Tensioner pads for laying subsea pipelines and the like

1. A pad for a track-type tensioner comprises:

a rigid base plate;

an interface layer comprising a plurality of rigid elements that together define a contact face of the pad for gripping an elongate product supported by the tensioner in use, wherein the contact face of the pad is substantially planar in a rest state; and

a substrate layer of pliant material sandwiched between the base plate and the interface layer, the substrate layer supporting the elements of the interface layer for movement relative to each other and relative to the base plate;

the pad further comprising elongate gaps between adjacent elements of the interface layer, which gaps extend through the full thickness of the interface layer.

2. The pad of claim 1 , wherein the elements of the interface layer are elongate and aligned with each other side by side in a direction extending across the contact face.

3. The pad of claim 1 , wherein the elements of the interface layer are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix extending across the contact face.

4. The pad of claim 1 , wherein the base plate is wedge-shaped, defining an inclined face that supports the substrate layer.

5. The pad of claim 4 , wherein the elongate gaps are aligned in a direction extending across a slope of the inclined face.

6. The pad of claim 4 , wherein the elongate gaps are aligned in a direction extending down a slope of the inclined face.

7. The pad of claim 1 , wherein the substrate layer comprises slits in alignment and communication with the gaps.

8. The pad of claim 1 , wherein the elements of the interface layer taper away from the substrate layer.

9. The pad of claim 1 , wherein the contact face of the pad comprises three-dimensional patterned or textured surfaces of the elements of the interface layer.

10. The pad of claim 1 , wherein the substrate layer extends continuously across the back plate between the elements of the interface layer.

11. The pad of claim 1 , wherein the pliant material of the substrate layer is a polymer or rubber.

12. The pad of claim 1 , wherein the elements of the interface layer are made of steel or iron.

13. A track-type tensioner comprising a plurality of pads as defined in claim 1 , the pads being spaced longitudinally in a direction parallel to a pipeline launch axis defined by the tensioner.

14. The tensioner of claim 13 , wherein the elements of the interface layer of each pad are elongate and aligned with each other side by side in a direction extending across the contact face, that direction also being parallel to the pipeline launch axis.

15. The tensioner of claim 13 , wherein the elements of the interface layer of each pad are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix extending across the contact face and are aligned in a direction parallel to the pipeline launch axis.

16. The tensioner of claim 13 , wherein the elements of the interface layer of each pad are elongate and aligned with each other side by side in a direction extending across the contact face, that direction also being transverse to the pipeline launch axis.

17. The tensioner of claim 13 , wherein the elements of the interface layer of each pad are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix extending across the contact face and are aligned in a direction transverse to the pipeline launch axis.

18. The tensioner of claim 13 , wherein the base plate is wedge-shaped, defining an inclined face that supports the substrate layer, and wherein the pads are arranged in opposed pairs with their wedge-shaped base plates tapering toward each other.

19. A method of holding back an elongate product being laid into water comprises:

gripping the product with a plurality of pads of a track-type tensioner, each pad having a contact face defined by a plurality of rigid elements of an interface layer with elongate gaps between adjacent elements extending through the full thickness of the interface layer, wherein the contact face is substantially planar in a rest state; and

by virtue of squeeze force applied by the tensioner to the product via the pads, moving the rigid elements relative to each other and relative to base plates of the pads to suit an outer shape profile of the product.

20. The method of claim 19 , comprising permitting said movement of the rigid elements by distortion of a substrate layer disposed between the rigid elements and the base plate of each pad.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein said movement of the rigid elements relative to the base plate comprises rotation of the rigid elements about an axis parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the product.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said rotation of the rigid elements changes inclination of the contact face relative to a diametric plane extending through the product.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein said movement of the rigid elements relative to the base plate comprises translation of the rigid elements toward or away from the base plate.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein said movement of the rigid elements relative to each other causes the contact face to assume a concave profile.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the concave profile matches outer curvature of the product.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein the contact faces of the pads are each generally tangential to an outer curvature of the product.

27. The method of claim 19 , comprising:

gripping a first elongate product in the tensioner by applying squeeze force to the product via the pads;

releasing the first product from the tensioner; and

gripping a second elongate product in the tensioner by applying squeeze force to the second product via the same pads, wherein by virtue of said movement of the rigid elements, the pads adapt to the second product having a different diameter to the first product.