Patent ID: 7029206

Claim:
A method of laying a pipeline that includes one or more manifold sections on a seabed, comprising the steps of: a) providing a floating vessel; b) lowering an elongated pipeline from the vessel to the seabed; c) clamping an end portion of the pipeline with a clamp; d) separating the pipeline above the clamp into two pipeline sections, a first section held by the clamp and a second section above the clamp that is supported on the vessel; e) moving the clamp and the clamped first pipeline section so that the first and second pipeline sections are offset; f) connecting a manifold to the first pipe section; g) moving the clamp so that the first pipe section and connected manifold are in close position to the second pipeline section; h) connecting the second pipeline section to the manifold; and i) lowering the first and second pipeline sections and manifold to the seabed.