Design Features for Wye Sled Assemblies and Pipeline End Termination Structures to Facilitate Deepwater Installation by the J-lay Method

摘要

This paper presents an evaluation of some novel installationrelated design features required for the installation of fourteen in-line wye sled assemblies (WSAs) and five pipeline end termination structures (PLETs). The WSAs and PLETs were designed for installation by the DCV Balder utilizing J-lay techniques. WSA features included structural frames designed to flex, hinged yokes for anchoring buoyancy modules, and yoke stoppers to provide stability for the WSA pipe-spool during upending. Due to tower width limitations, some of the larger WSAs had sliding, or separately installed mudmats. PLETs were designed with hinged mudmats for ‘first-end’ installation lay-away, but also had to be capable of second-end recovery to surface for repair and re-installation, if necessary.