Assembly and method for installing a subsea cable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10954652-B2
Application number	US-201716309691-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2017
Priority date	Jun 14, 2016
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

An assembly for installing a subsea cable, the assembly comprising a submersible apparatus and a submersible cable holder comprising the subsea cable, the subsea cable being connectable to the submersible apparatus through the connector for transmission of electric power and/or data to the submersible apparatus; wherein the assembly is configured to install the subsea cable while the submersible apparatus is electrically powered through said subsea cable. And a method for installing a subsea cable with a submersible apparatus, the method comprising: supplying electric power and/or transmitting data through the subsea cable to the submersible apparatus; and laying the subsea cable in a sea with the submersible apparatus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assembly ( 400 ) for installing a subsea cable ( 304 ), the assembly ( 400 ) comprising:
a submersible apparatus ( 200 ) comprising a deck ( 201 ), at least one connector ( 202 ), and moving means ( 208 ); and
a submersible cable holder ( 300 ) comprising the subsea cable ( 304 ), the subsea cable ( 304 ) being connectable to the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) through the at least one connector ( 202 ) for transmission of at least one of electric power and data to the submersible apparatus ( 200 ), and the submersible cable holder ( 300 ) being configured to be loaded on and unloaded from the deck ( 201 );
wherein the assembly ( 400 ) is configured to install the subsea cable ( 304 ) while the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) is electrically powered through the subsea cable ( 304 ).

2. The assembly ( 400 ) of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the subsea cable ( 304 ) is connected to a power source of a facility ( 101 , 102 ) so that the at least one of electric power and data may be delivered to the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) upon connection of a second end of the subsea cable ( 304 ) to a connector of the at least one connector ( 202 ) of the submersible apparatus ( 200 ).

3. The assembly ( 400 ) of claim 1 , wherein the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) is configured to transmit and receive data through the subsea cable ( 304 ).

4. The assembly ( 400 ) of claim 1 , wherein the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) further comprises means ( 206 ) for digging a trench.

5. The assembly ( 400 ) of claim 1 , wherein the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) further comprises at least one battery, the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) being configured to obtain electric power from the at least one battery.

6. The assembly ( 400 ) of claim 1 , wherein the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) further comprises means for wireless data transmission and reception, the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) at least one of:
being configured to transmit and receive data through said means, and
the at least one connector comprises: a first connector ( 202 ) for connection of the subsea cable ( 304 ) and a second connector ( 215 ) for connection of a cable for data and power transmission to a device not part of the assembly.

7. The assembly ( 400 ) of claim 1 , wherein the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) further comprises means ( 203 ) for manipulating at least one of: the cable ( 304 ), a cable connector, a cable accessory, or an obstacle on a seabed.

8. The assembly ( 400 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) and the submersible cable holder ( 300 ) comprises means for changing a buoyancy of the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) or the submersible cable holder ( 300 ), respectively.

9. The assembly ( 400 ) of claim 1 , wherein the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) further comprises an acoustic positioning system for sensing subsea acoustic beacons.

10. A method for installing a subsea cable ( 304 ) with a submersible apparatus ( 200 ), the method comprising:
at least one of supplying electric power and transmitting data through the subsea cable ( 304 ) to the submersible apparatus ( 200 );
digging a trench ( 604 ) in a seabed ( 600 ) with the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) and
laying the subsea cable ( 304 ) in the trench with the submersible apparatus ( 200 ).

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein a first end of the subsea cable ( 304 ) is connected to a power source of a facility ( 101 , 102 ) and a second end is connected to the submersible apparatus ( 200 ).

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising loading a submersible cable holder ( 300 ) on the submersible apparatus ( 200 ), the submersible cable holder comprising the subsea cable ( 304 ).

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising at least one of transmitting data to and receiving data from the submersible apparatus ( 200 ) through the subsea cable ( 304 ).

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising introducing part of the subsea cable ( 304 ) in a carrying means, the carrying means comprising two unassembled tubes ( 615 , 616 ) being configured to be hoisted from a facility ( 601 , 611 ).

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the two unassembled tubes ( 615 , 616 ) are configured to receive the subsea cable ( 304 ) while the first part is contacting the seafloor ( 600 ) such that the subsea cable ( 304 ) forms a U shape between the two unassembled tubes ( 615 , 616 ).

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the facility ( 601 , 611 ) comprises a lifting mechanism ( 617 ) and an elongated flexible element ( 630 ) connected to the lifting mechanism ( 617 ), and wherein the carrying means is configured to be secured to the elongated flexible element ( 630 ).

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising introducing part of the subsea cable ( 304 ) in a carrying means, the carrying means comprising a hollow device ( 620 ) with a semi-circular shape and configured to be hoisted from a facility ( 601 , 611 ).

Assignees

• Fundacion Tecnalia Res & Innovation

Inventors

• Berque Joannes
• Rico Rubio Antonio
• Sellner Jan
• Del Pozo Martin Alberto
• Villate Martínez Jose Luis

Classifications

• B63C11/52

  Tools specially adapted for working underwater, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G01V1/3852

  to the seabed · CPC title

• G01V1/3835

  measuring position, e.g. by GPS or acoustically · CPC title

• E02F5/104

  for burying conduits or cables in trenches under water (floating substructures per se E02F9/06) · CPC title

• F03D9/00

  Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations (hybrid wind-photovoltaic energy systems for the generation of electric power H02S10/12) · CPC title