Abstract: A flexible tubular pipe for the transfer of fluid in a field of offshore petroleum development. The includes from inside outward an impervious inner polymer sheath, one or more successive reinforcing layers comprising coils of reinforcing wires or metallic strips, or long composite elements and at least one second polymer sheath, comprising at least one of outer protective sheath or an intermediate sheath. The second polymer sheath comprises an elastomeric thermoplastic polymer (TPE).

Abstract: For limiting the lateral buckling of tensile armor plies of an underwater flexible pipe, that can be used in the offshore oil industry, the plies include from the outside inward, at least one external polymer sheath, a first outward retention layer of a defined thickness K1 wound around an upper outer tensile armor ply, at least one second inward retention layer of a defined stiffness K2 wound around each of at least one lower inner tensile armor ply. Stiffness K2 is preferably less than stiffness K1, i.e., the retention layers outward are less stiff. There is then an internal polymer sheath.

Abstract: This flexible tubular pipe 1 comprises at least, from the inside outward, a carcass 3 made of interlocked strip, an internal sealing sheath 4, a cylindrical pressure vault 5 consisting of a winding of an interlocked profiled metal wire would in a helix with a short pitch, at least one ply 7, 8 of tensile armor tendons wound with a long pitch, and an external protective sealing sheath, and it is characterized in that at least one armor ply is made of steel strip 10 advantageously shaped by bending.

Abstract: A flexible tubular pipe comprising at least, from the inside outwards, an internal sealing sheath made of a polymer material, a cylindrical pressure vault having an external face and having an internal face placed over the internal sheath. The vault is a winding, in a helix with a short pitch and with a gap between turns, of an interlocked metal profile wire. At least one ply of tensile armour layers is wound with a long pitch. An external protective sealing sheath is made of a polymer. The fastener wire has the same height as the profile wire and is fastened below the neutral fiber of the profile wire. The ratio of the cross section of the profile wire to the cross section of the fastening wire is between 1 and 2 and the ratio of the moment of inertia Iyy of the profile wire to the moment of inertia Iyy of the fastening wire is between 1 and 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible pipe structure wherein transverse displacement caused by buckling of the elongate elements of a tensile armouring layer when the pipe is being laid or used in deep sea is limited. The invention aims to reduce the play between the elongate elements of the tensile armouring layer so as to limit transverse displacement possibilities while providing the pipe with the required flexibility and mechanical characteristics. The elongate elements can freely move longitudinally in relation to one another to ensure flexibility of the pipe.

Abstract: This flexible tubular pipe comprises at least, from the inside outwards, an internal sealing sheath (1) made of a polymer material, a cylindrical pressure vault (2) having an external face and an internal face placed over the internal sheath (1), the vault (2) consisting of the winding, in a helix with a short pitch and with a gap between turns, of an interlocked metal profile wire (10), at least one ply (3, 4) of tensile armor layers wound with a long pitch and an external protective sealing sheath (5) made of a polymer; the fastener wire (20) has the same height has the profile wire and is fastened below the neutral fiber of the profile wire, the ratio of the cross section of the profile wire to the cross section of the fastening wire is between 1 and 2 and the ratio of the moment of inertia Iyy of the profile wire to the moment of inertia Iyy of the fastening wire is between 1 and 2.

Abstract: This flexible tubular pipe 1 comprises at least, from the inside outward, a carcass 3 made of interlocked strip, an internal sealing sheath 4, a cylindrical pressure vault 5 consisting of a winding of an interlocked profiled metal wire would in a helix with a short pitch, at least one ply 7, 8 of tensile armor tendons wound with a long pitch, and an external protective sealing sheath, and it is characterized in that at least one armor ply is made of steel strip 10 advantageously shaped by bending.

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: 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 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 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.

