Patent ID: 6109833
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A device for transferring fluid between equipment on a seabed and a surface unit at the surface of that sea, the device comprising:at least one flexible fluid transferring pipe extending in a catenary curve and between the equipment on the seabed and the surface unit;an intermediate buoyancy and support member positioned to engage the pipe, and so positioned along the pipe that the pipe includes an upper part between the support member and the surface unit and a lower part between the support member and the equipment on the seabed;the intermediate member being so shaped and the pipe being so disposed over the intermediate member as to impart to a region of the upper part passing over the intermediate member a concavity that faces the seabed;a fixed member placeable on or in the seabed;the intermediate member being connected to the fixed member;retaining means for retaining at least one region of the lower part of the pipe; connecting elements for connecting the retaining means at the at least one region of the lower part of the pipe with the fixed member for tensioning the lower part of the pipe; the retaining means so retaining the pipe and being so related to the fixed member as to impart to the at least one region of the lower part of the pipe a bend that is concave in the direction toward the equipment on the seabed;the retaining means comprising a series of vertebrae extending over the region of the lower part of the pipe which has the bend and the series of vertebrae having a length along the pipe at least equal to three times the minimum bend radius of the lower part of the pipe;the connecting elements between the retaining means and the fixed member having a length at least equal to the minimum bend radius of the lower part of flexible pipe.