DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY

July 2003

Word in English Definition

A
A&R head Abandonment and Recovery head: head on pipe to enable abandonment
due to adverse weather or other causes.
A&R winch Winch used to abandon or recover the pipe on the seabed.
Abandonment cable A cable that enables the vessel to lower the end of a pipeline to the
seabed.
Accident Any unintentional or unplanned event or condition which has resulted in
injury person and/or damage to environment and/or damage to
equipment or property.
Acoustic Using sound waves, generally for survey purposes.
Aft, aft ship Rear end of a vessel.
Agent Company or person, acting on behalf of another company, that is hired to
take care of local arrangements as visa, travel, documents etc.
Alliance Form of organisation where client and contractors have common goals
and share the risks and rewards on a project.
Allseas Connection Tool Diverless tool to connect flanges.
(ACT)
Anchor Any of several devices, usually of steel, attached to a vessel by a cable
and dropped overboard so as to dig into the seabed and restrict the
vessel's movement.
Anchor chain Heavy chain attached to an anchor.
Anchor handling tug A small ship that handles/moves the anchor of another vessel (for anchor
positioned vessels).
Anchor pattern Area surrounding a vessel in which she is moored in the open sea.
Anchor running Bringing the anchors of a barge into position.
Anchored positioning Positioning a vessel by use of several anchors.
Anodes In offshore: a mass of sacrificial metal (e.g. zinc) attached to a pipe to
prevent corrosion of the pipe.
Array A set of transponders (see also “Transponders”).
As-laid survey Survey of pipe after installation on seabed.
As-trenched survey Survey of pipe after trenching.
Audit Systematic and independent verification to determine the effectiveness
and implementation of procedures and activities.
AutoCAD system Computer Aided Design System.
Automatic Ultrasonic Testing (AUT) System for non-destructive testing of welds using ultrasonic techniques.
Azimuth(ing) thrusters A thruster that can rotate 360 degrees about a vertical axis (see also
“Thrusters”).

B
Backfill The material that is replaced on top of a pipeline after it has been
trenched into the seabed. This is often done by Digging Donald, fitted
with bulldozer type blades.
Bar chart Simple planning chart, in which duration and timing of activities are
shown as “bars”.
Barge A vessel, usually flat-bottomed, with or without power of her own.
Bathymetry Measurement of the depth of the seabedThe region of deep water which
excludes the ocean floor.
Battery Storage device for electrical power.
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DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY
July 2003

Word in English Definition

Beadstall First welding station in the firing line.
Beam seas Waves attacking a vessel from the side.
Berm A narrow ledge at the edge of a slope.
Bevel machine Device, inserted in the pipe end, that cuts the pipe face in the required
shape for welding.
Bevel station The station where pipes are bevelled (see also “Bevelling”).
Bevelling A process to ensure that the ends of the pipes to be welded, have the
correct (v) shape, enabling a safe and efficient weld.
Bi-di pig Bi-directional pig.
Block The subdivided areas of the sea for the purpose of licensing to a
company for exploration or production rights.
Booster pump Pump that increases the pressure of the flow.
Bosun Nautical term, senior sailor responsible for the maintenance of the ship
and her equipment.
Bow The front end of a vessel.
Bow line Knot or line-shape of the bow
Bow quartering seas Seas attacking in the vessel at an angle 45 degrees with the bow
(starboard or port side).
Bracelet anode (see anode) Two halves of sacrificial metal which form a circle when attached to a
pipe, to prevent corrosion of the pipe.
Bridge deck Deck level of a vessel where the bridge is located.
Brush pig Pipeline pig used for cleaning purposes.
Buckle To bend or cause to bend out of shape requiring rectification, e.g.
pipeline (see also 'Dry buckle' and 'Wet buckle').
Buckle arrestor Heavy walled section welded in the pipe to prevent hydrostatic collapse.
Buckle detector Instrument, towed in pipe on cable during laying, which detects
indentation in the pipe.
Bug (Phoenix Welding System) Device, travelling around the circumference of the pipe, manipulating a
welding torch to provide a girth weld of two pipe ends.
Bulkhead A vertical water-tight structure separating parts of a vessel.
Bundle In pipeline terms: a number of pipelines strapped together and often
placed inside a large so-called carrier pipe. Bundles are prepared
onshore. Instead of installing individual pipelines by the S-lay method
with e.g. Lorelay, bundles can be towed out from shore and lowered to
the seabed where needed.
Bunkering Loading of fuel.
Buoy(s) Flotation device.
Buoyancy Upward force on submerged object.
Bypass A section of pipeline around e.g. valve, platform etc.

C
Cable gland Often water-tight penetration of cable through a bulkhead.
Cable tray Tray, mostly attached to the underside of a deck, for the routing of
electrical cables.
Calibration Adjustment to ensure that a machine or instrument supplies the exact
output it was made for.
Cap pass welding Welding the outer welding layer.

Page 2 of 28
DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY
July 2003

Word in English Definition

Carrier pipe A relatively large diameter pipe, placed around a bundle or a single pipe
in case of a pipe-in-pipe construction.
Catenary A curve produced by a uniform, flexible wire or chain when suspended
by its ends, under the influence of its own weight. Its shape is
characterised by the fact that it can only carry tension forces.
Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring A mooring system made up of a number of anchor lines, each forming a
(CALM) catenary.
Catenary riser A riser consisting of pipe hanging freely from a platform leg or a
floating unit to the seabed, used in deep waters where using flexible pipe
is not possible (see also 'Riser').
Classification society An institution that (amongst other services) issues rules to which a ship
has to be built in order to get it “in class”. An insurance company
requires a classified vessel before the vessel can get insured.
Clamp A tool used to hold and stabilise a pipe.
Clutch A connecting devicebar to enable two revolving shafts to be connected
and disconnected in position.
Coating Layer of paint, epoxy or concrete to protect the pipe against corrosion or
damage.
Coating cutback Uncoated section at the end of a pipe.
Coating station Station on a pipelay vessel where coating is applied to the welded (or
field joint) area.
Commissioning The act of preparing a system or a pipeline ready for operation.
Concession request Formal request from contractor to client to allow a deviation from the
specifications or the scope of work.
Concrete weight coating Concrete coating of a pipeline to increase its weight and stability on the
seabed.
Condensor In nautical terms, a device used to cool down steam into water.
Configuration Shape.
Connection hub Tool to make stab-in and hinge-over possible (see also “Stab-in and
hinge-over”).
Construction Composition or structure.
Consumables The materials “consumed” during a project such as fuel, welding
materials, coating materials etc.
Contract A formal agreement between two or more parties.
Contractor A person or company that contracts to supply materials, labour or
services.
Conveyor The machine providing the means to transport pipe from one place to
another.
Corrosion The “rusting” of materials.
Couplings A mechanical device that connects two things.Connections.
Crack A break or fracture in materialA partial split..
Crane A device for lifting and moving heavy objects, typically consisting of a
pivoted boom rotating about a vertical axis with lifting gear suspended
from the end of the boom.
Crawler A small vehicle which can travel inside the pipe for e.g. inspection.
Crossing preparation Preparing a pipeline or cable on the seabed for the crossing by another
pipeline or cable by protective materials.
Crossings Crossing of a pipeline with another pipeline or cable on the seabed.
Cruising speed The moderate and efficient speed of a vessel.
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DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY
July 2003

Word in English Definition

Current A flow of water past a fixed point expressed in a speed [m/s or knots]
and direction.

