Abstract: An inertia transition terminal pipe element having a main rigid pipe element including at one of its ends an inertia transition piece that is constituted by at least one and preferably a plurality “n” of coaxial reinforcing pipe elements placed coaxially around the main pipe element, each reinforcing pipe element presenting an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the main pipe element. The various main and reinforcing pipe elements each being positioned with one end situated at the same level along the axis of symmetry of the pipe elements, and each reinforcing pipe element presenting a length that is less than the height of the main pipe element. The annular gap between the various pipe elements being filled with a solid filler material. A rigid undersea pipe is also disclosed including at at least one of its ends, an inertia transition pipe element.

Abstract: A coaxial pipe element (1) includes an outer pipe (1a) and an inner pipe (1b), and at each of its ends a junction forging (2a, 2b), each forging having at least an inner first branch (32) set back (L1) from an outer first branch (31), in which all of the circular welds between the inner and the outer pipe and the junction forgings are made on the outside of the pipes.

Abstract: A rigid material for heat-insulation and/or buoyancy, consisting of a mixture of: (a) a matrix of a uniform cross-linked elastomeric polymer mixture and a liquid insulating plasticizer compound and (b) hollow balls dispersed in the matrix. The insulating plasticizer compound being selected from among compounds from inorganic or vegetable oil, and being a material, the phase of which does not change at a temperature of ?10° to +150° C., the weight proportion of the insulating plasticizer compound in the matrix being at least 50%. The hollow balls, dispersed in the matrix are at a volumetric proportion of at least 35% of the total volume of the mixture of the balls with the matrix. The rigid insulating material can be used for the insulation and/or buoyancy of an underwater pipe or underwater-pipe element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curvature limiter device constituted by fastening tubular sleeves (5) end-to-end, the tubular sleeves being fitted at their longitudinal ends with fastener-and-hinge devices (6) on their top faces and with bottom abutments (71, 72) diametrically opposite on their bottom faces. The present invention also provides a bottom-to-surface connection installation between undersea equipment such as an undersea well head or the end of an undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom (16) and a floating support (12) on the surface, the installation comprising an undersea flexible line (2) having its curvature controlled by a said curvature limiter device (1) of the invention, said curvature limiter device being arranged at an intermediate depth between the sea bottom (16) and the surface (17).

Abstract: An assembly of at least two coaxial pipes having at least two coaxial pipe assembly unit elements, one of which has, at one end, a first junction part assembled to a second junction part at the end of another said coaxial pipe assembly unit element, each of said first and second junction parts being a body of revolution, wherein the ends of the two non-welded-together inner second branches of said first and second junction parts are in metal-on-metal contact one on the other under elastic deformation stress via their contact surface as a result of the shrinking of the weld between the ends of the two outer second branches of the junction parts, such that the inner second cavities are leaktight relative to the inside of the inner pipe.

Abstract: A ship for laying flexible undersea lines at sea, the ship having a deck including a cavity receiving said turntable and a motor-driven device for rotating the turntable and fastened to the carrier structure of the hull of the ship, also known as the “hull girder”. The top face of the circular turntable does not project significantly above the plane of the deck that is juxtaposed therewith. The turntable presents attachment elements for attaching a modular storage and handling device for storing and handling flexible lines by winding and unwinding the flexible lines.

Abstract: A modular storage and holder device for a plurality of flexible lines having a circular turntable arranged on a plane such as the deck of a ship and having reversibly attached thereto a central cylinder around which at least a first line is wound in carousel mode with a plurality of coaxial layers of helically superposed touching turns, internal posts serving as a winding support for at least one second flexible line itself retained by a series of second intermediate posts around which it is possible to wind at least one third flexible line, itself retained by peripheral retaining posts at the periphery of the turntable, the second and third lines being wound in rotary basket type mode having superposed pluralities of layers of juxtaposed concentric touching turns resting on a common plane.

