Patent ID: 8657531

Claim:
A method of installing a flexible pipe with a subsea connector into a connector on a subsea transfer equipment, comprising: providing a vertically oriented riser from a floating structure, the riser being coupled to a first end of the flexible pipe; providing a first connector fluidicly coupled to a second end of the flexible pipe, the flexible pipe being at least partially buoyant to provide buoyancy for the first connector in water; coupling a first wire rope to the first connector, the first wire rope having a first buoyancy module coupled thereto; coupling a weight to the first wire rope distal from the first connector; lowering the first connector toward a seafloor and disposing the first connector vertically in proximity to the subsea transfer equipment, while allowing the weight to engage a supporting surface and the flexible pipe to bend while the riser maintains its vertical orientation; coupling a winch wire rope from a first winch on the subsea transfer equipment to the first connector; decoupling the first wire rope from the first connector prior to coupling the first connector to the connector on the subsea transfer equipment; pulling the first connector toward the subsea transfer equipment with the winch wire rope from the first winch; and fluidicly coupling the first connector to the connector on the subsea transfer equipment.