D
Daily Progress Report (DPR) Report, sent daily from an installation vessel.
Davit A cranelike device, usually one of a pair, fitted with a tackle for
suspending or lowering equipment, esp. a lifeboat. Also used to pick up
pipe from the seabed to the side of a layvessel.
Deadman anchor (DMA) Anchoring system for the start-up of pipelines offshore or onshore.
Deadweight Large weight placed on or in the soil to serve as an anchor point for
various types of operations. In nautical terms, the maximum weight a
vessel can carry besides her own weight.
Debris removal Removal of debris from the intended pipeline route.
Deburial (of pipeline) Removal of the soil cover of a pipeline buried in the seabed.
Deflect to connect A method of connecting a pipeline to a subsea structure, where use is
made of the flexibility of the pipe. The pipe is first installed on the
seabed and then deflected into a shape which will bring it in contact with
a purpose built diverless connector. The deflection can be done by
means of cables operated from the surface or seabed.
Demobilisation The activities associated with the removal of equipment and materials
from the site of a project after this project has been physically
completed.
Den Norske Veritas (DNV) Norwegian classification society.
Density The typical mass of a material, expressed in kg per cubic meter.
Departure angle The angle of the pipeline, measured in degrees, where the pipeline
departs the stinger.
Dewater Removing water from a pipe.
Diameter A straight line connecting the centre of a circle, with two points on the
perimeter or surface; the length of such a line.
Directional drilling A method of controlling the direction into which a well is drilled. It is
possible to start drilling straight down and then deflect the direction such
that drilling will proceed nearly horizontally.
Disputed Variation Order (DVO) A variation order issued, which, in the contractor’s opinion, is a change
to the original scope of work over which a disagreement with the client
exists.
Diverless connection An underwater connection made between two pipe ends without the aid
of divers.
Diving bell Pressure vessel that is used to lower divers towards their working depth.
Document control Method of keeping track of the various issues of documents, their
numbers, revisions etc.
Dogleg Term designating a section of pipeline at right angles with the main
pipeline, usually near a seabed structure or platform leg. The dogleg
often serves to allow the main line to expand without causing large
reaction forces in the seabed structure or platform.
Dolly base A base on which reels can be placed and rotated by means of a friction
drive to the circumference of the flange.
Dope kettles Vessels used for the heating and transportation of hot mastic field joint
coating material to the field joint coating station.
Double bottom Double bottom of a ship.
Double joint The assembly of two pieces (joints) of pipe welded into one.

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DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY
July 2003

Word in English Definition

Double joint factory Area where two single joints (each 40 ft in length) are welded together
into an 80 ft long double joint.
Down stream Along the direction of the flow through the pipeline.
Downtime Productive time lost as a consequence of an undesirable event or
influence.
DP bridge The bridge of a vessel from where the Dynamic Positioning is controlled
and the vessel is operated when it is laying pipe or performing other
installation activities..
DP trials Trials performed when a DP operated vessel arrives in the field to prove
and check operation of the DP system.
DP, Dynamic Positioning Accurately positioning of a vessel by use of a computer-controlled
system of thrusters, that takes into account the effect of waves, wind,
current and outside forces such as e.g. the pipeline tension on a
layvessel.. Satellite ???
Draught (Draft) Vertical distance between the waterline and the underside of the vessel’s
keel.
Drawing Technical drawing showing details of constructions, procedures etc.
Dredger A machine, in the form of a bucket ladder, grab, or suction device, used
to remove material from a river bed, channel etc.
Drilling rig Mobile drilling platform used for exploratory offshore drilling and
making production wells
Dry buckle Damaged, usually bent, section of the pipe on the seabed, that has not
caused the pipe to flood (see also “Buckle” and “Wet buckle”).
Dry docking The placement of a ship into a dock that can be pumped dry or raised
high enough out of the water so that there is access to the ship’s keel.
DSV, dive support vessel Support vessel with a diving system for subsea construction activities.
Dual lay Method of installing pipelines where two lines are installed
simultaneously from a layvessel (not the same as “Piggyback”).
Dunnage Material, most often wood, used in the holds to protect and steady cargo
or pipe.
Duplex A material type of corrosion resistant steel.
Dynamic analysis An analysis of e.g. stresses and strains taking into account the effect of
motions and time.

E
Eductor (systems) A pipe fitted with a suction system to remove e.g. soil from a trench.
Envelope Long, narrow opening in deck at the side of a vessel which is used for
pipe loading.
EPCI (project) Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation project.
EPIC (project) Engineering, Procurement, Installation and Commissioning project.
Escape hatch Part of the system on e.g. a platform or a vessel, through which
personnel can be evacuated in case of a contingency.
Exhaust Usually a pipe or a duct through which gases or liquids are led into the
water or air.
Exploration The phase in which a possible oil region is being investigated, either by
geological or geophysical surveys or by exploration drilling.
Exploration drilling Well drilled to ascertain the presence of oil or gas in a formation.
Export lines Medium to large diameter size lines to export treated oil or gas from a
field to a receiving facility on the shore.

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DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY
July 2003

Word in English Definition

F
Fatality An accident causing death of a person in connection with his/her work.
FBE Fusion Bonded Epoxy: a thin layer anti-corrosion coating for pipelines
and other seabed structures.
FEED Front End Engineering and Design: the work done to come to a
conceptual design of a system to the extent that it is possible to go out
for tender on the basis that detailed design, engineering procurement and
installation are done by the contractor.
Field An area that is rich in minerals or other natural resources (gas, oil etc.).
Field joint The weld between a pipe and a “new” joint (length of pipe).
Field Joint Coating (FJC) Coating applied after welding of the joint.
Fill welding Welding the layers filling up the 'v' angle between two pipes.
Firing line Assembly line with several welding stations and tensioners (on DP
vessels) where pipes (joints) are welded together to produce a pipeline.
Fish (survey) Towed “torpedo” shaped container provided with instruments to survey
the seabed.
Flag State Country where a ship is registered
Flange Flat circular plate provided with holes for bolts, welded to the end of a
pipe to allow two sections of pipe to be fastened together.
Flange rings Rings of pipe made of the same material as a flange, used to qualify the
weld between the flange and the pipe.
Flexibles Pipelines, not made out of rigid steel but built up out of layers of
elastomers and steel interlocking strips.
Flooding (of a pipeline) Introducing water into a pipeline that has been installed on the seabed.
Flowline Piping which direct well fluids from wellheads to manifold or first
process vessel.
Flux-cored arc welding A welding process which resembles Gas Metal Arc or MIG, and which
uses a (combination of) gas(es) to shield the melting (flux-cored)
welding wire against the atmosphere. The welding wire is hollow (or
cored) and contains a flux to give the weld pool and the deposited weld
metal certain properties. This welding process is sometimes used for
automatic welding of pipelines.
Fore, foreship Front part of a ship.
FPSO Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel: a ship shaped vessel,
acting as the field centre for a usually small or deepwater field
development. Contains processing equipment and has storage
capabilities to hold the production of a field until the oil can be loaded
into a shuttle tanker.
Funnels Means of exhaust escape on a vessel.

G
Gabion A long wicker or wire basket, containing earth or stones, deposited with
others to protect a shore against erosion by sea or to accumulate sand
and silt on the bed of an estuary.
Galley “Kitchen” on a vessel.
Gamma ray/Gamma radiation Electromagnetic radiation of high quantum energy emitted after nuclear
reactions or by radioactive atoms. Used for the non destructive
examination of welds as a source to provide a picture of the weld.

