Abstract: A steerable plow configured for underwater towing along a sea bed. The plow includes a plow body and a soil cutting member attached to the body. The soil cutting member is configured for forming a trench in the sea bed in a forward direction of travel of the plow. A tow member is attached to the body for attaching the plow to a tow cable. The tow member defines an effective tow point which is forward of the cutting member. A steering device is provided for creating a steering moment capable of varying the direction of travel. The steering device is positioned rearwardly relative to said tow member.

Abstract: Products with a wall (1) comprising at least one layer (11) of ferromagnetic material may be tested by magnetising said layer using magnetising means (30) to generate therein a remanent magnetisation (H) parallel to the wall surface, then moving magnetic field sensors (2) along the wall and measuring, in the presence of said remanent magnetisation (H) alone, the magnetic field adjacent to the product surface, whereby changes in the field measured along said wall indicate defects (22) in said layer of magnetic material. The method is particularly suitable for testing elongate products in which the layer to be tested is not on the surface. Specifically, the method is suitable for testing pipelines or tubes for transporting petroleum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible pipe including a hose for carrying hydrocarbons and a connection endpiece at the end of the hose. The hose has an inner carcass, a sacrificial sublayer, and a sealing barrier. The endpiece has a tubular body in which the inner carcass, the sacrificial sublayer, and the sealing barrier are inserted. A sealing bush is crimped onto the sealing barrier. The endpiece includes a retaining ring secured to the inner carcass. A lock advantageously opposes axial displacement of the retaining ring in the direction for dissembling the hose from the endpiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible tubular conduit having at least one tubular layer constituted by at least one molded strip of a cross section substantially in the form of an elongated S, wound helically and having a cross section formed of a first and of a second principal cylindrical coaxial spans joined together by an inclined central portion, each of the first and second principal cylindrical spans being united by a first convex radial portion to a first secondary cylindrical span and by a second convex radial portion to a second secondary span.

Abstract: Stiffener designed for fitting to a piping consisting of a flexible conduit for use in a marine environment, carying a hot fluid, the said stiffener comprising a flexible casing located at least partially over the said flexible conduit, having structure (15) for dissipating the heat at the interface between the stiffener and the flexible conduit (3).

Abstract: The invention concerns a flexible conduit comprising an internal gasproof undulating metal tube (1), the wall of which has helical undulations (8), the external surface of said internal tube having at least concave (10) and convex (11) rounded parts corresponding to the internal and external parts of the undulations respectively, and at least an arch (2) arranged around said internal metal tube and made up of at least a form wire (9) coiled in spires. The invention is characterized in that the arch (2) has an internal surface with helical undulation, comprising at least concave (16) and convex (15) rounded parts and the external surface of the internal metal tube is supported in its concave rounded part (10) by a convex part (15) of the arch (2) internal surface and in its convex rounded part (11) by a concave part (16) of the arch internal surface, said internal arch surface and said internal tube external surface matching in form and the interstices (i) between the adjacent spires are small.

Abstract: Means for securing a polymer liner to the inner surface of a pipe comprises an end piece consisting of a hub portion and a corrosion resistant metallic insert. The polymer hub is fusion welded to the end of the liner, and the metallic insert is seal welded portion of the inner surface of the pipe clad with corrosion resistant material at a distance from the outer end of the pipe. The clad portion may be provided by a pup piece welded to the end of the pipe. This arrangement allows two lengths of lined pipes to be joined by welding with a continuous corrosion resistant internal surface, without damage to the polymer pipe linings and in a manner which allows an assembled pipe string to be spooled onto a reel for subsequent pipelaying operations. In the preferred embodiment, the metal insert is screw-threaded to the polymer hub with an elastomeric seal therebetween, which provides a secondary seal between the end piece and the pipe wall.

Abstract: System and method for joining together two assemblies which can move one with respect to the other, especially in underwater installations, comprising a remote-operated vehicle (17) comprising propulsion means (21) and at least one equipment item (19, 20) including hauling means (20) which attach to the assembly considered as being fixed (2) during connection, means of attaching to the other assembly considered as being mobile and which has to be connected to the said fixed assembly, means (19) of winching the said hauling means, the said equipment item being at least partially housed in a skid (18), characterized in that the remote-operated vehicle (17) further comprises a front chassis (22) that pivots about a pivot axis, the said pivoting chassis comprising the said means of attachment to the mobile assembly, the pivoting of the said front chassis being controlled in such a way that as the mobile assembly is moved towards the fixed assembly, the said vehicle is kept constantly in an approximately horizonta

Abstract: An apparatus for laying marine pipelines of the type in which the pipeline is assembled along a horizontal axis on board a pipelaying vessel prior to being launched therefrom; in which the pipeline is plastically bent to a desired launch angle and, in most cases, at least partially straightened thereafter. In preferred embodiments, the pipeline is bent through an angle greater than 90.degree.. In the most preferred embodiments, the pipeline is diverted through an angle of substantially 270.degree., plus or minus an angle allowing variation in the launch angle from the vertical, and crosses itself prior to entering the water. The pipeline (102) is diverted by being passed around a wheel-like diverter structure (104), the pipeline being assembled in multiple fabrication lines to produce stalks which are aligned and connected in a central firing line prior to being fed around the diverter structure. Other variations are also described.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for preventing the buckling of a pipeline (10) on either side of a localised zone of increased stiffness in the pipeline (such as a buckle arrester (12)) when the pipeline is bent around an arcuate path, in which packing elements (14) are located between the pipeline and a pipeline bearing surface (20) defining the arcuate pipeline path on either side of the zone of increased stiffness so as to vary the radius of curvature of the pipeline between a first, greatest value adjacent the zone of increased stiffness, and a second smaller value substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the arcuate pipeline path at a predetermined distance from the zone of increased stiffness on either side thereof. The packing elements (14) comprise a graded series of blocks adapted to be attached to the pipeline on either side of the zone of increased thickness. The blocks may be shaped as required to cooperate with the pipeline and the pipeline bearing surface.

