Abstract: A method protects a field joint of a pipeline, where chamfered edges of thermally-insulating parent coatings on conjoined pipe lengths are in mutual opposition about a longitudinally-extending gap. The method includes manufacturing an hourglass-shaped inner layer around the pipe lengths, which layer may be moulded. The inner layer extends longitudinally along the gap between the chamfered edges and at least partially overlies the chamfered edges. A thermally-insulating solid insert is assembled from two or more parts to lie in the gap surrounding the inner layer, and pressure is applied radially inwardly from the insert to the inner layer. An outer layer of molten material is manufactured around the insert to form a watertight barrier and to form one or more melted interfaces with the inner layer. Corresponding field joint arrangements are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of coating a field joint of a pipeline places at least one body having a thermoplastics material around the field joint. The body is heated in a mould cavity around the field joint to effect thermal expansion of the thermoplastics material. Thermal expansion of the body in the mould cavity is constrained to apply elevated pressure between the body and pipe sections joined at the field joint. The elevated pressure improves bonding and fusing between the body, which forms a field joint coating, and the parent coatings and the exposed pipe sections of the pipe joints. The body need not be fully molten, which reduces the mould residence time including in-mould heating and cooling phases.

Abstract: An injection moulding apparatus has a mould tool that is positioned around a field joint of a pipeline to define a mould cavity. Two or more pumping chambers communicate with the mould tool. Each chamber is expansible to draw in molten polymer and contractible to drive the polymer into the mould cavity. Expansion of one chamber is synchronised with contraction of another chamber. The operation of supply and injection valves associated with the chambers is also synchronised, both with each other and with expansion and contraction of the chambers. In the embodiment described, two pumping chambers are defined within a common pressurising cylinder, in which the chambers are separated by a piston. The piston is movable within the cylinder to determine and to synchronise expansion and contraction of the chambers.

Abstract: A thermoplastics injection moulding process coats a field joint of a pipeline by positioning a mould tool around the field joint to define a mould cavity. Thermoplastics material injected into the mould cavity forms a field joint coating that will set in the mould cavity. As the thermoplastics material shrinks in the mould cavity while the field joint coating sets, compacting pressure is applied radially inwardly within the mould cavity against a radially outer side of the field joint coating. A compacting fluid introduced into the mould cavity between the mould tool and the field joint coating may be used to apply pressure against the field joint coating. This accelerates and controls cooling of the field joint coating while maximising quality.

Abstract: A floatable spoolbase for supplying rigid pipe to a reel-lay pipelaying vessel having a storage reel with an upright rotational axis for interim storage of a continuous length of pipe is disclosed. Welding stations upstream of the storage reel add pipe elements to the pipe to be stored on the storage reel. When a pipelaying vessel visits the spoolbase, the pipe is unwound from the storage reel and fed to a pipelay reel of the pipelaying vessel. Where the pipelay reel turns about a substantially horizontal rotational axis, winding the pipe onto the pipelay reel reduces ovalization of the pipe imparted by previously winding the pipe onto the storage reel.

Abstract: A method of protecting a layered coating on a length of pipe for subsea use includes applying an edge finisher to the coating to encase an edge of the coating by fusing the edge finisher with the coating or by moulding the edge finisher at an edge of the coating. Where the coating and the edge finisher are of thermoplastics such as PP, fusing can be achieved by injection moulding the edge finisher or by welding a discrete edge finisher component to the edge of the coating. Mirror welding may be employed for this purpose, with a hot plate being interposed between the edge of the coating and the edge finisher.

Abstract: A floatable spoolbase for supplying rigid pipe to a reel-lay pipelaying vessel having a storage reel with an upright rotational axis for interim storage of a continuous length of pipe is disclosed. Welding stations upstream of the storage reel add pipe elements to the pipe to be stored on the storage reel. When a pipelaying vessel visits the spoolbase, the pipe is unwound from the storage reel and fed to a pipelay reel of the pipelaying vessel. Where the pipelay reel turns about a substantially horizontal rotational axis, winding the pipe onto the pipelay reel reduces ovalization of the pipe imparted by previously winding the pipe onto the storage reel.

Abstract: To enable the operation of a cement manufacturing installation to be controlled by taking into account changes in essential operating parameters as soon as they appear, the quantity of the total theoretical heat (QT) required to convert the raw material to clinker is calculated by applying correcting coefficients to the quantity of a predetermined total nominal heat (QTO) corresponding to nominal values imposed by parameters (K1, K2, . . . Kn) characteristic of the raw material, of the fuel, of the clinker and of the operation of the installation, the correcting coefficients taking into account differences between the nominal values and measured values of said parameters. The quantity of the theoretical heat (QF) to be supplied to the kiln is calculated by deducting the quantity of heat (QP) supplied to the precalcination chamber from the quantity of total theoretical heat (QT).

Abstract: To optimize the operation of an installation for the manufacture of clinker, which installation comprises a rotary tubular kiln having an open discharge end for the clinker produced in the kiln, a cooler for the clinker connected to the discharge end, a hood covering the open discharge end and the cooler, hot clinker falling from the open discharge end into the cooler in a downward direction and cooling air passing in the cooler through the hot clinker and heated by the hot clinker, and a burner mounted in the hood and extending into the open discharge end of the rotary tubular kiln, the calorific energy radiated by the falling hot clinker is measured across the atmosphere of the hood to establish a control value, the measured control value is compared with a predetermined reference value for the radiated calorific energy, and at least one operating parameter of the installation is controlled in response to the difference between the control and reference values.

Abstract: To permit a method of controlling the cooling of a cast product in a continuous casting installation to be effected at the beginning of casting, it is proposed to calculate periodically the value of the quantity of cooling water delivered at the start of casting to one of the cooling sections between the moments when an end of the cast product enters and leaves the one cooling section, the latter value being calculated by integrating the values of the quantities of cooling water calculated for the elements in the one cooling section and a fictitious portion of the cast product occupying a part of this one section between a downstream end thereof and the end of the cast product, said fictitious portion having a fictitious age determined as a function of the position of said portion in the casting installation and a fictitious extraction speed equal to the average of the average extraction speeds of the fictitious elements of the cast product in the one cooling section.

Abstract: The cooling of a cast steel slab in a continuous casting installation is controlled by dividing the cast product into successive fictitious elements and periodically calculating the water flow values of the cooling water delivered to the successive cooling sections in the secondary cooling zone of the installation as a function of the age of the elements in these sections. The quantity of heat extracted in the mold is taken into account by periodically determining the water flow values in the different zones by means of a computer on the basis of a first curve giving the variations of the quantity of heat extracted from a unitary mass of the cast product as a function of the time while the cast product passes from the point of emergence from the mold to at least the zone of solidification, and a second curve giving the variations of the surface temperature of the cast product during this passage as a function of time.