Abstract: A device for mounting a flexible line including a curvature limiter. The device for mounting a flexible line on a structure, including a hollow rigid member forming part of the structure or fixed to the structure, and which the flexible line passes through after having been pulled with the aid of a pull cable fixed to one end of the flexible line, in particular on the end fitting mounted on the latter for connecting it to the structure, and a curvature limiter engaged on the flexible line and secured to fixing means able to interact with fixing means secured to the hollow rigid member for fastening the curvature limiter to the structure.

Abstract: A device for laying flexible tubular conduits from a floating support is provided. The flexible tubular conduit has insulating sheaths and reinforcements where the conduit includes a recoverable flexible tubular handling conduit connected to the flexible tubular conduit. The flexible tubular handling conduit has sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the combined action of the highest internal pressure and the axial tensile force corresponding to the apparent weight in water of the length of tubular handling conduit which is suspended between the floating support and the floor, and on the other hand, the isolated action of the axial tensile force corresponding to the apparent weight in water of the length of flexible tubular conduit when the latter is suspended between the floating support and the floor by the flexible tubular handling conduit.

Abstract: A method for laying a pipeline formed of joined rigid and flexible tubular conduits on an underwater surface, particularly an ocean bed, by using a floating support. The method includes the steps of: loading onto the floating support a length of flexible tubular conduit; laying from the support a length of rigid tubular conduit; connecting the ends of the two conduits together; lowering the conduits; and halting the lowering when the rigid conduit hits bottom, while the other end of the flexible conduit is still in the floating support.

Abstract: A device for temporarily holding a load on a vertical holding line including two articulated elements forming a pincer, each element having a jaw and an arm, one of the two arms including a connection for fastening to a holding line, the device being able to assume two positions, a first closed position for gripping the held load and a second open position enabling the load to be released; the arm having the ability to intensify the gripping force f which is exerted between the two arms near their end, in order to keep the jaws closed when the load is being gripped. The device further includes a feature for limiting the separation connecting the arms by exerting the gripping force f necessary for maintaining the first closed position of the jaws, the arms having a configuration such that the cable, or the like, for limiting the separation of the lever arms is placed laterally at a distance greater than 3.0 meters relative to the axis of the holding line.

Abstract: A device for laying flexible tubular conduits from a floating support comprises rigid accessories the outer diameter of which is greater than the outer diameter of the conduit. It comprises main, linear winch-type tensioning means (6) for normal lowering of the flexible conduit (3) to be laid. The linear winch has an essentially vertical axis and comprises the last means for guiding the flexible conduit at the level of the floating support (1) and auxiliary holding means (19) which hold the flexible conduit by means of an accessory (21) mounted on the flexible conduit, such as an end fitting or an auxiliary accessory, and enable the main tensioning means (6) to clear a section of flexible conduit on which the accessory (21) is mounted.

Abstract: A process for laying flexible conduits on an ocean floor by continuous unrolling of the conduit at a laying site from at least one supply ship to a laying ship, wherein the flexible conduit is gradually transferred from the supply ship to a storage means located on the laying ship.

Abstract: A device for depositing and recovering a heavy load on the ocean floor including a first part which can be attached mechanically to a handling and recovery cable and a second part which can be attached mechanically to the load to be deposited. The second part is buoyant and includes means for attaching it flexibly to the load. Each of the two parts include a cylindrical joining element, one of which fits inside the other. The device also includes means for locking and unlocking the cylindrical joining elements.

Abstract: A maneuvering apparatus for lines such as cables or flexible conduits passing over a direction changing means and having thereon at least one rigid outer accessory with a diameter greater than that of the conduit or cable. The maneuvering apparatus is mounted adjacent the direction changing means, has a retainer and support for the accessory mounted on the conduit, and is moveable with respect to the direction changing means, so that the retainer follows a trajectory outside the direction changing means, from a first position in which the cable accessory is picked up by the retainer upstream from the direction changing means, to a second position in which the accessory is located downstream from the direction changing means and freed from the retainer.