Patent ID: 6439808
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A method for protective encapsulation of pipe loops (10) or one or more parts of pipe or pipelines, respectively, installable on the seabed (14) and of the kind needing local protection against external loads, such as falling loads, bottom trawl equipments, etc., and for, possibly, counteracting washing out of mass from beneath the pipe (10), particularly pipe loops (10), etc., serving to convey oil and/or gas which may introduce large temperature variations into the system, accompanied by expansion/contraction phenomena, the method comprising:encapsulating the pipe loop (10) within a protective jacket/cover joined together of joined longitudinal sections (12a) wherein the pipe loop (10) or similar pipe/pipeline is encapsulated within the jacket/cover (12) in a surface position, the jacket/cover (10) being equipped with fasteners (32) for a hoisting and/or lowering wire; and lowering the encapsulated pipe loop (10) to the seabed (14), where the outer ends of the pipe loop (10) are coupled to any underwater structures, whereupon the cover/jacket (12) with the pipe loop (10) confined therein, is covered with chippings (34).