METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR JOINING SUBSEA PIPELINES

摘要

A method and apparatus for underwater laying and joining of pipeline segments, especially where such segments lie at depths of several hundred feet. The individual segments consist of a pipestring permanently attached to a joint chamber at one end. When submerged, the joint chamber is kept at atmospheric pressure and is utilized by personnel operating within it to bring a segment on the surface into proximity with the submerged segment and to join the two segments. A manned atmospheric pressure capsule operating from a surface vessel is used to reach the submerged chamber and to support the various operations conducted in the chamber.