Page 6 of 28
DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY
July 2003

Word in English Definition

Gangway Bridge laid from an opening in the railing or side of a vessel to the shore
to give access to and from the vessel.
Gas A substance in a physical state in which it does not resist change of
shape and will expand indefinitely to fill any container. If very high
pressure is applied, a gas may become liquid or solid, otherwise its
density tends towards that of the condensed phase.
Gas metal arc welding A welding process, also known as MIG or MIG/MAG, which uses a
(combination of) gas(es) to shield the melting welding wire against the
atmosphere. The welding wire is solid and alloyed to give the deposited
weld metal certain properties. This process is commonly used for
automatic welding of pipelines.
Gas throttle system A system controlling the amount of gas entering into e.g. an engine
something and thereby controlling its revolutions.
Gauge plate Plate of pre-calculated diameter, that is run through a pipeline to check
it for dents, etc. A gauge plate is often fitted to a pipeline pig.
Gauging Running of gauge plate through a pipeline.
GBS Gravity Based Structure: most often a large concrete structure acting as
the support for a large platform. Due to its size and weight, the GBS
relies on gravity for stability instead of on e.g. piles such as with steel
jackets.
Gear boxes Box containing gear wheels for transmission of forces or reduction in
gear speed.
Generator Machine for the generation of electrical energy.
Generator containers Containers fitted with a self-contained generator set.
Geophysical survey Survey of the earth’s crust, by measuring , directly or indirectly,
differences in the density, electrical resistance, magnetic properties,
elastic properties and radioactivity.
Geotechnical survey Survey employed to establishalter the properties of soil for construction
purposes, e.g. to find out if the seabed is suitable for trenching.
Gravity Acceleration, required to give a mass of 1Kg a force of 9.8 N.
Grid Division of e.g. a map or a graph in rectangular blocks.
Gross tonnage The measure of the closed spaces of a vessel determined in accordance
with the provisions of the international convention on measurement of
vessels.
Grouting Filling of voids in a construction with cement.
Gyro Instrument containing a mass which is spinning at a high speed and is
used as reference in position systems (e.g. compass).

H
Half shell insulation Insulation system for field joints of pipelines, comprising two half shells
clamped around the pipe.
Hard hat Safety helmet.
Hatch An opening in a wall, door or deck.
Heads (of a pipeline) Section at the start and the end of a pipeline, fitted with valves for
flooding and gauging.
Heading Direction in which a ship (or pipeline) lies relative to the North.

Heave Vertical movement of a floating object.

Helideck Deck on a vessel or platform designed for the landing and take-off of
helicopters.
High pressure head See “Heads”, designed to withstand the test pressure of a pipeline.
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DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY
July 2003

Word in English Definition

Hold A vessel’s loading/storage area.
Hook-up The process of connecting and completing the various modules and
systems on a platform until it is ready for operation.
Hot mastic Heated mix of asphalt or coaltar and aggregates, used to fill in the field
joint of a pipeline.
Hottap Technique for the installation of a branch connection on a pipeline while
the pipeline is still under pressure.
Hull Outer shell of a vessel, made of steel plates or other suitable material, to
keep water outside the vessel.
Hydrant Attachment point for a fire water hose.
Hydratight bolt tensioning jacks A proprietary system of hydraulic units that can be attached to the bolts
of flanges. It then serves to tension the bolts in a controlled manner.
Hydraulic Using oil or water to perform a function.
Hydraulic lift (diving term) A pumping system, where the velocity of air or water in a pipe is used to
provide a lifting action. In a hand held version used by divers to remove
sand or mud.
Hydraulic system System of pumps, motors, valves and cylinders using hydraulic oil under
a high pressure to perform various operations, such as driving tensioners,
lifting stingers, operating cranes etc.
Hydrophore vessel Vessel containing water and compressed air, supplying water at a fixed
pressure to e.g. a domestic water system.
Hydrostatic (testing) Testing a joint of pipe or a large section of pipe using water as the test
medium.
Hyperbaric Concerned with, or operating at pressures higher than normal. Usually
applied to diving operations (hyperbaric diving) where divers live in a
habitat under pressure for the duration of the diving operation.

I
IncidentInfield An unplanned occurrence leading to a near miss, an accident of a
fatality.
Infield line A pipeline, usually of relatively small diameter, between various
components of a subsea field. E.g. production or water injection lines
between wellheads and subsea manifolds.
Inner stinger Part of the laying vessel inside the hull, where the overbend of the pipe
starts.
Installation To put in position. Also, in offshore, word used to describe e.g. the act
of laying pipe, installing structures on the seabed etc.?????
Insulation Material that does not transfer heat quickly and is used to insulate e.g.
pipelines or vessels.
Internal line-up clamp The device that aids in lining up the ends of two pipes for welding and
keeps them pipes in place during the deposition of the 1st weld pass.ing.
Intelligent pig A pig provided with instrumentation to gather information on the
IR test pipeline geometry as it is being pumped through a line (see also Pig).

J
Jacket The steel, supporting structure of a platform.
Jet progress Rate at which a jet sled travels along the pipe.
Jet sled A sled, mostly towed along the seabed, provided with water jets. Used to
bury a pipeline in the seabed.

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DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY
July 2003

Word in English Definition

Jetting The act of lowering a structure or a pipe in the seabed by means of water
jets.
Jig A device used in the manufacture of parts to hold and locate the partand
to guide the cutting tool.
J-lay Method of laying pipe in the J-mode; welding on pipe joints in a nearly
vertical orientation.Laying the pipeline on the seabed, vertically from
the ship, bending it in a 'J' shape.
J-mode Mode of laying or holding a pipeline in a “J” configuration with the end
held at a small angle with the vertical and without the “overbend”,
characteristic for the “S-lay” configuration.
Joint A length of pipe, usually of a length of 40 ft ( 12.2 m).
Joint Venture A partnership in whatever form between an Allseas legal entity and a
third party.
J-tube A tubular in the form of a “J” built into a platform structure. The
horizontal end opens to the sea close to the seabed and the vertical
section terminates above water. A pipeline can be pulled from a lay
vessel through such a tube on a wire rope.
Jumpers Short pieces of flexible or steel pipe connection e.g. pipes to subsea
manifolds.

K
Keel Lowest longitudinal support on which a ship is built.
Kinematic on the fly (KOTF) Method of ultrasonic scanning of girth welds.
Knot Unit of Vessel or current speed equal to 1 NM / hour = 1852m / hour

L
L.A.T. Lowest Astronomical Tide.
Landfall The act of sighting or nearing land, esp. from the sea.
In offshore, this word is used to describe the area pointwhere the
pipeline comes to shore. Usually, special works must be done in the
landfall area to provide sufficient cover to the pipe for protection.laid at
sea meets land.???
Latitude The angular distance of a position on the globe measured in degrees
from the equator.
Lay direction Direction into which a pipeline is being laid.
Laybarge Barge, usually flat topped, provided with a mooring system, used to
install pipelines on the seabed.
LaybargeLayvessel Ship shaped vessel, provided with a Dynamic Positioning system, used
to install pipelines on the seabed.
Laydown head Short section of pipe, usually flanged to the pipeline, provided with
valves and a small manifold to allow the flooding and testing of a
pipeline. After this, the pipeline end is lowered to the seafloor.
Laydown, laydown point The act of laying down a pipe on the seafloor, attached to an
Abandonment/Recovery cable.
Layrate Rate of progress of a laybarge or vessel, measured in km/day or
joints/day.
Leeside Sheltered side of a vessel; the side away from the direction from which
the wind is blowing.
Life boat Boat, used for the evacuation of personnel from a vessel.
Life raft Raft, used for the evacuation of personnel from a vessel.
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DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY
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Word in English Definition

Line up clamp Clamp that is used to hold a pipe and line it up with another pipe before
welding.
Line up station The point (station) where pipes are lined up before welding.
Line up tween deck A deck between two decks of a vessel where pipes are lined up.
Linepipe Designation of the quantity of pipe before the individual joints are
welded into a pipe”line”.
Link-lok mattress A flat “mattress”, comprised of wire or nylon rope attaching clumps of
concrete. Is often draped over a pipeline on the seabed to provide
protection or to increase stability.
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping British classification society
Load-cells Devices to measure and record stinger forces during pipelay
Load-out The act of placing a structure or item onto the barge or vessel, that will
be used to bring it to the offshore site where it will be placed on the
seabed or used.
Longitude The angular distance of a position measured in degrees from the
Greenwich meridian.
Longitudinal conveyor The conveyor that moves pipe along.
Longitudinal seam Seam stretching over the entire length of a pipe.
Lost time injury A work related injury which prevents an employee from continuing the
job he/she was performing prior to the injury up to a period of 2 shifts.
Lower deck Deck below the main deck.
Lumpsum An agreed sum of money, which is paid in full at one time.

