Abstract: A method of managing the heating of fluids flowing in an undersea pipe network (2-1) providing a connection between a surface installation (6) and at least one undersea production well (4). The method releasably connecting at least one fluid heater station (14a, 14b) to an undersea pipe and controlling the heater station as a function of the mode of operation of the pipe network.

Abstract: A method of monitoring variation in the thrust exerted by at least one buoy exerting traction on an undersea pipe, wherein: 1) the deformation of at least one optical fiber is measured by measuring variation of an optical signal in said fiber extending on the surface or embedded securely in the bulk of at least one of the following support elements: a) the buoy; b) at least a portion of: b1) the length of the tubular wall of the pipe or b2) an anticorrosion coating or a thermally insulating material fastened on the surface of said pipe, on which said buoy exerts traction, and c) an abutment part secured to said pipe or buoy, and on which said buoy exerts said thrust; 2) a variation of said thrust exerted by said buoy is determined as a function of said variation of the optical signal.

Abstract: An electrical installation for an electrical system for trace heating a fluid transport pipe (8) made of metal, at least one polyphase circuit having three main electric cables (6-1, 6-4, and 6-7) in a star connection, and one additional electric cable (6-2, 6-3, 6-5, 6-6, 6-8, and 6-9), the main cables and the additional cable positioned around the pipe and connected at the pipeline end to a common connection ring (10) forming a point of zero electric potential, and detector for detecting a failure, if any, of the polyphase circuit to identify a failed main cable in order to replace it with the additional cable.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to coat pipelines, in particular a cutback along a pipeline, having: a frame, which extends along a designated axis and is fixable with respect to the pipeline so as to arrange the designated axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline; a carriage, which is supported by the frame, is movable along the designated axis with respect to the frame, and is configured to designated a heater and an applicator; an actuator configured to advance the carriage along the designated axis; and a control unit configured to select a travel distance for the carriage from a plurality of travel distances.

Abstract: A method of connecting cables of a unitary pipe section that is to be assembled vertically to an undersea fluid transport pipe, by positioning around a low end of the unitary pipe section (40) a female annular connector (2) having connected thereto cables (14) extending along the unitary pipe section; positioning around a high end of the pipe (42) a male annular connector (24) having connected thereto cables (32) extending along the pipe; and connecting together the male and female connectors by sliding them vertically towards each other while assembling the unitary pipe section on the pipe.

Abstract: A process for lining a steel pipe for the subsea transport of fluids comprises machining of an annular cavity in an inner wall of the pipe to be lined. The cavity is set back longitudinally relative to an end of the pipe. The deposition by welding of a first resurfacing layer includes a corrosion-resistant metal alloy on the inside of the cavity. Surface machining of the first resurfacing layer is done to the internal diameter of the pipe. A liner made of corrosion-resistant steel alloy is introduced into the pipe. Deposition by welding includes at least one second resurfacing layer made of corrosion-resistant metal alloy on the inner wall of the pipe between the end of the liner in contact with the first machined resurfacing layer and the corresponding end of the pipe. Surface machining of the second resurfacing layer is done to the internal diameter of the pipe.

Abstract: A system for connecting two conduits in a body of water, exhibits a first tubular structure, which is coupled to a conduit that extends along a first longitudinal axis; a second tubular structure, which is coupled to another conduit that extends along a second longitudinal axis and comprises a tubular member, and a sleeve, which is telescopically coupled to the tubular member, and faces the first tubular structure; and an actuating assembly, which comprises a bidirectional translating device configured to selectively displace the sleeve forward and backward to selectively couple and uncouple an end portion of the sleeve and the first tubular structure.

Abstract: A welding support block supports, from the rear surface of a joint to be welded, a weld pool created during a welding process. The welding support block comprises a block of metal and an outer layer of ceramic material providing a supporting surface. The ceramic material layer has a thickness between 0.25 mm and 1.5 mm. The metal material immediately beneath the ceramic material layer is made of steel. An internal line-up clamp for holding pipes in end-to-end alignment ready for welding may include multiple such welding support blocks. The use of such welding support blocks is particularly useful when laying a sour service carrying pipeline (high H2S content).

Abstract: A process is described for the separation of C5 hydrocarbons present, in a quantity ranging from 0.2 to 20% by weight, in streams prevalently containing C4 products used for the production of high-octane hydrocarbon compounds, by the selective dimerization of isobutene, characterized in that the dimerization reaction is carried out in the presence of linear and branched alcohols and alkyl ethers in a quantity which is such as to have a molar ratio alcohols/alkyl ethers/isobutene in the feeding higher than 0.01.

Abstract: An unmanned underwater vehicle of a system for the maintenance and inspection of permanent underwater facilities having a first interface configured for structurally and functionally coupling to an operational module selected on the basis of specific needs from a plurality of interchangeable operational modules featuring different characteristics, and a second interface configured for structurally and functionally coupling to a power and communication module selected on the basis of specific needs from a plurality of interchangeable power and communication modules featuring different characteristics.

