Abstract: A flat strip (1) including at least one layer (2) of longitudinal filamentary rovings (3), and means for assembling said filamentary rovings. The assembly means comprise a bonding material (5) and retaining means (4) surrounding and clamping said layer (2). The longitudinal filamentary rovings (3) are agglomerated into a relatively flat strand with a substantially rectangular cross-section, and each filamentary roving (3) has a predetermined average compactness of at least 60%. The retaining means (4) consist of a flat tubular sheath including elements (7) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of said filamentary rovings (3). Said strip is particularly useful for reinforcing ducts used in the oil industry.

Abstract: Induction heating apparatus for use in welding an end of a first length of pipe (26) to the exterior surface of a second length of pipe (28), consists of heating assemblies (20, 24) each comprising at least one electrical induction coil (32, 36) wound on an annular, laminated, magnetic core assembly (30, 34). The lowermost surfaces of said core assembly (30, 34) define a saddle shape adapted to be seated on the exterior surface of said second length of pipe (28). The arrangement of the coils (32, 36) and the core assemblies (30, 34) is such that substantially all of the magnetic flux generated when the apparatus is seated on the pipe (28) and the coil is energised is contained within the core assembly and within the wall of the pipe (28). Advantageously, the core assemblies (30, 34) have E-sections profiles, the ends of the limbs of the E-sections comprising the lowermost surfaces of the core assemblies and the coils being wound about the central limbs of the E-sections.

Abstract: It is of the type comprising a multi-tool system for inspecting, cleaning and replacing members in an oil installation and is one which comprises a support (8) on which there are mounted means (9, 10, 17) capable of laterally shifting at least two devices (22, 29) in opposite directions, it being possible for at least one of said devices (29) to be rotated about one of said directions.

Abstract: Differential valve for a sub-sea flexible pipe having a valve body comprising an upper part communicating with the outside via at least one upper communication passage and a lower part communicating with at least one annulus of the flexible pipe via at least one communication duct, an internal chamber formed in the valve body and at a chamber pressure (Pc), a main clacker element mounted in the internal chamber and movable between a closed position and an open position, and urged toward the closed position by a first spring, a secondary clacker element mounted in the upper communication passage also movable between a closed position and an open position, the secondary clacker element being urged towards the closed position by a smaller preloaded spring, so that the pressure in the internal chamber is not below the exterior pressure (Pe) when the secondary clacker element is in the closed position.

Abstract: The invention features an offshore oil installation (1) comprising two mounting plates (6, 8) resting on the ocean bed, each mounting plate (6, 8) supporting a manifold (10; 10') connected at two ends with two respective terminal joining pieces of flexible pipe section (5, 7; 7, 9) fixed to the manifold (10; 10') substantially in the extension of each other, each manifold (10; 10') further comprising a flange for sealed joining with a pipe (12) coming from an underwater structure such as a wellhead (2; 3), the manifold (10; 10') of the two supporting plates (6; 8) being interconnected at one end by a flexible pipe section (7) and connected at the other end by two respective pipe sections (5, 9) to a surface extracting installation (4).

Abstract: Flexible pipe for transporting fluids, comprising, from the inside outwards, a flexible metal carcass with a helical winding of non-contiguous turns, a compressible rod fitted into the gap between the consecutive turns of the helical winding, the compressible rod has a substantial volumetric deformation in compression of at least 50%, an internal sealing sheath extruded over the said metal carcass, at least one ply of armours wound around the said internal sealing sheath and at least one external sealing sheath arranged around the said ply of armours, the rod, its materials, its elastic modules and other features thereof are disclosed.

Abstract: It is of the unbonded type and comprises, from the inside outwards, an internal leakproof assembly comprising a pressure vault, a first inner group of tensile armor (5), a second outer group of tensile armor (7) and an external sealing sheath (8), the tensile armor of the said inner and outer groups being wound at a lay angle of less than 55.degree., characterized in that an intermediate sealing sheath (6) is inserted between the two inner (5) and outer (7), groups of tensile armor, the inner group of tensile armor (5) being wound with a short pitch and at a lay angle of greater than 35.degree. and less than 55.degree., and the outer group of tensile armor (7) being wound with a long pitch and with a lay angle of less than 30.degree..