Abstract: pipe having at least two steel pipe elements with internal lining that are assembled together end to end, with the ends of the two pipe elements being welded together. A tubular junction sleeve is interposed inside the pipe at the abutting ends of the two pipe elements so that the end terminal portions of the sleeve are at least in part in leaktight contact with respective ones of the terminal portions at the ends of the internal linings of the two pipe elements. The leaktight contact zone is a zone of fusion welding together the materials in mutual contact constituting at least a portion of each terminal portion of the sleeve and of each respective terminal portion of the lining. At each of the terminal portions of the sleeve in the leaktight contact zone, the tubular junction sleeve presents a Joule effect heater wire arranged in a double spiral on the outer surface of each terminal portion at the ends of the sleeve.

Abstract: A bottom-to-surface connection installation of at least two undersea pipes (10a, 10b) resting on the sea bottom, the installation comprising: 1) a first hybrid tower comprising: a) a vertical riser (1a) anchored (3a) to a first base and connected to a said undersea pipe (10a) resting on the sea bottom and having its top end connected to a first sub-surface float (2a); and b) a first connection pipe (4a) preferably a flexible pipe, providing the connection between a floating support (11) and the top end of said riser; and 2) at least one second rigid pipe (1b) rising from the sea bottom on which it rests (10b) or from a second undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom to which its bottom end is connected, said bottom end not being anchored at said first base, up to the sub-surface where its top end is connected to a second float (2b) situated substantially at the same depth as said first float (2a) and fastened to said first float at least respectively a flexible second connection pipe (2b) providing its c

Abstract: A bottom-to-surface connection installation between a plurality of undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom and a floating support on the surface and anchored to the sea bottom, the floating support including a turret; and a plurality of flexible hoses extending from the turret to respective ones of a plurality of rigid pipes, the rigid pipes providing connections between the flexible hoses and respective ones of the plurality of undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom, wherein the installation includes a guide structure maintained in the subsurface between the turret and the top of the rigid pipes, the guide structure being suitable for guiding the flexible hoses, the guide structure having a plurality of first guide elements with respective ones of the plurality of flexible hoses passing therethrough in such a manner that the flexible hose has at least a bottom flexible hose portion in a dipping catenary configuration, and a second flexible hose portion extending entirely above the point of contact between

Abstract: A floating support including a retaining and holding device for retaining and holding a pipe suspended from a floating support of the type comprising a ship for laying a bottom-to-surface connection pipe. The retaining and holding device comprises at least a first collar releasably locked around an end forging of a pipe element together with a support part at the floating support, said support part including load transfer and a rotary joint enabling the inclination of the pipe to be guided and having an effect of automatically centering the pipe.

Abstract: A method of laying an undersea line at the bottom of the sea from the surface to connect the bottom end thereof to a coupling element at the sea bottom by positioning the undersea line suspended from the surface in a substantially vertical position and including a curving device extending between two points and having at least one cable and tensioning means for tensioning the cable suitable for reducing the length of the cable extending between the two fastening or guide points from a maximum length L0 to a given shorter limit value L1; moving the bottom end of the undersea line in such a manner as to move the bottom end of the undersea line away from its initial position through a distance D, if necessary, moving the undersea line closer to the sea bottom while simultaneously lowering the line additionally from the surface, and then finalizing the positioning and connecting of the bottom end of the line to the sea bottom.

Abstract: A method of covering the inside surface of a steel connection part having an empty inside volume (1-2) defined by said inside surface, with a liner constituted by a layer of substantially uniform thickness of a thermoplastic material. The connection part including at least two open tubular ends suitable for being connected respectively to at least two steel pipe elements, each including the same internal liner. A rotary molding method is implemented in which the connection part acts as a mold. The present invention also provides a connection part obtained by the rotary lining method of the invention, and to methods of assembling a connection part of the invention, as obtained by rotary lining, with a likewise lined pipe element.

