Method and apparatus for simultaneous trenching and pipe laying in an arctic environment

Patent · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5497175

Hazlegrove, B M; Roberts, R A

This patent describes an apparatus for simultaneously trenching and laying submarine pipeline within the bed of a body of water covered with an ice mass, comprising a vehicle capable of advancing over an ice mass in the direction of a pre-assembled pipeline to be laid; means for creating a slot-like opening of indeterminate length in the ice mass, ahead of the advancing vehicle; a submersible dredging means for excavating a submarine trench in the bed of the body of water, into which the pipeline is to be laid; a support means for carrying and deploying the dredging means, the support means having a longitudinally aligned slot, and having a first end pivotally connected to the vehicle and a second, submersible end which carries the dredging means; means pivotally secured to and extending between the vehicle and an intermediate portion of the support means for raising and lowering the support; and pipeline means having a surface component, a submerged component and an entrenched component.

• Assignee: Brown and Root, Inc., Houston, TX
• Patent Number(s): US 4710059
• OSTI ID: 5497175
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
022000* -- Petroleum-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
03 NATURAL GAS
032000 -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
ARCTIC REGIONS
DESIGN
DREDGING
EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
EXCAVATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
ICE
ICEBERGS
INSTALLATION
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
PETROLEUM
PIPELINES
POLAR REGIONS
SEA BED
SUPPORTS
TRANSPORT
VEHICLES