Patent ID: 8864414

Claim:
A device for controlling buoyancy of a pipeline with a top, a first side, and an opposing second side, the device comprising: a form, where the form has a top, a bottom, two opposing sides, and two opposing ends, where the two opposing ends of the form are open, and where the form comprises: a first trough located adjacent the first side of the pipeline; a second trough located adjacent the opposing second side of the pipeline; and a middle portion, where the middle portion has an inverted-U-shaped cross section such that the middle portion fits over the top of the pipeline and joins the first trough and the second trough; and a strap encircling the form adjacent the top of the form, such that the strap runs along each of the two sides and spans the two ends, where the strap remains in place encircling the form while the device is in use.