Abstract: A method of covering the inside surface of a steel connection part having an empty inside volume defined by the inside surface, with a liner constituted by a layer of substantially uniform thickness of a thermoplastic material. The connection part including at least two open tubular ends suitable for being connected respectively to at least two steel pipe elements, each including the same internal liner. A rotary molding method is implemented in which the connection part acts as a mold. A connection part obtained by the rotary lining method is provided, and methods of assembling a connection part, as obtained by rotary lining, with a likewise lined pipe element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly of at least two coaxial pipes (1) comprising at least two coaxial pipe assembly unit elements (n-1, n), one of which has, at one end, a first junction part (1a) assembled to a second junction part (1b) at the end of another said coaxial pipe assembly unit element, each of said first and second junction parts (1a, 1b) being a body of revolution, the assembly being characterized in that the ends of the two non-welded-together inner second branches (52a, 52b) of said first and second junction parts (1a, 1b) are in metal-on-metal contact one on the other under elastic deformation stress via their contact surface as a result of the shrinking of the weld (19) between the ends of the two outer second branches (51) of said junction parts (1a, 1b), such that said inner second cavities (6) are leaktight relative to the inside (25) of the inner pipe (22).

Abstract: An assembly of two coaxial pipes of the PiP type, comprising at least two coaxial pipe unit elements each comprising an inner pipe and an outer pipe, defining an annular space, preferably filled with an insulating material, and assembled end to end by welding, including a sleeve with a hollow tubular wall made of rigid or semirigid material, preferably of plastics material or composite material, surrounding said pipe in register with the welded junction zone between said two coaxial pipe unit elements, said hollow tubular wall of the sleeve comprising an outer casing and an inner casing connected together at their longitudinal ends in leaktight manner, thereby defining an internal volume that is completely filled with a quasi-incompressible thermally insulating material.

Abstract: An inertia transition terminal pipe element having a main rigid pipe element including at one of its ends an inertia transition piece that is constituted by at least one and preferably a plurality “n” of coaxial reinforcing pipe elements placed coaxially around the main pipe element, each reinforcing pipe element presenting an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the main pipe element. The various main and reinforcing pipe elements each being positioned with one end situated at the same level along the axis of symmetry of the pipe elements, and each reinforcing pipe element presenting a length that is less than the height of the main pipe element. The annular gap between the various pipe elements being filled with a solid filler material. A rigid undersea pipe is also disclosed including at at least one of its ends, an inertia transition pipe element.

Abstract: A device for thermally insulating at least one undersea pipe. The device comprises a thermally insulating covering surrounding the pipe, the covering being covered by an outer leak proof protective case, and the case being made of a flexible or semi rigid material suitable for remaining in contact with the outside surface of the insulating covering when it deforms. The device is characterized in that the insulating covering comprises a phase-change material confined in at least one container made of a flexible or semi rigid material that is deformable, and the container is disposed around the pipe.

Abstract: A bottom-to-surface connection installation of at least two undersea pipes resting on the sea bottom. The installation having a first hybrid tower having a vertical riser anchored to a first base and connected to a the undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom and having its top end connected to a first sub-surface float. A first connection pipe, preferably a flexible pipe, providing the connection between a floating support and the top end of the riser and at least one second rigid pipe rising from the sea bottom on which it rests or from a second undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom to which its bottom end is connected, the bottom end not being anchored at the first base, up to the sub-surface where its top end is connected to a second float situated substantially at the same depth as the first float and fastened to the first float by a second flexible second connection pipe, providing connection to the floating support.

Abstract: An insulating complex having a metal case and insulating material confined in a vacuum between the inner wall and the outer wall of the case and wherein each of the walls has a metal strip, at least one of which includes corrugations. An insulated pipe and a set of two coaxial pipes are also provided wherein the coaxial pipes are arranged as an inner pipe and an outer pipe, preferably undersea pipes for great depths.