Abstract: A composite pipe termination is provided. The composite pipe includes a composite pipe wall thickness and a cut end. An annular part of composite material is attached around the outside of the composite pipe at the cut end. The annular part has a radial thickness which tapers towards the composite pipe in the direction along the composite pipe away from the cut end to provide an exterior surface having a tapered portion. A pinning structure includes one or more pins which extend through the annular part and partially through the composite pipe wall thickness to further attach the annular part to the composite pipe.

Abstract: A method of determining a void volume during manufacture of a composite pipe formed of concentric layers of adjacently positioned, helical windings of composite tape has the steps of: (a) scanning the surface of a layer of adjacently positioned, helical windings to generate scanning information; (b) using the scanning information to locate gap(s) between adjacent windings and to determine the number of gaps and characteristic dimensions of each gap in the layer; and (c) generating a calculated void volume of the layer, using the number of gaps and the characteristic dimensions of each gap for the layer. The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for determining a void volume during manufacture of a composite pipe formed of concentric layers of helically wound composite tape.

Abstract: An apparatus for terminating a composite pipe has a pipe having a liner layer surrounded by a composite layer and a pipe end. The liner layer has an extension piece which extends axially beyond the composite layer at the pipe end; a connector; an annular transition element located between the pipe end and the connector, the annular transition element having an exterior surface; and compression means.

Abstract: A method of making a composite pipe has the steps of (a) providing one or more sources of composite tape, the composite tape being formed of reinforcing fibres embedded in a thermoplastic matrix; (b) helically winding the composite tape(s) around a cylinder under the application of heat to form a pipe comprising fused, concentric layers of adjacently positioned, helically-wound composite tape; (c) scanning a region where edges of wound composite tape are expected to be, to generate scanning information; (d) controlling the gap between further adjacent windings by (1) using the scanning information to determine wound composite tape edge position(s), and (2) using the determined wound composite tape edge position(s) to adjust the winding process during winding; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d). The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for making a composite pipe.

Abstract: A pipe assembly (10) includes a composite pipe (12) having a composite material formed of at least a matrix material and a plurality of reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix material. The pipe assembly (10) further comprises a metallic pipe stub (14) secured to an end region of the composite pipe (12) and configured to support a connector (20) to permit the pipe assembly (10) to be secured to separate infrastructure.

Abstract: A method for joining primary and secondary members includes providing a primary member, a secondary member and a heating element which is joined to one of the primary and secondary members. The heating element includes an electrically insulating matrix material and an electrically conductive reinforcing element extending through the matrix material. The method further includes bringing the other of the primary and secondary members and the heating element into engagement and controlling a flow of electrical current in the reinforcing element so as to resistively heat and fuse at least some of the matrix material of the heating element with a matrix material of the other of the primary and secondary members. The method may be used to join a primary member such as a composite tubular and a secondary member such as a component for terminating the composite tubular.

Abstract: A tubular comprises a composite material including a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. A method for heating the composite material of the tubular comprises exposing the composite material to a time-varying magnetic field to directly induce a flow of electrical current in the composite material. The method may comprise configuring the composite material so as to control the flow of electrical current and/or heat in the composite material. The method may be used for heating a composite fluid conduit for use in a subsea environment for the removal of the build-up of wax and/or hydrates on an inner surface of the fluid conduit. Additionally or alternatively, the method may be used for deforming a composite fluid conduit, or for joining a composite fluid conduit to a further component such as a further composite fluid conduit.

Abstract: A riser system with a primary conduit extends between a surface vessel and a subsea location and an auxiliary conduit that extends adjacent the primary conduit. In one example a composite jumper conduit extends from the surface vessel and is fluidly connected to the auxiliary conduit. The jumper conduit includes a composite material formed of at least a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. In one example a subsea composite jumper conduit extends from subsea infrastructure and is fluidly connected to the auxiliary conduit. The subsea jumper conduit includes a composite material formed of at least a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix.

Abstract: A fluid conduit comprises a wall defining a fluid flow path and a confinement feature within the wall and being configured to confine energy within a cavity, wherein at least a portion of the fluid flow path extends through the cavity. The confinement feature may be configured to confine electromagnetic energy. The fluid conduit may comprise an oscillator defined by the cavity and a positive feedback arrangement. The fluid conduit may be configured for sensing a property of a fluid present in or flowing through the fluid conduit or for use in sensing a property of a fluid present in or flowing through the fluid conduit.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix, wherein the composite material in at least one region of the pipe wall is pre-stressed. The composite material in at least one region of the pipe wall comprises or defines at least one of a level of pre-tension and pre-compression.