M
Machined Piece of material that has been subject to a mechanical machining
operation e.g. turned on a lathe.
Main deck Principal deck of a ship.
Malfunction reports Report on defects or failures.
Manifold In offshore terms A chamban assembly of pipes. Often provided with
valves and a with a number of inlets or outlets used to collect or
distribute a fluid. A typical subsea manifold is the station where the
individual flowlines from a number of wells come together for
commingling into a larger line to e.g. a platform.
Manoeuvring / manoeuvrability Perform manoeuvres / ability to change direction.
Manometers Gauge, indicating pressure in a system.
Manual Operated / done by hand or a book of instructions or information.
Mastic Any of several sticky putty-like substances used as a filler, adhesive, or
seal. In offshore terms the material that is used in hot or cold form to add
weight and protection to the field joint of a concrete coated pipe., ????
Document distribution mMatrix, Table of columns and rows used to record to whom particular documents
matrices have been distributed, includes information such as which revision of
document and recipients sign, where relevant, for receipt.
Mattress A longitudinally shaped mattress, which can be made out of various
materials (concrete clumps, mastic, weighted fabric) that is placed on
the seabed to prevent scour around a structure or protection to pipes.A
concrete slab which is lowered into the sea from a vessel to
protect ???????
Mean seabed level (MSL) The average of the different seabed levels measured.
Mess room Room on a vessel where food is served to the crew.

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DICTIONARY OF TERMINOLOGY
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Word in English Definition

Metrology Act of accurately measuring the distance between e.g. two flanges to
allow the fabrication and installation of a fitting piece of pipe between
the two flanges.
MIF Mattress Installation Frame.
MIG welding Metal Inert Gas welding, a welding technique where a thin wire is used
as an electrode within a shield of inert gas.
Minor injury An injury resulting in first aid treatment by the medic, not resulting in a
LTI.

Mobilisation The act of preparing a vessel or other equipment for its specific task on a
project. When e.g. Lorelay is “mobilised”, all personnel, project
materials, installation aids etc. are loaded onto the vessel whereupon the
vessel sails to the offshore installation site. When all systems are in
place and ready for operation, the vessel is considered to be “mobilised”
for the project.
Moment of inertia Geometrical property of a section of material e.g. a pipe or a beam used
in stress analysis.
Moon pool A hole through the hull of a vessel down to the keel, that is open to the
sea. Used to lower e.g. diving equipment down into the sea within the
protection of the hull, so that the sensitive equipment does not have to
pass through the wave zone.
Moored vessel Vessel secured with wire ropes and anchors.
Mooring winch Winch that is part of the mooring system of a vessel, capable of storing a
large length of wire rope.
Mudmat(s) Flat sections underneath a seabed structure that increase its bearing area
to prevent sinking into the soil.
Multiphase flow A flow situation in pips in which at least two material phases (solid,
liquid, gas) are simultaneously present

N
Navigation bridge The bridge used for the control of a DP vessel used during sailing of the
vessel. In contrast with the DP bridge to which control is transferred
during DP operations.
NDE (crew position?) Non Destructive Examination, word describing all techniques to
examine materials or welds by means of e.g. gamma rays or acoustics,
that do not damage the material during the test.
NDT station Non-Destructive Testing station on pipelay vessel, where the welds are
examined by NDT.
NDT, Non Destructive Testing see “NDE”.
Near Miss An event which, under slightly different conditions, could have resulted
in injury to personnel, and/or damage to environment or equipment.
NMD Class 3 Highest Norwegian Maritime Directorate DP Class for a vessel.
Non-return valve A valve that allows flow in only one direction.
Nozzle An orifice through which air, water or steam is pumped or allowed to
expand at a high velocity. Is often used in jetting equipment to cut
through or fluidise the soil. Sometimes ship’s propellers have a nozzle
around them to increase the performance of the propeller.

O
OFFPIPEOff pipe A computer program specifically written for the analysis of the
installation of pipelines.

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Word in English Definition

Off-bottom tow The towing underwater of long strings of pipe or pipeline bundles at a
controlled height above the seabed. Often, such pipes or bundles are
built onshore and then towed off-bottom towards the field where they are
to be installed.
Offshore In essence meaning “off the shore” and thus at sea. A term often used to
describe the entire oil and gas infrastructure in the sea as well as the
industry and the vessels serving this industry. “Going offshore” means
going to a platform or vessel at sea to perform a certain task.
Oil Any number of viscous liquids with a smooth sticky feel. They are
usually flammable, insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, and
are obtained from plants and animals, from mineral deposits, and by
synthesis. They are used as lubricants, fuels, perfumes, foodstuffs, and
raw materials for chemicals.
Oil filter A filter usually made out of steel mesh, through which oil is led to
remove foreign materials.
Operator The company which manages the operation of oil or gas production for
itself or on behalf of its partners.
Overbend Part of the pipeline as it is being installed from a layvessel or laybarge.
Joints of pipe are welded onto the pipe in the firing line. At the end of
the firing line the pipe is led into a curve, that is continued on the
stinger. At the end of the stinger, the pipe departs from this curve under
a certain angle towards the seabed. The curved downward section on the
layvessel and stinger is called the overbend.

P
PA system Public Address System: system allowing a person to address everybody
on e.g. a vessel or a plane through loudspeakers.
PE Poly Ethylene: a type of anti-corrosion coating, often used on pipelines.
Peak shaving Pipelines are sometimes installed on a rough seabed. Spans or high
stresses in the pipe may be the result of this roughness. The seabed can
be smoothened by “shaving” away the peaks by means of dredging
techniques.
Pedestal crane A large revolving crane mounted on a base.
Performance summary Project specific overview of vessel performance, daily showing the
length laid and duration of breakdown activities.
Perpendicular At right angles with. Ships have a fore and an aft perpendicular with in
between the ship’s design length. The fore perpendicular is situated
where the vessel's bow crosses the waterline and the aft perpendicular is
situated at the rudder stock of the vessel.
Phoenix The in-house developed semi-automatic Gas Metal Arc Weldinghigh
quality welding system., supervised by an operator.
Phoenix Gold Improved version of “Phoenix”.
PIG (Pipeline Instrumental Gauge) In offshore terms: an object that can be blown or pumped through a
pipeline. Generally, pigs have a cylindrical body and are provided with a
number of flexible discs that close the annulus between the pig’s body
and the inside of the pipe. When a fluid is introduced in the pipe behind
the pig, it will start moving forward under pressure of this fluid. Pigs can
be used for various purposes such as cleaning a line, providing a barrier
between gas and liquid in the pipe etc.
Pig launcher A section of pipe usually bolted on to the pipeline, provided with valves
and a small manifold. Pigs can be launched from this assembly to fill the
line with water, clean it etc.
Pigging The act of sending a pig through a pipeline.

