the second pipeline, which second connecting part and second pipeline are designed to be lowered from the surface towards the first connecting part, and where the second connecting part includes a guide device located a distance apart from the second end; and a connector arranged between the connecting parts for final connection between the pipe ends, wherein the guide device cooperates with the guide structure during lowering motion of the second connecting part and pivots the second connecting part into coarse alignment of the second pipe end in a direction towards the first pipe end such that the first and second pipelines are brought to align with each other on the sea bed, wherein the first connecting part includes an adjacent ramp structure having abutment surfaces and a guiding mechanism configured to engage with cooperating surfaces and a structure on the second connecting part when the second connecting part is advanced towards the first connecting part to provide fine alignment of the pipe ends, and wherein the abutment surfaces of the ramp structure include ramp shaped surfaces that the cooperating surfaces of the second connecting part act against, and then provides fine alignment between the pipe ends when the second connecting part is advanced towards the first connecting part.