Abstract: A riser system (202) comprises a riser (204) to be secured between a floating body (206) and a subsea location (209). The riser comprises a composite material formed of at least a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. In use, the riser (204) comprises an upper portion (214) extending from the floating body (206) and having a region arranged to be in tension, a lower portion (216) extending from the subsea location (209) and having a region arranged to be in tension, and an intermediate portion (218) located between the upper and lower portions (214, 216) and having a region arranged to be in compression. A flow-line jumper (302, 402) configured to be secured between two subsea locations, a flow-line jumper arrangement comprising a flow-line jumper (302, 402) and a method of forming a flow-line jumper 302, 402 are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid conduit (2) comprises a wall (4) defining a fluid flow path (6) and a confinement feature (24) within the wall (4) and being configured to confine energy within a cavity (26), wherein at least a portion of the fluid flow path (6) extends through the cavity (26). The confinement feature (24) may be configured to confine electromagnetic energy. The fluid conduit (2) may comprise an oscillator defined by the cavity (26) and a positive feedback arrangement (34). The fluid conduit (2) may be configured for sensing a property of a fluid present in or flowing through the fluid conduit (2) or for use in sensing a property of a fluid present in or flowing through the fluid conduit (2). More specifically, the present invention deals with a microwave cavity sensor wherein the cavity member (24) is embedded in the wall (4) of the fluid conduit (2), the wall (4) including a composite region (20).

Abstract: A riser system configured to be secured between a surface vessel and a subsea location comprises a primary conduit and an auxiliary conduit extending adjacent the primary conduit, wherein the primary and auxiliary conduits are connected together at an axial location along the riser system via a connecting portion. The auxiliary conduit comprises a composite material formed of at least a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded within the matrix. At least one longitudinal portion of the pipe wall comprises or defines a local variation in construction to provide a variation in a property of the pipe.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of at a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded within the matrix, wherein at least one circumferential segment of the pipe wall comprises or defines a local variation in construction to provide a local variation in a property of the pipe.

Abstract: A subsea conduit system comprises a conduit extending between a surface vessel and a subsea support, and a load arrangement connected between a subsea anchor and the conduit at a region of connection which is intermediate the vessel and the subsea support to apply a force on the conduit. The conduit is configured such that the applied force generates axial tension in the conduit between the region of connection and the vessel, and between the region of connection and the subsea support.

Abstract: A hybrid riser system comprises a lower riser section secured between a lower subsea anchor and an upper buoyant structure, and an upper riser section extending between the lower riser section and a surface or near surface vessel. The lower riser section comprises an elongate support and one or more composite fluid conduits secured to and extending adjacent the elongate support. The composite fluid conduits comprise a composite material formed of at least a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. The upper riser section comprises one or more flexible conduits in fluid communication with the composite fluid conduits.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for providing fluid communication between first and second connection points (34,38) comprises a deformable pipe assembly (12) including a composite material. A first connector (34) is mounted at one end of the deformable pipe assembly and is configured for connection with a first connection point and a second connector (38) is mounted at an opposite end of the deformable pipe assembly and is configured for connection with a second connection point. An adjusting assembly (44) is configured to apply a force between separated regions of the deformable pipe assembly, such that deformation of the deformable pipeline assembly is responsive to the adjusting assembly to permit a relative separation of the first and second connectors to be adjusted.

Abstract: A riser system (202) comprises a riser (204) to be secured between a floating body (206) and a subsea location (209). The riser comprises a composite material formed of at least a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. In use, the riser (204) comprises an upper portion (214) extending from the floating body (206) and having a region arranged to be in tension, a lower portion (216) extending from the subsea location (209) and having a region arranged to be in tension, and an intermediate portion (218) located between the upper and lower portions (214, 216) and having a region arranged to be in compression. A flow-line jumper (302, 402) configured to be secured between two subsea locations, a flow-line jumper arrangement comprising a flow-line jumper (302, 402) and a method of forming a flow-line jumper 302, 402 are also disclosed.

Abstract: A subsea conduit system comprises a conduit extending between a surface vessel and a subsea support, and a load arrangement connected between a subsea anchor and the conduit at a region of connection which is intermediate the vessel and the subsea support to apply a force on the conduit. The conduit is configured such that the applied force generates axial tension in the conduit between the region of connection and the vessel, and between the region of connection and the subsea support.