Abstract: It is of the type comprising at least, from the interior towards the exterior, an internal non-impervious metal carcass (1), the exterior surface of which has interstices (9), an internal impervious polymeric sheath (2), a set of layers of reinforcement wires (3) (4), and an external protection sheath (5), and is characterized in that said internal impervious polymeric sheath (2) mainly comprises a thermoplastic polymer part associating at least two fluoromonomers, at least one of said fluoromonomers carrying at least one alkoxy group, the thermoplastic polymer part being blistering-resistant at a temperature of at least 130.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for making steel wires, wherein an elongate shaped wire is produced by rolling or drawing steel consisting of 0.05-0.5% C, 0.4-1.5% Mn, 0-2.5% Cr, 0.1-0.6% Si, 0-1% Mo, no more than 0.25% Ni, and no more than 0.02% S and P, and a first heat treatment is performed on the shaped wire, including at least one step of quenching under predetermined conditions to achieve an HRC hardness of at least 32, a predominately martensitic and bainitic steel structure and a small amount of ferrite. A shaped wire and a flexible tube for conveying an H.sub.2 S-containing effluent are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for laying marine pipelines of the type in which the pipeline is assembled along a horizontal axis on board a pipe laying vessel prior to being launched therefrom; in which the pipeline is plastically bent to a desired launch angle and, in most cases, at least partially straightened thereafter. In preferred embodiments, the pipeline is bent through an angle greater than 90.degree.. In the most preferred embodiments, the pipeline is diverted, initially upwardly, through an angle of substantially 180.degree. sheave (28), prior to being bent downwards to the desired launch angle by an adjustable angle ramp (30). Other variations are also described.

Abstract: It is characterized in that it consists in using a self-propelled sea plough (1) remote-controlled via a control flexible (2), said sea plough carrying at least one reel (6) of flexible conduit (7), controlling said sea plough from a site (5) so as to lay and bury a length of the flexible conduit up to a first predetermined point (P.sub.1), controlling said sea plough beyond said first predetermined point from another site (10), continuing laying and burying of the flexible conduit as far as a second predetermined point (P.sub.2), one of said sites being the land (5) and the other comprising a waterborne vessel.Applications include simultaneous laying and burying of flexible conduits such as optical cables, coaxial cables for analogue transmission, electrical cables, single or multiple flexible tubular conduits.

Abstract: An improved trench-filling device for covering a pipe and filling in a trench dug in a sea bed, characterized in that the device comprises two sets of nozzles (6,7) arranged above and proximate to the sea bed on both sides of the trench (1), the nozzles pointing towards the sea bed and towards the trench and being fed with pressurized water to direct powerful jets of water into the ground making up the sea bed adjacent the trench to deposit into the trench constituent parts of the adjacent ground as the trench-filling device progresses along the trench, and guides (14, 14') provided above to channel the high pressure jet streams created by the nozzles (6,7).

Abstract: A flexible tubular pipe incorporating, from the inside outward, an inner sealing sleeve or tube, and an armoring comprising a plurality of armoring webs. The armoring includes a first armoring web on which the inner sealing sleeve or tube rests. The first armoring web includes a plurality of interlocked wires wound with an angle, (A1) that is less than 80.degree. in relation to the axis of the flexible tubular pipe. The armoring also includes a set of armoring webs placed on the outside of the first armoring web, each having at least one armoring web and non-interlocking wires. The winding angle of the wires is complementary to the angle (A1), so that a balanced flexible tubular pipe is created.

Abstract: This invention relates to a flexible metal pipe covered with an impermeable sheath of a shrinkable, preferably semicrystalline polymer or polymers, characterized in that it incorporates between the shrinkable polymer sheath and the metal pipe an intermediate elastomer layer (8), optionally vulcanized or reticulated, and/or a TPE in the form of a continuous tubular sleeve (FIG. 3) or of a tape (FIG. 4 to 6). Sheathed pipes of this type are particularly suitable for flexible pipelines, optionally with suitable supports, for carrying oil and gas.

Abstract: Stiffener comprising an elastic member made of elastomer which surrounds a elongate body to be stiffened, the elastic member being integrally attached to one end of a housing support.It comprises, inside the elastic material (4), a reinforcement (8) extending over a portion of the length of the elastic member (4) from the end, the reinforcement being integrally attached by fastening (7) to the housing support (2, 6).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible tubular conduit with a jacket or tube made of crosslinked polyethylene, specially crosslinked polyethylene, and a method for manufacturing the conduit. A jacket or tube is made from polyethylene crosslinked by hydrolysis.

Abstract: A device for laying tubular conduits from a floating support including a pair of clamps for gripping the tubular conduit. Each clamp can alternately provide a restraining force on the tubular conduit to be laid. The device is characterized in that one of the clamps can move relative to the floating support and is submerged.