PR IV Nama: Insan Ridho, NIM: 13109022 Offshore Piping Installation Laying pipe on the seafloor can pose a number

of challenges, especially if the water is deep. There are three main ways that subsea pipe is laid -- S-lay, J-lay and tow-in -- and the pipelay vessel is integral to the success of the installation. Buoyancy affects the pipelay process, both in positive and negative ways. In the water, the pipe weighs less if it is filled with air, which puts less stress on the pipelay barge. But once in place on the sea bed, the pipe requires a downward force to remain in place. This can be provided by the weight of the oil passing through the pipeline, but gas does not weigh enough to keep the pipe from drifting across the seafloor. In shallow-water scenarios, concrete is poured over the pipe to keep it in place, while in deepwater situations, the amount of insulation and the thickness required to ward of hydrostatic pressure is usually enough to keep the line in place.

Tow-In Pipeline Installation

While jumpers are typically short enough to be installed in sections by ROVs, flowlines and pipelines are usually long enough to require a different type of installation, whether that is tow-in, S-lay or J-lay. Tow-in installation is just what it sounds like; here, the pipe is suspended in the water via buoyancy modules, and one or two tug boats tow the pipe into place. Once on location, the buoyancy modules are removed or flooded with water, and the pipe floats to the seafloor.

S-Lay Pipeline Installation

When performing S-lay pipeline installation, pipe is eased off the stern of the vessel as the boat moves forward. The pipe curves downward from the stern through the water until it reaches the "touchdown point," or its final destination on the seafloor. As more pipe is welded in the line and eased off the boat, the pipe forms the shape of an "S" in the water.

J-Lay Pipeline Installation

Overcoming some of the obstacles of S-lay installation, J-lay pipeline installation puts less stress on the pipeline by inserting the pipeline in an almost vertical position. Here, pipe is lifted via a tall tower on the boat, and inserted into the sea. Unlike the double curvature obtained in S-lay, the pipe only curves once in J-lay installation, taking on the shape of a "J" under the water.

Types Of Pipelay Vessels

There are three main types of pipelay vessels. There are J-lay and S-lay barges that include a welding station and lifting crane on board. The 40- or 80-foot (12- or 24-meter) pipe sections are welded away from wind and water, in an enclosed environment. On these types of vessels, the pipe is laid one section at a time, in an assembly-line method.

On the other hand, reel barges contain a vertical or horizontal reel that the pipe is wrapped around. Reel barges are able to install both smaller diameter pipe and flexible pipe. Horizontal reel barges perform S-lay installation, while vertical reel barges can perform both S-lay and J-lay pipeline installation.

O-lay offshore pipeline installation, welding and inspection is done onshore The pipeline installation technology described here is very different from the common offshore technologies used at present. By using the O-lay technology operational production costs can be reduced compared to the existing general methods of pipe laying offshore. With O-lay, the pipe laying operations will be faster than other methods used today. Pipe line installation of larger diameter pipe can be as fast as 25 km per day. Furthermore the technology is safer because there are less people working in the offshore environment and the offshore operations are done in a shorter period of time. The bottleneck of welding and testing on the traditional lay-barge is not a procedure that is part of the installation process anymore. Welding and testing are done on an onshore construction site. The main difference between the new, state of the art, patented O-lay system and the existing systems is that the total length of the pipe is welded and tested onshore on a site that is near the waterfront. Depending on the local situation, series of "long pipes", with a length of 50 to 1500 meter, are produced and temporarily stored in the pipe yard till they are transported into the water.