COFLEXIP & Services Inc. Cutting offshore construction costs with flexible pipe Coflexip can save offshore construction dollars because it can be    installed    more    quickly    and easily than rigid pipe.  More than a dozen different companies, including    four    majors,    are    now using  it  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  for various applications. Subsea flowlines Coflexip   flowlines   can   be   laid   in the Gulf of Mexico with a workboat or other small vessel.  Mobilization of a lay barge is generally unnecessary  which,  in  itself,  cuts the cost. Coflexip avoids expensive downtime   caused   by   waiting-on- weather delays because the flexible   pipe   can   be   installed   in shorter weather windows. Coflexip flowlines are much easier to  install  than,  conventional  pipe. In most conditions, only light vessels are required. There's  no  need  for  a  stinger in   laying   Coflexip.      The   line   is simply   paid   off   a   reel   into   the water.  Installation is accomplished without    constant    tension    as    the pipe  is  lowered  over  the  gutter  to the    sea    floor.        In    the    Gulf    of Mexico, this simple procedure allows  the  laying  of  Coflexip  lines year-round. Flexible risers A Coflexip riser offers many technical  advantages  over  a  rigid riser.      It   can   also   reduce   costs. This   is   true   for   replacement   of damaged   risers,   as   well   as   new construction.      A   look   at   various procedures     shows     exactly     why Coflexip installations work so fast. The   built-in   flexibility   of   Coflexip allows installation in short weather windows and there are no limits on water  depth.    The  flexible  pipe  is always     self     supporting     with     a collapse  resistance  far  above  the hydrostatic pressure. Clamp-on    risers,    flexible    versus rigid To  install  a  clamp-on  riser  of  rigid pipe, a barge must first be mobilized.        It's    expensive    and often   causes   delay.      Rigid   pipe may  require  days,  even  weeks,  of barge time to get perfect underwater positioning before connections. With Coflexip flexible pipe, the entire   installation   of   a   clamp-on riser   can   be   done   using   only   a workboat. Underwater connection is much    more    efficient    when    the necessity  of  precise  positioning  is removed.    Just  lay  the  end  of  the flexible pipe close to the end of the other    pipe.        Divers    can    then proceed with light underwater handling equipment to pull the end of the flexible pipe into place.  Any kind of flange can be mounted.  As a result, both laying time and diver time are greatly decreased. In a previous installation in 27 feet of water, 4 risers were positioned in 20 A  clamp-on  riser  can  be  installed with no barge, no precise underwater measurements, no heavy underwater handling device. On the average, Coflexip completes the job twice as fast as with rigid pipe, for a lot less. working  hours.    The  flexible  pipes were 4" and 6" I.D.  with a working pressure     of     1,440     psi.          Gas production  through  the  line  began 48 hours later.