Abstract: A vessel for laying rigid tubular pipes has two vertically upright wheels for storing tubular pipe which is wound with plastic deformation. An inclinable laying davit is arranged approximately above a moon pool. An arched chute deflects the pipe at the top of the davit, followed down the davit by a pipe-straightener and tensioner. The mid-planes of the two adjacent wheels face approximately towards the davit, and the mid-planes intersect in the vertical longitudinal mid-plane of the vessel.

Abstract: Hybrid pipe for deep water, comprising a metallic rigid central part having an upper end of which is connected to an upper portion of flexible pipe of predetermined length and having a lower end of which is connected to a lower portion of flexible pipe of a length at least equal of the length of the upper portion of flexible pipe. The lower portion may have a wave-shaped form to absorb motion. The wave is formed by buoyant members on the lower flexible portion by an arch tethered to the sea bed on which the wave-shaped portion rests.

Abstract: A device for laying flexible pipes from the moon pool of a laying vessel comprises an inclinable tower arranged in and essentially a great height above the level of the moon pool, designed to place therein a certain length of pipe to be laid, and two members with clamping jaws mounted on moving carriages capable of travelling the height of the tower.

Abstract: A tubular flexible pipe which from the inside outward includes an inner sealing sheath of polymer, a cylindrical pressure vault comprised of a helical wire winding with gaps between the windings, perhaps a wound tensile armoring layer and a scaling outer sheath. The vault includes an elongated masking element, at least partially masking the gaps between the windings of the wire and being at the inner sheath, The masking element is a wire helically coiled in a recess at the inner face of the vault or is an axial extension of the vault wire.

Abstract: A marine pipelay vessel equipped with a pipe laying apparatus comprising a pipe handler for moving the pipe into its raised launching position, a pipe connection station for connecting together pipe ends when in the launching position, a pipe support for maintaining the pipe in a raised position, a static clamp for releasably securing the upper end of a previously launched pipe, a pipe launcher for controllably launching the raised pipe stalk in which the pipe launcher comprises a second mobile clamp adapted to be releasably secured to the pipe such that the second clamp may be raised and lowered controllably over a predetermined stroke distance between the uppermost and the lowermost stroke position relative to the vessel.

Abstract: A device for fitting a stiffening sleeve which is located at the end of an oil pipe onto a bearing structure. The device comprises an internal hollow tube fixed on the bearing structure, the tube having an internal diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical wall of the stiffener, and two support/centering devices, respectively a lower device formed by retractable balls and an upper device formed by a conical collar, the devices interacting with the cylindrical wall of the stiffener and a conical bearing surface at the top of the tube in order to support/center the stiffener.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for manufacturing steel wire comprising the following steps: manufacturing a reinforcing wire of sizeable length by rolling or hot wire drawing from steel containing the following elements: 0.18% to 0.45 % C, 0.4% to 1.8% Mn, 1% to 4% Cr, 0.1% to 0.6% Si, 0% to 1.5% Mo, 0% to 1.5% Ni, at most 0.01% S and 0.02% P, the reinforcing wire having, after being rolled or hot drawn, a temperature at least higher than the AC3 temperature, preferably by 50 to 200° C. and in particular by 100 to 150° C.; winding the wire in reels before air cooling the raw manufacturing wire to obtain a HRC hardness not less than 40 and preferably higher than 45. In a variant, the method consists in quenching and tempering so that the wire has a hardness between 20 HRC and 35 HRC. The invention also concerns a reinforcing wire and a flexible tube for carrying effluents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reinforced flexible tube having at least one elongated reinforcing element. According to the invention, this elongated element has a cross section or profile in the form of a T and is wound helically.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a metal carcass for flexible pipe or umbilical comprising shaping a band of metal strip and then helically winding it to form the metal carcass which, in cardioid mode, has a given collapse strength, wherein the metal strip is work-hardened prior to shaping to give it at least a 15% higher elongation at rupture, and in that the said metal carcass which is made from the said work-hardened metal strip has, in cardioid mode, a collapse strength which is at least 15% higher than the given collapse strength.