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Word in English Definition

Piggy-back A small diameter pipeline installed by strapping it to a larger diameter
pipeline when the larger line is installed from a layvessel (in a
conventional manner).
Pipe bending test A test where one or more joints of pipeline are forced into a certain
curvature. The objective can be to find out the behaviour of the pipe
and/or its coating under a certain amount of bending.
Pipe crane / pipe transfer crane A crane used for the transportation or loading of joint of linepipe.
Pipe-in-pipe A system of two pipes, where one is inside the other. Most often used to
provide the inner pipe (the flowline) with a highly efficient heat
insulating system. The annulus between the pipes is often pre-filled with
insulating material.
Pipe pay-out After one or more joints of pipe have been welded onto the pipeline, the
layvessel moves forward “paying-out” the pipeline.
Pipecarrier A vessel with a larger deck or hold, carrying joints of pipe from shore to
the lay vessel. Pipe carriers are often designed specifically for this
purpose.
Pipehaul The act of transporting joints of line pipe from one place to the other,
but most often the operation of transporting the line pipe from shore to
the layvessel.
Pipelay barge See “Lay barge”
Pipelay vessel See “Layvessel”
Pipelay(ing) The act of installing a pipeline on the seabed using a laybarge or vessel.
Pipelaying geometry The shape of and the forces on the pipeline going from the overbend on
the vessel to the seabed.
Pipeline Long pipe, used to transport oil, natural gas etc., over long distances.
Pipeline bundles Several pipelines can be strapped together into bundles. These are often
contained within a large carrier pipe for protection and to provide
buoyancy for the system. Bundles are often towed into position. (See
“Off-bottom tow”).
Pitching The movement of a ship in waves about a transverse horizontal axis is
known as pitching as the bow goes up and down repeatedly. Rotation of
a fluctuating object around transversal axis?
Platform, drilling and production Drilling platform: a structure either fixed to the seabed or mobile, which
supports the machinery and equipment (drilling rig), together with the
stores, required for drilling an offshore oil well.
Production platform: a platform from which development wells are
drilled and that also houses a processing plant and other equipment
necessary to keep a field in production.
PLEM, PipeLline End Manifold ??In offshore terms: a structure at the end of a pipeline provided with
e.g. a valve or a connector. Mostly used as a connection point for
flexible risers, underbuoy hoses and in deep water, mechanical pipeline
connectors.
(see 'Manifold').
Plimsoll line/ Plimsoll mark A group of lines marked on the outside of the sides of a ship to mark the
minimum freeboard permitted in different parts of the world and
seasons.
Plough In offshore terms: an implement towed along a pipeline installed on the
seabed, provided with blades to make a trench for the pipeline to lay
in.An implement with sharp blades used for clearing ?????
Pneumatic system A system of small diameter pipes, valves and cylinders for the control of
operations or the performance of functions, using compressed air as a
medium.

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Word in English Definition

Polyurethane A type of polymer (“plastic”) that is often used offshore for all kinds of
purposes such as the cover of rollers, buoys, field joint coating, etc.
Pontoon A flat bottomed vessel with a shallow draft.
Port side The left side of a vessel (when standing onboard and facing the
frontnose or bow).
PP Poly Propylene: a type of material used for anti-corrosion coating, often
used on pipelines.
Pressed masticPressed mastic Field joint coating system using slabs of heated mastic wrapped and
pressed around the field joint instead of the usual hot, liquid mastic
poured into a mould.
Pressure testing The act of subjecting a pipeline or a vessel to a controlled and pre-
calculated pressure to test its pressure containing capability. Once a
pipeline or a pipeline system has successfully completed the pressure
test, the contractor has usually fulfilled his contractual obligation
towards his client to provide an acceptable pipeline.
Pre-sweeping Pipeline may have to be installed on a seabed that has sand waves and
induces high stresses in the line. The seabed may be smoothened by a
process of “pre-sweeping” the rough sections by means of suction
dredgers.
Procedure A way of progressing in a course of action, esp. an established method.
Within Allseas: a booklet produced with sets of instructions/methods
(see “Manual”).
Profilers Usually an instrument using acoustic techniques to provide an image on
a screen of e.g. the seabed and the pipeline in a trench.
Project In offshore terms: the total contractual obligation Allseas takes on when
a contract is signed with a client, including all activities to be carried out
in accordance with the scope of work.
Project team The small core team of personnel, responsible for the organisation of all
activities required for the completion of the project.
PropellerPropellors A device having blades radiating from a central hub used to push or pull
an object through air or water.
Propulsion The act of pushing or pulling an object through air or water.
Protection frame Steel frame welded to installation equipment in order to protect it from
being damaged during and after installation.
PRT, pipeline recovery tool A tool, designed to grip a pipeline when the seabed with such force that
the pipe can safely be pulled to the surface. Used e.g. in cases where a
pipe is damaged and cannot be recovered in a conventional way over the
stinger.
Pull In pipelaying terms: the act of advancing the vessel by a distance of one
(or two) joint lengths. A “pull” is made everytime a new joint (or double
joint) has been welded to the pipe. Also in more general terms: the
pulling of a large length of pipe in a J-tube or from a vessel towards the
shore when making a landfall.Transferring the vessel or the firing line by
one pipe length in order to weld the next piece of pipe to the last.
Pulsed MIG welding A variation of the Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) process. The essential
difference with normal MIG is that the welding wire is melted by means
of a pulsed welding current which causes small molten droplets. This
leads to an adjustable weld pool and arc penetration. The welding wire is
solid and alloyed to give the deposited weld metal certain properties.
This process is sometimes used for automatic welding of pipelines.

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Word in English Definition

Qualifications The exceptions and modifications made to the technical or contractual
requirements of a client at time of tender.
Quality Assurance (QA) All the planned and systematic management activities implemented
within a quality system and demonstrated as needed, to provide adequate
confidence that an entity will fulfil specified requirements.
Quality Control (QC) Operational control of verification techniques and activities that are used
to fulfil requirements for quality.
Quay, quayside Solid, fixed landing stage or wharf.
QHSE Quality, Health, Safety and Environment.

R
RAO Response Amplitude Operator. This is a diagram or table showing for
each wave frequency the amount of ship motion (surge, heave, sway,
roll, pitch and yaw) caused by 1m wave amplitude for a certain wave
direction relative to the ship.
Ready-rack The rack that pipes are laid on before entering the bevel station.
Receptacle An object that holds something. In offshore: often a structure designed
for the pull-in and alignment of another structure.Tool to make stab-in
and hinge-over possible.
Recovery In offshore terms, the recovery of a pipeline from the seabed back to the
vessel by means of a recovery cable.
Redundant capacity Additional cCapacity above the capacity required, added as a precaution
against failure, error etc. In offshore terms: a redundant system means
that it has been arranged in such a way that even when large parts of the
system break down, it will still be capable of performing its function in a
safe manner.
Reeling (of pipes) Instead of installing pipes by the J-lay or S-lay method, they can also be
reeled. With this method, long strings of pipe are prepared onshore and
then spooled onto a large reel, mounted on a vessel. Once the pipe has
been spooled on the reel, the vessel moves offshore to the installation
site and starts to install pipe on the seabed by unreeling the
pipe.Method ??
Rigger Personnel, working on a layvessel, specialised in assisting in the actual
laying and installation operations. Skilled in the use of winches, wire
ropes, shackles installation aids etc.
Rigger knife Sturdy knife used by a rigger.
Rigging Any form of lifting gear, tackle, wire ropes etc.
Riser The vertical pipe between a pipeline on the seabed and a fixed or
floating surface unit.
Riser clamp A clamp attached to an offshore jacket for holding a riser.
Rockdump, Rockplacement In offshore terms: an amount of rock of specified sizes and
characteristics, dumped e.g. on pipelines to provide protection, around
platform to prevent scour etc.
Roll The phenomenon of a ship’s behaviour in waves, wherein she changes
her angle of heel.Rotation of a floating object along longitudinal axis?
Rolling period The movement of a ship in waves about a longitudinal horizontal axis is
known as rolling. The time taken for a complete roll from the upright
position first to one side then to the other and back to upright again is
called rolling period or pitching period.
Roller box Structure for the support of the pipe on the layvessel and the stinger.
Provided with rollers to reduce the pulling force necessary to move the
pipe.
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Word in English Definition

Route survey Survey of the seabed along the proposed route of the pipeline to gather
information on bottom features, soils etc.
ROV, remotely operated vehicle Electrically operated vehicle for subsea use, attached to a support vessel
by means of an umbilical. Provided with a number of small thrusters and
instrumentation to allow a pilot on the support vessel to steer and
otherwise operate the vehicle. Can be fitted with cameras,
instrumentation and manipulator arms to carry out a variety of
surveillance and construction tasks.
Rudders Large movable plates attached to a vessel for controlling the course of a
vessel.

