Abstract: A method for forming a composite fluid conduit includes providing an inner pipe having a variation in cross-section between at least two different longitudinal sections thereof and applying a fiber reinforced composite material to the inner pipe. In some disclosed examples the variation in cross section may be provided intermediate opposing ends of the inner pipe. In other disclosed examples the variation in cross section may be provided at an end region of the inner pipe.

Abstract: A pipe assembly (10) includes a composite pipe (12) having a composite material formed of at least a matrix material and a plurality of reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix material. The pipe assembly (10) further comprises a metallic pipe stub (14) secured to an end region of the composite pipe (12) and configured to support a connector (20) to permit the pipe assembly (10) to be secured to separate infrastructure.

Abstract: A composite fluid conduit assembly with a fluid conduit having a wall defining a fluid flow path is disclosed. The wall has an inner region and an outer region. The outer region includes a composite material having reinforcing elements within a matrix material and the inner region having a material which is substantially devoid of reinforcing elements. The inner region of the wall defines a first sealing surface around the fluid flow path at one end of the fluid conduit. The composite fluid conduit assembly has an interface member substantially devoid of reinforcing elements and located at the end of the fluid conduit. The interface member defines an aperture in fluid flow communication with the fluid flow path and a second sealing surface. A compression arrangement forces the interface member and the fluid conduit together forming a seal around the fluid flow path between the first and second sealing surfaces.

Abstract: A tubular comprises a composite material including a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. A method for heating the composite material of the tubular comprises exposing the composite material to a time-varying magnetic field to directly induce a flow of electrical current in the composite material. The method may comprise configuring the composite material so as to control the flow of electrical current and/or heat in the composite material. The method may be used for heating a composite fluid conduit for use in a subsea environment for the removal of the build-up of wax and/or hydrates on an inner surface of the fluid conduit. Additionally or alternatively, the method may be used for deforming a composite fluid conduit, or for joining a composite fluid conduit to a further component such as a further composite fluid conduit.

Abstract: A composite fluid conduit assembly with a fluid conduit having a wall defining a fluid flow path is disclosed. The wall has an inner region and an outer region. The outer region includes a composite material having reinforcing elements within a matrix material and the inner region having a material which is substantially devoid of reinforcing elements. The inner region of the wall defines a first sealing surface around the fluid flow path at one end of the fluid conduit. The composite fluid conduit assembly has an interface member substantially devoid of reinforcing elements and located at the end of the fluid conduit. The interface member defines an aperture in fluid flow communication with the fluid flow path and a second sealing surface. A compression arrangement forces the interface member and the fluid conduit together forming a seal around the fluid flow path between the first and second sealing surfaces.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite fluid conduit includes providing an inner pipe having a variation in cross-section between at least two different longitudinal sections thereof and applying a fiber reinforced composite material to the inner pipe. In some disclosed examples the variation in cross section may be provided intermediate opposing ends of the inner pipe. In other disclosed examples the variation in cross section may be provided at an end region of the inner pipe.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix, wherein the composite material in at least one region of the pipe wall is pre-stressed. The composite material in at least one region of the pipe wall comprises or defines at least one of a level of pre-tension and pre-compression.

Abstract: A riser system (202) comprises a riser (204) to be secured between a floating body (206) and a subsea location (209). The riser comprises a composite material formed of at least a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. In use, the riser (204) comprises an upper portion (214) extending from the floating body (206) and having a region arranged to be in tension, a lower portion (216) extending from the subsea location (209) and having a region arranged to be in tension, and an intermediate portion (218) located between the upper and lower portions (214, 216) and having a region arranged to be in compression. A flow-line jumper (302, 402) configured to be secured between two subsea locations, a flow-line jumper arrangement comprising a flow-line jumper (302, 402) and a method of forming a flow-line jumper 302, 402 are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of at a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded within the matrix, wherein at least one circumferential segment of the pipe wall comprises or defines a local variation in construction to provide a local variation in a property of the pipe.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded within the matrix. At least one longitudinal portion of the pipe wall comprises or defines a local variation in construction to provide a variation in a property of the pipe.

