Patent ID: 7713104

Claim:
A subsea installation comprising a marine riser and apparatus for the connection/disconnection of the marine riser to a floating vessel, the riser comprising at least one conduit extending from the seabed toward the surface and having an upper end supported at a depth below the sea surface by a submerged buoy, which maintains the riser substantially vertical and in tension, the connection/disconnection apparatus comprising at least one connecting line having a lower end attachable to the upper end of said riser and an upper end connectable to the floating vessel, the connecting line being operable in first and second helical configurations, the connection line in the first helical configuration being extended to allow connection between the riser and the floating vessel, and in the second helical configuration being compressed relative to the first helical configuration, such that the upper end of said connecting line is disconnected from said floating vessel and retracted to a depth below the vessel.