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DeepGulf Inc.’s J-Flex oil and gas pipelay concept departs from existing common practices that were based on and evolved from onshore systems. J-Flex takes into account the very maritime nature of offshore pipelaying. In essence, the The main principles of the concept are: The involve suspending the weight of the pipeline, typically up to 3,000 metric tons, is supported from the deck with the mechanisms of support located at and below water level instead of from the top of a tower or the end of a stinger. J-flex utilizes chains and reel-less capstans on deck, thus saving dramatically on the tower's weight and allowing the easy in-line welding of manifolds up to 12 meters long; A fixed non-articulated tower is employed to hold strings of 9 near vertical pipes in position (108 meters), giving the pipeline the required departure angle at barge deck by elastic bending. The design allows up to 120 degrees weather vaning rotation or gimballing of the barge; The need for an ultra long pipe erection device is eliminated by keel-hauling pipe either as a “niner” or a “triple” or a “double” as the situation demands and vertically fabricating these joints into 9 pipe strings in multiple stations at barge deck level.
The system will weigh around 650 metric tons and will cost less than $ 50 million US for a modular 9 joint system, thanks to the standardization of the design and redundancy of the mechanical equipment. The system will allow the laying of pipelines up to 36" in diameter with tensions exceeding 3,000 metric tons, despite its relatively light weight. Pipeline lay rates will be very similar to those attained with S-Lay systems in much shallower water.