Abstract: A support elelment (12) for supporting a rigid pipeline (10) during plastic bending of the pipeline has a transverse cross-sectional configuration such that, in use, a pipeline supported by the support element contacts said support element is at least first and second points (14, 16) disposed substantially symmetrically on either side of the plane of bending, the points of contact being arranged such that resultant forces between the pipeline and the support element act at points which are disposed substantially symmetrically about the plane of bending and which are spaced apart by an angle a greater than 90.degree. and less than 180.degree. around the cross-sectional circumference of the pipeline. The angle a is selected so as to minimize ovalisation for a pipeline of given material, diameter and wall thickness, and for a given bend radius and pipeline tension, or to provide useful modification of ovalisation over ranges of these parameters.

Abstract: A device for transferring fluid between equipment on the seabed and a surface unit. At least one flexible pipe extends in a catenary curve. An intermediate buoyancy and support member associated with the pipe splits the pipe into two parts, an upper part and a lower part. The intermediate member imparts to a region of the upper part a concavity facing the seabed. A yoke on the pipe and a cable from the yoke retain at least one region of the lower part of the pipe. The cable is connected to a fixed member on the seabed for tensioning the lower part of the pipe. The cable and the fixed member impart a bend to the region of the lower part of the pipe, the concavity of which faces the equipment on the seabed. The intermediate member is connected to the fixed member. The cable between the lower part of the pipe and the fixed member has a length at least equal to the minimum bend radius of the lower part of the flexible pipe.

Abstract: A system for transporting a pig (28) along the interior of a pipeline (26), particularly for the purpose of installing a liner (12) in the pipeline by towing the liner behind the pig, in which a hydrostatic head is applied on either side of the pig and the head on the downstream side of the pig is reduced such that the pig is transported along the interior of the pipeline by the resultant pressure differential. Where the system is employed in a pre-existing subsea pipeline, the hydrostatic heads may be applied by means of risers (14, 24) and the pressure differential created by means of a pump (30) adapted to pump water out of the downstream riser (24). The liner may be pulled through a flooded pipe by means of a pig, cable, self-propelled pipe crawler, or by combinations of these. A further cable may also be employed to apply a back tension, and/or to limit the pulling force applied to the liner and/or to enable the liner to be pulled backwards.

Abstract: A multiple-tube flexible pipe (1) including a central flexible member (2) having high tensile and compressive strength, a casing (8) and a plurality of circumferentially arranged tubes (3) wound around the central flexible member to form at least one ply in a ring-shaped space between said central flexible member (2) and said casing (8). At least one of said circumferentially arranged tubes (3) has low compressive and/or tensile strength. The flexible pipe further comprises at least one flexible compressive force transmitting member (5) arranged in said ring-shaped space and adjacent to said tube (3, 4) having low compressive and/or tensile strength.

Abstract: A duct comprising a sealed inner tube (1) and a reinforcement (2) made of at least one strip wound in a spiral around a central axis (11) of the inner tube. The strip (10) is flat and includes at least one layer of longitudinal filamentary rovings (6) and means for assembling said filamentary rovings comprising a loosely woven weft yarn (7) and a bonding material (8) provided at least at the interface between said filamentary rovings and said weft yarn. The assembly means hold the longitudinal rovings together along the full length thereof and impart a compactness of at least 39% to said strip.

Abstract: A storage system for storing continuous lengths of rigid pipe, particularly for storage of pipe prior to the spooling of the pipe onto the pipe storage reel of a marine pipelay vessel. The system comprises a loop of rail track with a plurality of rail bogies arranged around the circumference of the loop. The bogies are adapted to retain and receive multiple turns of the length of pipe extending around the loop. The radius of curvature of the loop is selected such that the bending of the pipe around the loop does not result in plastic deformation of the pipe. Arrangements for loading and offloading the pipe may include: a pipe guide suspended from a gantry spanning the track and a pipe loading/offloading path; pipe tensioning means located downstream of the pipe guide in the offloading direction; and an "expansion arc" extending from the loading/offloading point to allow variations in the length of the pipeline path extending from the loop to a vessel mooring location.

