APPARATUS FOR AND A METHOD OF RECOVERING A PIPELINE ON THE BOTTOM OF DEEP WATERS

摘要

Apparatus for and a method of recovering a submerged pipeline and particularly pipeline laid on the bottom of a deep body of water. The apparatus includes a support having clamping means thereon for clamping the pipeline and lifting it from its bed a cutter mounted on the support for cutting the clamped pipeline to provide a pipe line end, and a recovery header removably mounted to the support. In operation drive means move the header from its rest position inth the clamped and cut pipeline end and retaining means on the support retain the header in its inserted position. The header and retained pipeline are then ready for removal. A pulling and guiding flexible cable system from a vessel or barge can be used to position the apparatus under water and to move the header with the retained pipeline from the body of water to the vessel. The invention greatly facilitates the recovery of pipeline from a deep sea bottom and can dispense with us of divers for operations heretofore required of them.