BACKGROUND

Flexible pipe is useful in a myriad of environments, including in the oil and gas industry. Flexible pipe may be durable and operational in harsh operating conditions and can accommodate high pressures and temperatures. Flexible pipe may be bundled and arranged into one or more coils to facilitate transporting and using the pipe.

The flexible pipe may be transported as coils to various sites for deployment (also referred to as uncoiling or unspooling). Different types of devices and vehicles are currently used for loading and transporting coils of pipe, but usually extra equipment and human manual labor is also involved in the process of loading or unloading such coils for transportation and/or deployment. Such coils of pipe are often quite large and heavy. Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved method and apparatus for loading and unloading coils of pipe.

SUMMARY

Various nonlimiting embodiments provide methods and apparatus for moving coils of flexible pipe. In one nonlimited embodiment, a pipe coil lifting device includes a superstructure with a central longitudinal member and at least two supports attached to opposite sides of the central longitudinal member, with two channels at the outside long-edges of the superstructure attached to the supports, with a convex upper surface attached to the supports of the superstructure.

In other nonlimiting embodiments, a pipe coil lifting device includes a superstructure having a pair of longitudinal channel portions attached to and forming sides of an outermost portion of the superstructure, a longitudinal central member extending between the channel portions having at least two supports perpendicular and attached to opposite sides of the longitudinal central member and channel portions, and wherein the top of the superstructure forms a convex upper surface attached to the channel portions, central member and supports.

In further nonlimiting embodiments, method for lifting a pipe coil includes lifting a coil of flexible pipe with a pipe coil lifting device, the pipe coil lifting device comprising a superstructure with a central member and at least two supports perpendicular and attached to opposite sides of the central member, with two channels at the outside long-edges of the superstructure, with a convex surface attached to the supports of the superstructure.