S
Sagbend Part of the geometry of a pipeline during installation. Refers to the bend
in the pipe just before the touchdown point with the seabed.
Sagbend strain The strain imposed on the pipeline as a result of the curvature and
pressure effects in the sagbend.
Sailing speed (sometimes transit The travelling speed of a vessel.
speed)
Sand dumping The dumping of large quantities of sand from a vessel, e.g. to fill up
trenches or dredged area on the seabed.
Satellite fields Most often: subsea developments, comprising a number of wells that are
located some distance away from a major field. Usually satellites are
connected to processing facilities and export pipeline systems on the
major field.
Sea fastening The constructions necessary to fasten a structure to a sea going vessel or
barge to ensure that it can withstand all forces due to vessel motions
during transportation.
Seabed The bottom of the sea.
Seaman's book An official document, identifying a person as having the proper
qualifications to serve on a sea going vessel.
Seismic investigation An investigation into the depth of the soil, on- or offshore, to find details
of the various levels of the soil. Often performed by acoustic means.
This type of investigation may give an indication of the likelihood of
finding hydrocarbons in the soil and is used to identify the best location
for drilling testwells.
Semi-submersible or Semi See “Semi-submersible rig”
Semi-submersible rig A vessel that floats, supported by underwater pontoons, with much of
her structure below the waterline to reduce vessel motions in (high)
waves.
Sensors Equipment, designed to receive (sense) signals of various kinds, such as
acoustics, light, etc.
Servi-wrap A flexible corrosion coating material delivered in the form of thin sheets
on rolls that can be wrapped around field joints to provide corrosion
protection.
Shackles (bolt type anchor) Metal ring or fastening.
Shallow water barge (SWB) A pontoon shaped vessel with a small depth (draft) below the waterline,
capable of operating in shallow waters e.g. near shore.
Sheave Grooved pulley for use with ropes or round belts.
Shielded metal-arc welding The use of coated consumable electrodes. The coating provides
protection from the atmosphere for the weld pool as the covering
vaporises.

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Word in English Definition

Shielding Prevention of interfering currents in a circuit, due to external electric
fields. Any complete metallic shield earthed at one point is adequate.
Shore approach The section of a pipeline route where the pipe approaches the shore and
crosses the waterline. Special measures must often be taken in this area
as the layvessels have only limited capability to approach the shore,
sometimes dunes must be crossed or rock type soils excavated. In this
area the pipe is often pulled from the layvessel, standing off at a distance
from shore, towards a sheave or pulling arrangement onto the beach.
Shore approach barge (SAB) A flat bottom barge of small draft, capable of operating in the near shore
area.
Shrink sleeves Used for the coating of a field joint of a pipeline. A plastic sheet is
wrapped around the pipe and heated, causing it to shrink tight around the
field joint.
Side tap A branch in a pipeline, often used on gas transmission lines to allow gas
from another field to use the same transmission line.
Site Onshore location where project related work is executed, e.g. landfall
site, load-out site etc.
Site query Form issued to the client raising the question on how to proceed certain
parts of the work that can’t be executed according approved procedures,
specifications, drawings etc.
Skid Device to facilitate sliding, for instance in moving heavy objects.
S-lay method A method of installing pipelines on the seabed, where lengths of line
pipe are welded onto the pipeline in the horizontal or near horizontal
position on a vessel or barge. At the end of the vessel the pipe is
supported by rollers on a curved ramp and a tubular construction
(stinger) guiding it towards the seabed. The shape of the pipe from the
vessel to the seabed is that of an “S”.Laying a pipeline on the seabed
from the aft of the vessel horizontally moving forward, bending the pipe
in an 'S' shape.
Sonar Sound, Navigation and Ranging: use of echoes of pressure waves sent
down to the bottom of the sea and reflected, the delay between sending
and receiving times giving a measure of the depth; used also to detect
wrecks and seabed obstructions etc.
Span A section of pipeline that is not supported by the seabed.
Span rectification The act of reducing a span. E.g. by means of dumping rock in the middle
of the span.
Splash door An external door on a vessel, usually not watertight, that is meant to
prevent the waves entering certain sections of the vessel
Spoolpiece A section of pipe 'S' formed pipe constructioninstalled, welded between
the end of a pipeline and a riser. Is structure in order to make shrinking,
expanding and moving of the pipeline possible.often designed to absorb
pressure and temperature expansion of the pipeline.
Spreader bar A beam used for the lifting of objects. Meant to maintain a certain
distance between two or more slings so that the slings are loaded in a
near vertical position.
Sprinkler pump A pump for the installed pipe system, having at regular intervals spray
nozzles which are protected by covers made of a fusible alloy; these, in
the event of a fire, melt and release water for automatic fire fighting.
SSIV Subsea Isolation Valve: a valve placed in a subsea gas pipeline near a
platform. In case of a breakage in the line, it will close automatically,
preventing the highly flammable contents of the pipeline releasing near
the platform. Were introduced and retrofitted into many pipelines on the
North Sea after the disaster at Piper Alpha.

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Word in English Definition

Stab-in and Hinge-over Method ofto lay down the starting uppoint of a pipelines in deep waters.
The end of a pipe is provided with a long, heavy weight and the pipe is
lowered down in a vertical orientation from the layvessel. The heavy
weight is lowered into a purpose-designed funnel on a seabed structure
by “stabbing “it in, during lowering. Subsequently, the vessel moves
away causing the pipeline to “hinge-over” at a hinge at the heavy weight
section.
Stack height (Allowable) The number of rows of line pipe joints that are stacked on top of each
other, expressed in number of rows. The allowable stack height is of
importance for the determination of pipe transportation and storage
quantities.
Stalk-on riser A vertical section of pipe to be attached to a jacket structure. It is
installed by a vessel by lifting the pipe to the surface by means of davits,
welding on the vertical section (“stalking-on the riser”) and lowering the
pipe to the seabed, while placing the riser in its clamps on the jacket.A
pre-fabricated piece of pipe connected to the 'jacket' of a platform.
Stanchion height The height of a pillar, usually of steel, for the support of a
superstructure.
Starboard The right side of a vessel, facing the front (or bow).
Start-up The start of a pipelaying operation. May be done by means of a Dead
Man Anchor on the seabed, a start-up pile, a J-tube pull or various other
methods.
Start-up head A section of pipe bolted on to the beginning of the pipeline. Provided
with valves, pigs etc., to allow dewatering of the pipe in case of a
contingency.
Start-up pile A pile (provided with a sheave) that is hammered into the seabed. A
wire is pre-rigged through the sheave to be attached to the start-up head
of the pipe. During start-up, the pipe is pulled over the stinger towards
the pile. The pile is provided with a locking mechanism. When the pipe
end reaches the pile, the locking mechanism is activated so that the pull
force is transferred to the pile and the pulling wire can be cut. A start-up
pile is used when a start-up has to be made in an area where a DMA
anchor cannot be deployed (close to platforms).
Static Non-movable or non-rotating.
Steel wire rope Thin, flexible metal strands making up a rope.
Stern The rear or after part of a vessel.Inflexible/rigid.
Stern quartering seas Waves coming at an angle of 45 degrees with the stern of the vessel.
Stinger handling system A mechanism, designed to raise and lower the stinger of a laying vessel.
Stinger hinge The attachment point of the base of the stinger to the lay vessel.
Stinger, fixed Tubular structure attached to the stern of a pipelay vessel to limit the
bending of the pipe as it leaves the vessel's firing line on the way to the
seabed.
Stinger, floating Floating tubular structure system, provided with a system for controlling
the buoyancy of its sections through flooding or evacuating sections by
means of compressed air. The buoyancy is adjusted to ensure that the
pipe has the correct configuration in the overbend. The sections can
move relative to the barge and often relative to each other., moving
relative to the pipelay vess(see “Stinger, fixed”).
Stinger, radii The pipeline is guided over the stinger on roller boxes. By setting the
stinger sections at predetermined angles relative to each other and the
rollerboxes to predetermined heights, the pipeline can be guided over the
stinger in a certain radius. Different radii are often used for the various
sizes of pipe.

