METHOD OF PROTECTING A FLEXIBLE RISER AND AN APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

The present invention provides a method of protecting one or more flexible risers which can carry a riser fluid, for instance a hydrocarbon production fluid such as natural gas, to or from a floating structure and an apparatus therefor, said method comprising at least the steps of: (a) providing a floating structure (100), one or more flexible risers (10), each of said flexible risers carrying a riser fluid and having a first end (20) connected to the floating structure (100) and a second end (30) on the sea bed (500) and in fluid connection with one or more riser fluid reservoirs (250); (b) closing the fluid connection between the one or more flexible risers (10) and the one or more riser fluid reservoirs (250); (c) replacing at least a portion of the riser fluid in one or more of the flexible risers (10) with a protection fluid, wherein the density of said protection fluid is greater than the density of said riser fluid.