Viv and/or drag reduction device installation systems and methods

Abstract

There is disclosed a system comprising a structural element; a transport tool carrying a plurality of VIV and/or drag reduction devices; and an installation tool adapted to remove a VIV and/or drag reduction device from the transport tool and to install the device around the structural element.

1 . A system comprising:
 a structural element;   a transport tool carrying a plurality of VIV and/or drag reduction devices; and   an installation tool adapted to remove a VIV and/or drag reduction device from the transport tool and to install the device around the structural element.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the structural element is selected from the group consisting of a shell, a collar, an oil flowline, a pipeline, a drilling riser, a production riser, a steel tubular, import and export risers, subsea pipelines, tendons for tension leg platforms, legs for traditional fixed and for compliant platforms, space-frame members for platforms, cables, umbilicals, mooring elements for deepwater platforms, hull structures for tension leg platforms and for spar type structures, and column structures for tension leg platforms and for spar type structures. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the VIV and/or drag reduction devices are selected from strakes and fairings. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transport tool is carrying from 2 to 10 VIV and/or drag reduction devices. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising from 2 to 6 transport tools, each carrying a plurality of VIV and/or drag reduction devices, wherein the installation tool is adapted to remove a VIV and/or drag reduction device from each of the transport tools. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein at least 2 of the transport tools are connected to each other. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the ROV connected to the installation tool, and adapted to move and activate the installation tool. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vessel, the installation tool connected to the vessel by a first umbilical, and the transport tool connected to the vessel by a line. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a second transport tool connected to the vessel by a second line. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the transport tool comprises one or more transport tools connected to the vessel by a line, wherein the one or more transport tools are adapted to transport from 4 to 60 VIV and/or drag reduction devices from the vessel to the installation tool for each trip of the one or more transport tools from the vessel to the installation tool. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the structural element is located in a body of water, the system further comprising a surface structure located at a surface of the body of water. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional installation tools adapted to remove a VIV and/or drag reduction device from the transport tool and to install the device around the structural element. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising one remotely operated vehicle for each of the installation tools, wherein one remotely operated vehicle is connected to each of the installation tools, and adapted to move and activate the installation tool. 
   
   
       14 . A method of installing one or more VIV and/or drag reduction devices around a structural element comprising:
 moving a transport tool carrying a plurality of VIV and/or drag reduction devices near to the structural element;   moving an installation tool near to the transport tool;   removing one or more VIV and/or drag reduction devices from the transport tool to the installation tool; and   installing the one or more VIV and/or drag reduction devices around the structural element with the installation tool.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the structural element is selected from the group consisting of a shell, a collar, an oil flowline, a pipeline, a drilling riser, a production riser, a steel tubular, import and export risers, subsea pipelines, tendons for tension leg platforms, legs for traditional fixed and for compliant platforms, space-frame members for platforms, cables, umbilicals, mooring elements for deepwater platforms, hull structures for tension leg platforms and for spar type structures, and column structures for tension leg platforms and for spar type structures. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the VIV and/or drag reduction devices are selected from strakes and fairings. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the transport tool is carrying from 2 to 10 VIV and/or drag reduction devices. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising moving from 2 to 6 transport tools near to the structural element, each of the transport tools carrying a plurality of VIV and/or drag reduction devices. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising connecting at least 2 transport tools to each other, then moving the transport tools near to the structural element. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising connecting the installation tool to a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the ROV adapted to move and activate the installation tool. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising connecting the installation tool to a vessel by a first umbilical, and connecting the transport tool to the vessel by a second umbilical. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising connecting a second transport tool to the vessel by a third umbilical, and moving the second transport tool near to the structural element. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the transport tool comprises one or more transport tools, the one or more transport tools carrying from 4 to 60 VIV and/or drag reduction devices. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the transport tool comprises one or more transport tools, the one or more transport tools carrying from 4 to 60 VIV and/or drag reduction devices, further comprising lowering the one or more transport tools from a vessel with one or more umbilicals,
 installing the VIV and/or drag reduction devices around the structural element with the installation tool, and   retrieving the one or more transport tools to the vessel with the one or more umbilicals.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising reloading the one or more transport tools at the vessel after they have been retrieved. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising lowering the reloaded one or more transport tools from the vessel with the one or more umbilicals.