Patent ID: 8628272

Claim:
A method of making a connection between a first pipeline and a second pipeline, the method comprising: (a) before laying the first pipeline, connecting said first pipeline to a first end of a pipeline connecting piece having first and second ends; (b) during laying of the first pipeline, supporting the pipeline connecting piece on a subsea base structure; (c) before or after step (b) preparing the second pipeline adapted for connection to the second end of the connecting piece and positioning an end of the second pipeline for connection to the second end of the connecting piece; (d) applying one or more adjustable constraints to align the second end of the connecting piece with the end of the second pipeline and completing connection of the connecting piece to the second piece of pipeline to limit at least one degree of freedom; and (e) after completing the connection of the connecting piece to the second piece of pipeline, removing said one or more adjustable constraints so that the connecting piece is free to move with at least four degrees of freedom relative to the subsea base structure.