Objective
Rip-rap protection is one of the most efficient means ensuring a good protection of the submerged pipelines which cannot be buried, by giving good weight stabilisation, reducing spans and protecting the pipe against anchors and falling objects. The aim of the project was to improve the methods used for dumping stones over pipelines, in order to reduce the costs of such rip-rap protection.
The tests on the prototype have been successful and the system is now ready for full scale operation.
The system consists of an underwater vehicle, which can be described as a mobile hopper, capable to travel over the submerged pipeline.
The hopper is large enough to accommodate the movements of the feeding pipe of a stone dumping vessel, dynamically positioned above the vehicle. As the vehicle is accurately positioned above the pipeline, all the stones dumped from the vessel are collected and end up nicely laid above the pipeline to be covered. The system is rated for operation down to 300 meter water depth.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
75013 Paris
France