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Word in English Definition

Strainer/filters A device usually including fine wire meshes or other filter materials to
remove particles from e.g. oil, water or other fluids.
Studbolt(s) Fastening system, comprising a threaded length and two nuts and
washers.
Sub bottom profiler An acoustical system, operating at low frequencies, used to penetrate the
seafloor to provide e.g. information on the thickness and make-up of the
layers of soil beneath the surface or to identify objects buried in the soil.
Subcontract A subordinate contract under which the supply materials, labour or
services is let out to an organisation someone other than a party to the
main contract.
Subcontractor A person or company that enters into a subcontract, esp. a company that
undertakes to complete part of another's contract. Subcontractors
usually assumes some of the responsibilities of the main contractors.
Submerged, submersible “Under water”, or capable of operating under water.
Subsea Installation Frame (SIF) A frame designed by Allseas, to operate from Trenchsetter, provided
with a positioning system that allows it to accurately install e.g. subsea
mattresses or small structures such as protective tunnels, on the seafloor.
Subsea pig signaller A device that can be built onto a subsea pipeline that detects the passage
of a pig and provides a positive signal of its passing.
Subsea pipeline trencher A machine, built to provide a trench for a pipeline as it has been
installed on the seabed. Usually these trenches take the form of a plough
or of a tracked, mechanical system such as Digging Donald.
Subsea structure A structure installed on the seabed, which may be for a variety of
purposes, such as the protection of a manifold, the protection of a well
head etc.
Suction The act of providing a low pressure, causing a liquid to be “sucked” into
the inlet of a pipeline or a pump.
Supply vessel Vessel carrying equipment from shore base to offshore structures or
vessels.
Surge Longitudinal (fore and aft) movement of a vessel.
Survey The act of accurately determining the features of an object or an area
such as distances, heights, properties etc. In offshore terms used to
describe the activities resulting in e.g. bathymetric or geotechnical
information as well as the positioning of vessels, pipelines etc. on the
seabed.To plot a detailed map of an area by measuring or calculating
distances and height.??
Survey vessel A vessel provided with specialist equipment and crew to provide survey
information.
Sway Transverse (sideways) movement of a floating vessel.
Switchboard A control board with switches and indicators, from which certain
electrical functions can be controlled.
Swivel A connection in a pipe, hose or mooring line which can transmit axial
forces but allows rotation about that axis.

T
Taperlok flange Special type of flange connection, different from the “standard ANSI”
flange. Taperloks are more compact.
Target box The theoretical “box” on the seabed that serves to indicate the area into
which the end of a pipeline must be installed.

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Word in English Definition

Taut wire A thin wire provided with a clump weight. The wire is lowered from a
vessel to the seabed and the wire is kept under tension (“taut”). Changes
in the position of the vessel will register as small changes in the angle of
the wire. These are measured and used to compute the change in position
of the vessel relative to the clump weight on the seabed. Is often used as
a reference system for input into a Dynamically Positioned vessel.
Tee-piece A section of pipe, provided with a connection at right angles with the
centre line of the pipe.
Template Often a subsea structure placed on the seabed to allow drilling to take
place through this structure prior to the installation of a steel jacket and
platform template. Also used loosely for other subsea structures such as
those containing pipeline manifolds etc.
Tensile stress Stress in the longitudinal direction of an object, causing a positive strain
in the object (the object becomes a bit “longer”).
Tensioner A mechanical device, provided with large tracks, that are clamped
around a pipeline. Used on lay vessels to keep tension in the pipeline
while it is being installed on the seabed. The tensioner is often provided
with a sophisticated electric or hydraulic system, by which the tension in
the pipe can be controlled even when the vessel is subject to motions due
to wave, wind or when it moves forward (or backward) along the
pipeline route.
Tensioner deadband setting The tensioner can be set not to start operating and adjusting the tension
in the pipeline before the difference between the actual tension and a
preset tension value is larger or smaller than a set value. The difference
between the sum of the positive and negative difference is called the
“deadband”. In practical terms this means that the tensioner will not
move ( stay “dead”) while the tension is within the limits of the “band”.
Tension Leg Platform (TLP) A buoyant structure that is anchored to the sea floor by vertical mooring
lines.
Testing Examining. Also, hydrotesting.
Throttle A device to regulate the flow of a liquid or gas.
Thruster A propeller on a ship, on DP vessels often capable of rotating so that the
“thrust” is given in a certain direction. An auxiliary propeller on a ship.
Tie-in In offshore terms, the connection between two sections of a pipeline,
often on the seabed, by means of connectors, a weld or flanges.
Tiers Layeors/levels, often used when describing various levels of complexity
of e.g. calculations; Tier One-simple calculation, Tier Two-more
complicated calculation.
TIG welding A welding process, also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW),
which uses an inert gas to shield a separately-added welding wire against
the atmosphere. The arc is formed by a tungsten electrode which is not
melting. This process is used for automatic welding of “exotic” steel
pipelines.
Tip clearance The distance between the pipeline and the last roller on the stinger. Used
as a measure to judge if the installation of the pipe with a certain tension
is considered safe and feasible.
Tonnage The cubic capacity of a vessel or the total weight or amount of cargo
expressed in tons.
TOP, top of pipe The distance between the highest part of the pipe and another reference
level. Often used to define the depth of trenching of a pipe relative to the
seabed.
Torque The turning moment exerted by a tangential force acting at a distance
from the axis of rotation.

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Touchdown point monitoring (TDM) The touchdown point is the first part of the sagbend that touches the
seabed. During installation, it is often monitored by the cameras on an
ROV when pipes have to be installed with high accuracy, such as when
it crosses another pipe.Survey?
Towage The act of towing or being towed or a charge made for towing.Dragging
along behind at the end of a rope.
Towage hook Hook used to connect the rope necessary for towage.
Towage reel Spool used during towage.
Track An endless jointed metal band driven by wheels to allow a vehicle to
travel over rough terrain, such as used to propel tanks or e.g. Digging
Donald.????????????????
Track rollers Rollers, supporting the track. ?????????????????
Transit speed The normal travelling speed of a vessel between two offshore locations.
Transponders A form of transmitter-receiver, normally underwater, which transmits
signals automatically when the correct interrogation is received.
Transverse conveyor A means to transport pipe (joints) sideways.
Trench, Trenching In offshore terms: the act of providing a ditch in the seabed for the
protection of a pipeline.
Trencher An implement such as a pulled plough or a mechanical digging machine,
to provide a ditch in the seabed.
Trim The differences between the draughts measured at the forward and after
perpendiculars. May be expressed as an angle.
Trough In offshore terms: a trough shaped concrete section to be placed on the
seabed. A pipeline can be installed in the trough, where the trough
protects it against e.g. the impact of trawl boards.A V-shaped extension
of the isobars from a centre of low pressure
Trough installation Installing troughs on the seabed prior to laying the pipe in the
troughs.????????????????????
Trunkline A pipeline of usually large diameter, that serves to export the oil or gas
from one or more offshore fields to the shore or a large offshore
processing facility.
Tube/tubing A steel, or other material, pipe of very small diameter e.g. for hydraulic
or pneumatic control systems. In drilling terms: the small diameter
internal pipes in a well that bring the oil from the producing formations
to the surface.
Tubular frame A frame made out of tubular sections (pipes).
Tug A vessel type that can provide a large towing force at a low speed, used
for towing vessels or other floating objects.
Tugger A small, rugged, often air driven winch, fitted with a small diameter
steel wire. Is often used to control objects during lifting or on-deck
operations etc.Type of winch?
Tunnel In offshore terms: often a protective device, that can be placed over a
subsea pipeline for protection.

