Deep water sealines installation by using the J-lay method - The Blue Stream Experience

This paper presents the experience accumulated by Saipem in modelling the deep water sealine installation by using the J-Iay method, mainly as a result of the Blue Stream Project. This Project implied the installation of two sealines in the Black Sea at a world record water depth of about 2150 meters by using the new May system on SSCV Saipem7000. The paper shows the results of the studies made in order to properly model the installation of a deep water pipeline by J-lay. These studies aimed at the development of an adequate installation analysis model and tools (specially developed three-dimensional FEM analysis in-house program), and at the definition of the installation analysis methodology. Such methodology includes the analysis of the effects of vessel displacement (forward, backward, and lateral) with respect to the target (reference) position, of seabed slope and real profile, and also the dynamics effects due to environmental loads.