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: The present invention relates to a coaxial pipe element comprising an inner pipe and an outer pipe and having at each of its ends a closure of the annular space between these two pipes, in particular by means of a forging, and in which said inner pipe is subjected to traction stress.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a coaxial pipe element (1) comprising an outer pipe (1a) and an inner pipe (1b), and including 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 said inner and outer pipe and said junction forgings are made form outside said pipes. The present invention also provides a coaxial pipe element (1) obtained by the method and characterized in that said inner pipe (1b) is subjected to traction stress.

Abstract: A pipe (1) comprising at least two pipe elements (11, 12) having internal liners of plastic material (2), the pipe elements being assembled end to end, in which the ends of the two pipe elements are welded (5) together and in which the ends of the internal liners (2) of plastic material of each of the pipe elements are joined together by a tubular junction sleeve (3) of material that withstands corrosion and that co-operate with the ends (2a, 2b) of the liners by mutual engagement via a notched surface (32), said liner ends (2) presenting reduced thickness (2a, 2b) and being bonded against the steel wall of said pipe by adhesive (4a, 4b).

Abstract: A unit element of undersea pipe, in particular for providing a bottom-to-surface connection, constituted by an assembly of two coaxial pipe elements of the PiP type (1) presenting an inner pipe element (2) and an outer pipe element (3) coaxial thereabout with an annular space (41) between the pipes, preferably including a thermally insulating material (42) in the annular space, and including at each end a junction piece (6, 6a-6b) in the form of a steel forging for connecting together two of the unit elements of axial pipe (1), the junction forgings (6) being welded to the ends of both of the inner and outer pipes, the unit elements being characterized in that the inner pipe element (2) comprises in its main portion an inner tube (21) of metal presenting thickness that is small relative to the thickness of the ends of the inner pipes that are welded to the junction forgings (6), the thickness of the inner tube being less than 50% the thickness of the ends of the inner pipe, the inner tube (2) being covered in

Abstract: A device for transferring fluid between two floating supports anchored to the sea bottom, having a rigid central undersea pipe installed below the surface with its ends each being connected to respective ones of two supports via a flexible hose. The main portion of the rigid central pipe includes or co-operates with buoyancy elements such that the central pipe adopts, in a quasi-static rest state, a configuration of an arch, preferably following a curve such that the angles between the half-lines of the axes of the rigid pipe and the horizontal half-lines at each of its ends extending towards the other end present absolute values of less than 20° and the flexible hoses present lengths and curvatures such that variations in the curvatures of the flexible hoses are suitable for compensating the movements of the floating supports.

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: The present invention relates to a reinforced undersea unit pipe element (1) suitable for being laid empty at great depth. The element includes a tubular wall, having at least one external peripheral reinforcing element (6, 7) creating a plurality of localized zones on the outside surface of the wall, the radial distance (d1) between the outside surface of the pipe and the longitudinal axis (XX?) of the wall in the zones being greater than the outside radius (R) of the tubular wall portions lying between the successive zones in the longitudinal direction (XX?), two successive ones of the zones being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (XX?) of the tubular wall by a distance (D) equal to ½ to 4 times the outside diameter (d) of the tubular wall portions, the successive zones preferably being spaced apart regularly.

Abstract: A device for transferring fluid between two floating supports anchored to the sea bottom, having a rigid central undersea pipe installed below the surface with its ends each being connected to respective ones of two supports via a flexible hose. The main portion of the rigid central pipe includes or co-operates with buoyancy elements such that the central pipe adopts, in a quasi-static rest state, a configuration of an arch, preferably following a curve such that the angles between the half-lines of the axes of the rigid pipe and the horizontal half-lines at each of its ends extending towards the other end present absolute values of less than 20° and the flexible hoses present lengths and curvatures such that variations in the curvatures of the flexible hoses are suitable for compensating the movements of the floating supports.