Abstract: A lagged flexible tubular pipe for conveying fluids, produced by helically winding at least one strip made of thermal insulation around a flexible central core at a uniform pitch and with a gap. Jointly winding gap-free an intermediate extruded section into the gap between the turns of strip and sealing the gap. The intermediate section is made of a material which volume wise is nearly incompressible.

Abstract: This device 10 for arresting the propagation of a buckle appearing on an outer tube 3 of a double-walled rigid pipe 1 intended to transport hydrocarbons and consisting of two coaxial tubes 2, 3, this pipe being of the reelable type and intended for very great depths, consists of a thick and rigid annular transverse partition 11 fastened to the inner tube 2 and to the outer tube 3. The partition 11 is joined to the outer tube 3 and to the inner tube 2 by means of an outer 12 and inner 14 sleeve having the same diameter as the said outer and inner tubes and fastened to the latter.

Abstract: Device for housing and storing at least two distinct spoolable pipes.

Abstract: A device for spooling flexible tubular pipe comprising at least one spooling wheel comprising a hub and spokes extending from the hub in a radial plane, wherein the spokes are articulated to the hub so that they can be folded towards the axis of the hub. The spokes may have several fold up articulations along their lengths.

Abstract: An underwater apparatus for performing subsurface operations adapted to be operated from a remote location above the surface of a body of water is disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The tether management system controls the amount of free tether between itself and the flying latch vehicle. The flying latch vehicle interfaces with various underwater structures. Also disclosed are methods for recovering, deploying, and relaying power to a subsurface vehicle using the linelatch system.

Abstract: It is of the type having a thermal insulation structure placed around a central core (1) of longitudinal axis and it is characterized in that the thermal insulaton structure comprises at least one layer (3) consisting of separate solid strips (4), each strip being wound with a very long pitch and a maximum wind angle to the horizontal axis of less than 30°.

Abstract: An underwater apparatus for performing subsurface operations adapted to be operated from a remote location above the surface of a body of water is disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The tether management system controls the amount of free tether between itself and the flying latch vehicle. The flying latch vehicle interfaces with various underwater structures. Also disclosed are methods of transferring power and/or data between two or more underwater devices using the linelatch system of the invention.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for limiting the bending radius of a flexible duct comprising at least a bend stiffener arranged around one length of the flexible duct and fixed by a rear part on a fixed end support, characterized in that it further comprises an element for maintaining the bend stiffener arranged between the flexible duct and the bend stiffener and comprising at least a portion capable of flexural bending extending over one length of the flexible duct located at least between the rear part and the end of the bend stiffener.

Abstract: A flexible tubular hose, in particular for transporting fluids under pressure, comprising pressure-resistant armoring constituted by winding at least one pair of interlockable metal section wires, one of which has a T-section and the other of which has a U-section, the ribs of the T-section wire being directed toward the outside of the flexible tubular hose and the ribs of the U-section wire being directed toward the axis of the flexible tubular hose.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for deploying, recovering, and servicing an AUV are disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The linelatch system can be connected to a surface vessel by an umbilical on one end and to an AUV on the other end. In addition to providing a mechanical connection, between the AUV and a surface vessel, the linelatch system can also carry power and data between the surface vessel (i.e., through the umbilical) and the AUV.

Abstract: An underwater apparatus for performing subsurface operations adapted to be operated from a remote location above the surface of a body of water is disclosed. The apparatus includes a underwater vehicle that is made up of a tether management system connected to a detachable flying craft by a tether. The tether management system controls the amount of free tether between itself and the detachable flying craft. The detachable flying craft interfaces with various underwater structures. Also disclosed are methods of transferring power and/or data between two or more underwater devices using the underwater vehicle of the invention.