Abstract: A flexible pipe including at least one sealing liner (1); an assembly (3) of external reinforcements for withstanding the physical and chemical stress to which the flexible pipe is exposed, which assembly particularly comprises a reinforcement (2) resistant to the pressure of the fluid to be conveyed and consisting of non-contiguous coils (7,8) wound around said sealing liner (1) in a predetermined direction (e); and an intermediate strip (11) arranged between the pressure-resistant reinforcement (2) and the sealing liner (1), and wound around said sealing liner in a direction parallel or opposite to the winding direction (e) of the coils of the pressure-resistant reinforcement. The intermediate strip (11) has a low modulus of stiffness in said winding direction (3) around the sealing liner, and a high strength and modulus of stiffness in a transverse direction (e') relative to said coil winding direction.

Abstract: The use of a buried or covered flexible seabed pipeline for transporting fluids is disclosed. The pipeline comprises a sealing barrier (3) and reinforcing layers (4, 5) capable of withstanding mechanical stress and arranged around said sealing barrier. The reinforcing layers consist of at least two crosswise-arranged reinforcing plies (4, 5) of wires helically wound at respective winding angles a.sub.i to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline, such that they comply with the following relationships: when i=1, 2, . . . , 52.degree..ltoreq.a.sub.i .ltoreq.58.degree.. The arithmetic mean a.sub.m of said winding angles a.sub.i complies with the following relationship: 53.degree..ltoreq.a.sub.m .ltoreq.57.degree..

Abstract: Mooring apparatus and method of use thereof, for marine vessels, comprising a subsea anchor (12) such as a suction pile (14A), and including a swivel (16) to which at least one mooring line (24) is connected, the other end of the mooring line being adapted for connection to the bow mooring apparatus of a marine vessel (22) such as a conventional tanker. The mooring line (24) includes a load cell for measuring tension applied to the line by reverse thrust of the vessel. Signals from the load cell are transmitted from the bow of the vessel to the bridge (40), enabling manual, automatic or semi-automatic control of the applied tension. In use, the mooring line is maintained under tension such that the vessel may weathervane around the swivel.

Abstract: A wire-spiralling machine continuously produces a tubular structure comprising a spiral winding, particularly a pressure-armor layer, from two noninterlocking wires of large cross section delivered from two reels of wire and two locking wires delivered from two reels of locking wire. A motorized rotating circular cage carries the four reels of wire and locking wire at its rear, while the downstream face of the cage supports, on two adjustable-inclination plates, two on-board twin-track caterpillars for dragging the wire. These caterpillars are arranged just upstream of guide and/or bend rolls leading the wires towards their respective lay point.

Abstract: A steerable plow configured for towing in a direction along a seabed comprises a body and a soil cutting member slidingly connected to the body. The soil cutting member defines a cutting vane for cutting a trench in the seabed. The body includes two skids and a cross member spanning the two skids. The skids are spaced apart from each other and from the soil cutting member to stabilize the plow. A motive element is included to move the soil cutting member relative to the body, and a steering control receives commands from a remote location to control the motive element. At least one towing member is included to attach the plow to a tow cable.

Abstract: A reel pipelaying vessel of the type having a main pipeline reel (118) mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a variable angle pipeline launching ramp (128) having pipeline straightening and tensioning means mounted thereon and having: an improved pipeline launching ramp arrangement including rack and pinion elevator means (140, 142, 144); an improved level winding mechanism for translating the pipeline straightening and tensioning means as the pipe is spooled onto or unspooled from the reel; sea fastening means for restraining axial movement of the reel while the vessel is in transit, thereby increasing the maximum pipeline load for reel bearings (114, 116) of a given load capacity; sponsons (108, 110) for providing additional flotation and strengthening the hull; an improved arrangement of auxiliary reels (120); a cantilever structure (200) for guiding auxiliary lines, providing access to the main reel and protecting the bridge (218) of the vessel; improved pipeline abandonment and recovery arrangeme

Abstract: It is of the type comprising a corrugated and sealed internal metal tube (1), a pressure vault (2) wound at a short pitch and having an internal surface which faces the corrugations of the corrugated internal tube, an intermediate sheath, at least two groups of inner and outer armoring layers (3, 5), the armoring layers being wound at a lay angle of less than 55.degree., and an outer-sheath (6), and it is characterized in that the intermediate sheath (4) is sealed and is arranged between the two groups of armoring layers (3, 5), the said inner group of armoring layers (3) bearing directly on the pressure vault (2).