Abstract: A cylindrical junction part for joining together two elements of an assembly of at least two coaxial pipes, comprising an outer pipe containing an inner pipe defining an annular space preferably containing lagging material. The forged junction part forms two annular cavities defined by branches in a fork configuration at each end of said part serving to minimize stresses and fatigue in the join zone between two junction parts at the ends of two lengths of coaxial pipe to be joined together and between each length of pipe and each junction part at the ends thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a unit element of undersea pipe, in particular for providing a bottom-to-surface connection, constituted by an assembly of two coaxial pipe elements of the PiP type (1) presenting an inner pipe element (2) and an outer pipe element (3) coaxial thereabout with an annular space (41) between the pipes, preferably including a thermally insulating material (42) in said annular space, and including at each end a junction piece (6, 6a-6b) in the form of a steel forging for connecting together two of said unit elements of axial pipe (1), said junction forgings (6) being welded to the ends of both of said inner and outer pipes, said unit elements being characterized in that said inner pipe element (2) comprises in its main portion an inner tube (21) of metal presenting thickness that is small relative to the thickness of the ends of said inner pipes that are welded to said junction forgings (6), the thickness of said inner tube being less than 50% the thickness of said ends of said inn

Abstract: Apparatus for heating and lagging at least one main undersea pipe for conveying a flow of hot effluent. The apparatus includes a covering of thermally insulating material surrounding the main pipe(s), and covered by a leaktight outer protective casing and an internal chamber coaxial with the outer casing. The insulating covering surrounds the internal chamber in an annular space between the outer casing and the internal chamber. The main pipe is contained inside an internal chamber that is preferably cylindrical in shape. A heat-transfer fluid having a maintained temperature surrounds the main pipe contained inside the internal chamber and is circulated inside the internal chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pipe (1) comprising at least two pipe elements (11, 12) having internal liners of plastic material (2), the pipe elements being assembled end to end, in which the ends of the two pipe elements are welded (5) together and in which the ends of the internal liners (2) of plastic material of each of the pipe elements are joined together by means of a tubular junction sleeve (3) of material that withstands corrosion and that co-operate with the ends (2a, 2b) of the liners by mutual engagement via a notched surface (32), said liner ends (2) presenting reduced thickness (2a, 2b) and being bonded against the steel wall of said pipe by adhesive (4a, 4b).

Abstract: An undersea pipe of the riser type providing a connection between a floating support and the sea bottom. The riser has a rigid pipe of the catenary type extending from the floating support to a point of contact with the sea bottom. The catenary riser comprises a lower pipe portion terminating at the point of contact. The apparent weight per unit length in water of the lower pipe portion being at least 25% less than that of the remainder of the pipe constituting the catenary riser.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating and lagging at least one main undersea pipe for conveying a flow of hot effluent. The apparatus includes a covering of thermally insulating material surrounding the main pipe(s), and covered by a leaktight outer protective casing and an internal chamber coaxial with the outer casing. The insulating covering surrounds the internal chamber in an annular space between the outer casing and the internal chamber. The main pipe is contained inside an internal chamber that is preferably cylindrical in shape. A heat-transfer fluid having a maintained temperature surrounds the main pipe contained inside the internal chamber and is circulated inside the internal chamber.

Abstract: A bottom-to-surface connection installation for an undersea pipe. The installation comprises a vertical riser having its bottom end connected to an undersea pipe on the sea bed, and having a float at its top end, and a pipe connecting a floating support at the top end of the vertical riser. The connection between the riser bottom end and the undersea pipe is via an anchor system having a base on the sea bed. The base holds and guides junction elements between the bottom end of the riser and the end of the lower end of the undersea pipe. The junction elements comprise a rigid pipe element presenting an angled bend and a pipe coupling element which are fixed to a moving support of the base. The junction elements are fixed to the moving support and are free to move only in translation in a single longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A bottom-to-surface connection installation for an undersea pipe. The installation comprises a vertical riser having its bottom end connected to an undersea pipe on the sea bed, and having a float at its top end, and a pipe connecting a floating support at the top end of the vertical riser. The connection between the riser bottom end and the undersea pipe is via an anchor system having a base on the sea bed. The base holds and guides junction elements between the bottom end of the riser and the end of the lower end of the undersea pipe. The junction elements comprise a rigid pipe element presenting an angled bend and a pipe coupling element which are fixed to a moving support of the base. The junction elements are fixed to the moving support and are free to move only in translation in a single longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation providing a bottom-to-surface connection for an undersea pipe resting on the sea bottom, in particular at great depth, the installation being of the hybrid tower type having a static base placed on the sea bottom. In the installation of the present invention, said pipe resting on the sea bottom is connected by a flexible pipe element constituting a bend to a vertical riser whose bottom end is held in fixed position relative to said base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bed to surface connection for an underwater pipeline (11), resting on the seabed, in particular at great depth, of the hybrid tower type, comprising a static base (151-152) resting on the bed. According to the invention said pipeline (11), resting on the seabed is connected by means of a flexible pipeline element (12) with an elbow bend, to a vertical riser (5), the bottom end of which is fixed with relation to said base.