Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for connecting a flowline having a major portion adapted to lie along the floor of a body of water to an offshore connection point. The method and apparatus are designed to compensate for the difficulty encountered in laying and maintaining an underwater flowline in a body of water having a substantial current running in substantially a single direction. The flowline is fed from a flowing support and drawn by a cable into an alignment funnel. Means are provided to bow the leading flowline in a lateral non-vertical direction by a predetermined amount such that the end of the leading flowline may enter the alignment funnel without any lateral or angular displacement. The bowing may be done at the surface prior to submersion of the flowline or may be done after the flowline is submerged. Several means for bowing the flowline are disclosed.

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First Claim