Abstract: A method for burying a pipeline in a bed of a body of water which includes: making a trench with a bottom surface in a bed of a body of water via a bed working vehicle advanced in an advancing direction; advancing a floating unit in the body of water; releasing a pipeline in the body of water via a tensioner and along a lay device tilted in an adjustable manner and constrained to the floating unit; guiding the pipeline to the bottom surface of the trench via a guide vehicle advanced on the bed of the body of water; and controlling the tensioner, the floating unit, the lay device, the bed working vehicle, and the guide vehicle to minimize stress along the pipeline.

Abstract: A pipe-laying vessel including a pipe-laying tower extending upwardly from the vessel, the tower including a first lower section extending upwardly from a proximal end to a distal end above the main deck of the vessel, and a second upper section movably mounted on the first lower section, and the tower having a first pipe-laying configuration for laying pipeline P in which the upper section is positioned above the lower section and pipe is passed from the upper section to the lower section when, in use, it is being laid, and a second stowed configuration in which the second upper section is moved relative to the lower section and the overall height of the tower is reduced.

Abstract: A connecting device for supporting an apparatus configured to couple to a pipeline and having a coupling mechanism, which has a first portion configured to couple integrally to the apparatus, and a second portion, configured to be connected to a hoisting device, and selectively releasable from the first portion in a designated or given direction as a function of the relative position of, and the force exchanged between, the apparatus and the hoisting device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a device for assembling together two tubes (1, 2) comprising a tubular junction sleeve and an internal pipe liner tube made of thermoplastic materials by laser welding two contact surfaces of revolution (1-1, 2-1) pressed one against the other at the ends of the tubular sleeve of said liner tube overlapping coaxially.

Abstract: An underwater control device for an underwater hydrocarbon production facility having an underwater box defining a housing chamber; an active electronic component with a switching and/or isolation function, housed in the housing chamber; a polymer block in which the active electronic component is embedded, and which is housed in the housing chamber; and electrical connectors extending through the underwater box and configured to connect the active electronic component to a network of a control system.

Abstract: A system and method remotely measure in real time through sound waves, geometric parameters of a pipeline in the launch step. An acoustic transceiver positioned in a pipeline includes an acoustic transmitter emitting an input acoustic signal into the pipeline, based on an electric pilot signal. An acoustic receiver detects the input acoustic signal and generates a first electric measurement signal, dependent on the input acoustic signal. The acoustic receiver receives an input return signal dependent on the input acoustic signal and on pipeline geometric parameters, and generates a second electric measurement signal based on the return acoustic signal. A control unit generates an electric pilot signal and connects to the acoustic transceiver and receives the first electric measurement signal and the second electric measurement signal. The control unit measures the geometric parameters of the pipeline based on the first and second electric measurement signals.

Abstract: A pipe-joining method for building a hydrocarbon pipeline, in particular an underwater pipeline, includes welding two adjacent pipes to form a cutback, and forming a protective coating about the cutback. Forming the protective coating includes applying an LE (liquid epoxy) resin or a powdered FBE (fusion bonded epoxy) resin to the cutback to form a primer coat; and applying a powdered polypropylene adhesive on top of the still-wet primer coat to form an auxiliary adhesive coat. Forming the protective coating also includes fitting a polypropylene heat-shrink sleeve around the auxiliary adhesive coat; and heating the sleeve to shrink and bond the sleeve to the auxiliary adhesive coat.

Abstract: A system for laying an underwater pipeline on a bed of a body of water has a construction site to form a string of an underwater pipeline, the string being defined by a curved portion shaped substantially like a portion of the bed of the body of water characterized by an abrupt change in slope; at least two vessels to transfer, in the body of water, the string from the construction site to a laying site in the body of water and substantially on the vertical of a path along which to lay the string; and a plurality of floating devices configured to be coupled to the string and so as to selectively support and sink the string in the body of water, and progressively lay the string along the path on the bed of the body of water.

Abstract: A detection system to check the position of a pipeline in a bed of a body of water and extending along a predetermined route; the system comprising a device, which is configured to be moved in a moving direction and along the predetermined route and comprises a support, which mainly extends transversely to the moving direction, a quantity of acoustic wave sources, which are mounted on the support and are configured to transmit acoustic waves through the body of water and the bed of the body of water, and a quantity of acoustic wave receivers, which are located along the support and are configured to receive reflected acoustic waves and emit reception signals related to the reflected acoustic waves; and a processing unit comprising an acquisition unit, which is configured to receive, from the outside, at least one datum selected within a group of known or expected data comprising: the known value of the cross-section of the pipeline, an expected value of the trenching height of the pipeline, the known shape of

Abstract: A maintenance device for maintaining an offshore wind turbine, the device being suitable for pressing against and traveling along the pylon of the wind turbine. The device includes a maintenance platform including a preferably U-shaped notch so that the pylon of the wind turbine can penetrate into said notch and travel means for causing the maintenance platform to travel along the pylon of the wind turbine. The travel means comprising a plurality of motor-driven crawlers arranged under said maintenance platform so that when the pylon of the wind turbine is placed in said notch with the vertical longitudinal axis of the pylon of the wind turbine perpendicular to the work plane of said maintenance platform.