Abstract: A first metal pipe is welded to a second metal pipe in a method of laying pipeline, for example from a pipe-laying vessel at sea. The metal pipes may have an outer diameter greater than 150 mm and a pipe wall thickness of greater than 15 mm. The first pipe and the second pipe are brought together prior to welding so as to sandwich a third type of metal material between the pipe ends. The thickness of the third type of material, immediately before welding may be between 0.05 mm and 2 mm. The third metal material is melted together with the metal material of the first pipe and the second pipe.

Abstract: A method of laser beam welding two pipes together, the method including the steps of arranging two pipes such that a gap is provided between opposed surfaces of the pipes, heating at least one of the pipes by induction heating while the gap is provided between the opposed surfaces of the pipes, and subsequently laser beam welding the opposed surfaces of the pipes together.

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: 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: A method of laying pipeline from a vessel (10) is disclosed. The vessel (10) includes many pipe processing stations (36, 42), arranged across the width of the vessel. In one embodiment, there are two pipe processing areas (38, 40) separated along the length of the vessel. The pipe processing stations (36, 42) may be operable in two modes of operation, for example, a first mode of operation where the vessel produces triple joint pipe strings (from three lengths of pipe section welded together) and a second mode of operation where double joint pipe strings are produced, for example, from two single length pipe sections having a significantly greater length than the single length pipe sections used in the first mode of operation. In one embodiment, a triple joint pipe section is part welded in one pipe processing area (38), then moved along the length of the vessel (10) to a different pipe processing area, where further welding operations are performed on the triple joint.

Abstract: A method of laying pipeline from a vessel (10) is disclosed. The vessel (10) includes many pipe processing stations (36, 42), arranged across the width of the vessel. In one embodiment, there are two pipe processing areas (38, 40) separated along the length of the vessel. The pipe processing stations (36, 42) may be operable in two modes of operation, for example, a first mode of operation where the vessel produces triple joint pipe strings (from three lengths of pipe section welded together) and a second mode of operation where double joint pipe strings are produced, for example, from two single length pipe sections having a significantly greater length than the single length pipe sections used in the first mode of operation. In one embodiment, a triple joint pipe section is part welded in one pipe processing area (38), then moved along the length of the vessel (10) to a different pipe processing area, where further welding operations are performed on the triple joint.