A riser for conveying fluids from a subsea location to a surface vessel
comprises an upper section which is located in a confining conduit, said
upper section being allowed to deform elastically into a helical
configuration against the inside of the confining conduit when subjected
to axial compression. The riser further comprises a main section
extending below the confining conduit to said subsea location. The riser
also comprises a buoyancy arrangement which keeps the main section in
tension. This arrangement allows the Christmas tree to be supported
directly on the deck of the surface structure and allows the surface
structure to support the weight of the tree as well as the tubing which
is hung off from the tree.