John Gilbert Bomba

US Patent:

6554537, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Nov 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/709178

Inventors:

Bill George Louis - Houston TX
John G. Bomba - Houston TX

Assignee:

Coflexip

International Classification:

F16L 120

US Classification:

4051541, 405157, 405158, 248 681, 248 69, 248 741

Abstract:

In combination, a lower pipeline, an upper pipeline which crosses the lower pipeline, and at least one pipeline crossing module for supporting the upper pipeline above the lower pipeline. The pipeline crossing module may comprise a spacing element; a clip element attached to the spacing element and sized for surrounding the upper pipeline while permitting the module to rotate about the upper pipeline to a position in which the module is disposed downward from the upper pipeline. The at least one module may comprise a first module and a second module, the first module and the second module being disposed on the upper pipeline so as to define a downward-facing support surface for contacting an upper surface of the lower pipeline to support the upper pipeline thereon. Or, the first module and the second module may be sized for being disposed resting on the seabed, at respective locations along the length of the upper pipeline on opposite sides of the lower pipeline, so as to support the upper pipeline bridging over the lower pipeline.