Patent ID: 7699353
Filing Date: 2010-04-20
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A flexible splice to join an end of a first elongate subsea umbilical to an end of a second elongate subsea umbilical creating a single elongate subsea umbilical with sufficient flexibility to be coiled around a single reel prior to deployment subsea, the flexible splice comprising; a first armor pot sized and arranged to receive and engage the end of the first elongate subsea umbilical; a first bend restrictor assembly connected to and extending from the first armor pot to surround and protect a portion of the first elongate subsea umbilical proximate the first armor pot; a second armor pot sized and arranged to receive and engage the end of the second elongate subsea umbilical; a second bend restrictor assembly connected to and extending from the second armor pot to surround and protect a portion of the second elongate subsea umbilical proximate the second armor pot; a plurality of flexible conduits, positioned between the first armor pot and the second armor pot, each of the flexible conduits in fluid communication with a like conduit in both the first elongate subsea umbilical and the second elongate subsea umbilical; the flexible splice having a first end joint assembly, a mid-joint assembly and a second end joint assembly, the first end joint assembly sized and arranged to receive and connect to the first armor pot and the second end joint assembly sized and arranged to receive and connect to the second armor pot; and the mid-joint assembly flexibly connected by a hinge on a one end to the first end joint assembly and flexibly connected by a hinge on the other end to the second end joint assembly to allow the flexible splice to flex sufficiently to allow the first and second elongate subsea umbilicals to be wound on the single reel.