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Word in English Definition

Umbilical A collection of small diameter hoses and often electric cables, that e.g.
connect a subsea manifold to a platform. The small diameter hoses are
used for e.g. hydraulic control of the systems on the manifold, the
conveying of chemicals into the wells and the electric cables for the
transmission of power and signals. Umbilical are often provided with a
strong elastomer sheet as well as wire mesh for protection against
damage. To allow control of the vessel, Allseas’ trencher Digging
Donald is connected with an umbilical to Trenchsetter.
Umbilical heave compensator A device through which an umbilical is guided, ensuring that it is not
damaged by the heave of a vessel.
Upheaval buckling A phenomena, where a buried pipeline expands upwards, out of its
trench, caused by temperature and pressure.
Upstream The direction opposite to the flow in a pipeline.
Upper deck The main strength deck of a ship. From this deck all scantlings are
determined, freeboard assigned and subdivisions arranged, according to
type of vessel.
(A)UT Automated Ultrasonic Testing: a method to test the girth welds of
pipelines by means of a purpose designed ultrasonic testing tool.
Utility Something used/made for practical purposes.

V
Valve spools Lengths of pipe between a valve and the main pipeline in e.g. a subsea
valve structure.???????????????
Valves A device that is built into a pipe for cutting of or regulating the flow
through the pipe.
Variation order (VO) A contractual document, describing the scope of work, reimbursement
etc. of a piece of work that was not part of the original scope of a
project.
Variation order request (VOR) A contractor may find that he has to perform work which he judges to be
outside the original scope of work as agreed in the contract. He then
issues a request for a variation order to the client. Formal procedures for
issuing such requests are often included in the contract.
Vessel position list (VPL) List used by Allseas to announce all vessel positions and other relevant
vessel data. Updated and distributed by the Operations Department.
VHF system Very High Frequency, a type of radio communication often used
offshore.

W
Waiting on weather (WOW) When the weather turns bad, operations often have to be suspended until
the weather improves. The time spent not working, but waiting to
resume operations, is called WOW.
Waiver request Request to “waive” (or not apply) a part of a specification or a
procedure. Also, called a Concession Request.Requested written
statement on something.
Warranty Surveyor Person who inspects and approves a certain marine operation in order to
obtain insurance for that operation
Water-tight Excluding water.
Weather-tight Not affected by the weather.

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Word in English Definition

Welding Joining pieces of suitable metals or plastics, usually by raising the
temperature at the joint so that the pieces may be united by fusing or by
forging or under pressure. The welding temperature may be attained by
external heating, by passing an electric current through the joint or by
friction.
Welding operator The person who welds pipe joints together e.g. by operating the
'Phoenix' automatic welding system or by manual welding.
Welding rods Filler metal in the form of a wire or rod.
Welding station A location on a laybarge, where (part of) the weld between two joints is
made.
Well heads The assembly extending a few metres off the surface or the seabed, that
caps off the section of the well underneath the surface, that is comprised
of casings, tubing etc.
Wet buckle Damage sustained by a pipeline during installation, resulting in a leak in
the pipe wall, causing the pipe to flood.
Wet buckle recovery A procedure with the objective to recover a pipeline back to the surface
that has experienced a wet buckle.
Wet test As opposed to “dry” test, (meaning a test on land under simulated
conditions), the wet test of equipment is performed in water to ensure
realistic conditions.
Winch A piece of equipment, designed to pull on a wire rope, made of steel or
another material. The rope is often spooled onto a drum, that is driven
by hydraulic or electric means.
Wire tension ForcePressure under which a wire is being held.
Workability The percentage of time that an operation or process can statistically be
expected to work satisfactorily under conditions to be expected at the
given locality.

X
Xmas tree The system (or assembly) of valves, sensors and other devices placed on
a wellhead after the completion of all drilling activities. Pipelines are
connected to the Christmas tree to export/inject the fluid from/or into the
well.
X-ray A non destructive examination technique, using a radioactive source, to
provide an image of e.g. a weld on radiographic film.
X-ray crawler A device provided with a propulsion system that can travel in a pipeline.
It carries safely a radioactive source that can be used to make X-ray
photographs of a pipeline weld.

Y
Yaw Rotation of a vessel around a vertical axis.
Yield stress For offshore pipelines: the stress at which the total strain of the pipe is
0.5%.
Y-piece (Wye-piece) A section of pipe, provided with a branch connection. Usually the
branch connection is arranged perpendicular to the main line ( a so
called Tee-piece). With a Y-piece the branch is arranged under an angle.
This arrangement is often chosen to allow pipeline pigs to be sent into
the main line from both the branches.

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Word in English Definition

Zenith The point of the celestial body vertically above the observer’s head; one
of the two poles of the horizon.

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July 2003

ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation Explanation
0
C Degrees Celsius
A&R Abandonment and Recovery
ACAN Allseas Canada Limited
ACT Allseas Connection Tool
AEbv Allseas Engineering bv
AFE Approval For Expenditure
AGSA Allseas Group S.A.
AMC Allseas Marine Contractors
AMS Allseas Marine Services N.V.
AUK Allseas UK Limited
AUSA Allseas Services USA, Inc.
AVM Automated Vessel Management system
BOP Bottom of pipe
B.O.Y.S. Blue Marine Offshore Yard Services
CALM Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring
COSHH Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
DEA Danish Energy Agency
Dia Diameter
DJF Double Joint Factory
DMA Deadman Anchor
DP Dynamic Positioning
DPR Daily Progress Report
DPVOA DP Vessel Owners Association
DSV Diving Support Vessel
DTM Digital Terrain Model
EC Executive Committee
EPIC Engineering, Procurement, Installation and Construction
ER Engine Room
ERT Emergency Response Team
ETA Expected Time of Arrival
ETD Expected Time of Departure
FBE Fusion Bonded Epoxy
FEED Front End Engineering and Design
FJC Field Joint Coating
FPSO Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel
GBS Gravity Based Structure
(D)GPS (Differential) Global Positioning System
HAZOP Hazardous Operability
HPU Hydraulic Power Unit
HSE Health, Safety and Environmental
HV High Voltage
In. Inch(es)
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IT Information Technology Services

km Kilometre(s)
KP Kilometre Point
L.A.T. Lowest Astronomical Tide
L.O.A. Length Overall
LR Lloyd's Register
LRQA Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance
LRS Lloyd's Register of Shipping
LUSBL Long and ultra short baseline
m Metre(s)
MDG Main Diesel Generator
MIF Mattress Installation Frame
MIG (welding) Metal Insert Gas
MOBO Man Overboard
MT Management Team
NDT Non Destructive Testing
NM Nautical Mile = 1852m
NMD Norwegian Maritime Directorate
NPD Norwegian Petroleum Directorate
OM Office Management
O.O.S. Out Of Straightness
P&O Personnel & Organisation
P&T Pigging & Testing
PE Poly Ethylene
PIM Project Interface Meeting
PLEM Pipe Line End Manifold
POB People On Board
PP Poly Propylene
PRT Pipeline Recovery Tool
PSV Pipe supply vessel
PTC Pipe Transfer Crane
PU Poly Urethane
QA Quality Assurance
QC Quality Control
QIT Quality Improvement Team
QHSE Quality, Health, Safety and Environment
R&D Research & Development
R&M Repair and Maintenance
ROV Remotely Operated Vehicle
SAB Shore Approach Barge
SCAR Safety Corrective Action Request
SHE Safety, Health and Environment
SIF Subsea Installation Frame
SMS Safety Management System

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SOPEP Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plans

SOW Scope Of Work
SSIV Subsea Installation Valve
SSS Side Scan Sonar
SWB Shallow Water Barge
THF Trencher Handling Frame
TIF Tunnel Installation Frame
TIG (welding) Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
TIV Topside Installation Vessel
TRV Topside Removal Vessel
UHF Ultra High Frequency
UKOOA UK Offshore Operators Association
USBL Ultra short baseline
(A)UT (Automated) Ultrasonic Testing
VHF Very High Frequency
VMT Vessel Management Team
Vol. Volume
WOW Waiting On Weather

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