Abstract: A tubular comprises a composite material including a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. A method for heating the composite material of the tubular comprises exposing the composite material to a time-varying magnetic field to directly induce a flow of electrical current in the composite material. The method may comprise configuring the composite material so as to control the flow of electrical current and/or heat in the composite material. The method may be used for heating a composite fluid conduit for use in a subsea environment for the removal of the build-up of wax and/or hydrates on an inner surface of the fluid conduit. Additionally or alternatively, the method may be used for deforming a composite fluid conduit, or for joining a composite fluid conduit to a further component such as a further composite fluid conduit.

Abstract: A pipe assembly (10) comprises a composite pipe (12) having a composite material formed of at least a matrix material and a plurality of reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix material. The pipe assembly (10) further comprises a metallic pipe stub (14) secured to an end region of the composite pipe (12) and configured to support a connector (20) to permit the pipe assembly (10) to be secured to separate infrastructure.

Abstract: A riser system (202) comprises a riser (204) to be secured between a floating body (206) and a subsea location (209). The riser comprises a composite material formed of at least a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. In use, the riser (204) comprises an upper portion (214) extending from the floating body (206) and having a region arranged to be in tension, a lower portion (216) extending from the subsea location (209) and having a region arranged to be in tension, and an intermediate portion (218) located between the upper and lower portions (214, 216) and having a region arranged to be in compression. A flow-line jumper (302, 402) configured to be secured between two subsea locations, a flow-line jumper arrangement comprising a flow-line jumper (302, 402) and a method of forming a flow-line jumper 302, 402 are also disclosed.

Abstract: A curvature sensing device 10 comprising, a first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensor 12, a second FBG strain sensor 14, a flexible piece comprising two end pieces 16, 18 joined by a tubular mid-section 20. The device 10 further comprises 16 contact rollers 22 provided on the internal surfaces of the end pieces 16, 18, which maintain the end pieces 16, 18 tangential to a pipe around which the device 10 is located. The FBG strain sensors 12, 14 are embedded within the mid-section 20 and are arranged in two generally orthogonal planes, so that the curvature is measured in two dimensions. This enables the device 10 to detect both the magnitude and direction of bending/curvature within a pipe. Bending in a pipe is transferred through the end pieces 16, 18 to the mid-section 20. The FBG sensors 12, 14 measure bending of the mid-section 20 from which bending of the pipe can be inferred.

Abstract: A pipe system comprises a metallic pipe section having a wall comprising a metal material, and a deformation absorber coupled to the first pipe section in end-to-end relation. The deformation absorber comprises a composite pipe section having a wall comprising a composite material formed of at least a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix. The composite pipe section is configured to sustain a greater level of strain than the metallic pipe section when the pipe system is subject to deformation by a load event.

Abstract: A pipe connection apparatus or assembly 10 for use in applications in, e.g., the oil and gas industry, comprises an engagement member 20 adapted to engage an end region 41 of a pipe 40 when said pipe 40 is connected to a structure, wherein the engagement member 20 comprises a composite material 60 formed of at least a matrix 61 and one or more reinforcing fibres 62 embedded within the matrix 61, and the construction of the composite material 60 of the engagement member 20 is configured to accommodate the end region 41 of the pipe 40.

Abstract: A vibration detector (1) comprising at least one fiber optic sensor (2) mechanically coupled to a flexible support member (3). The vibration detector (1) is mounted on the outside of the pipeline and a signal from the fiber optic sensor is measured. This signal is indicative of whether the vibration detector is experiencing vibrations due to collisions of contaminant particles with each other and/or with the walls of the pipeline. A method for detecting particulate contaminants in a fluid flowing in a pipeline is also provided.

Abstract: A pressure sensor (10) comprising fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors (12) provided within an optical fiber (14), an optical fiber strain sensor carrier rod 16 and a pressure intensifying sleeve (18). The carrier rod (16) is formed from a first glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite material having a first stiffness/elastic modulus the direction of strain sensing. The sleeve (18) is formed from a second composite material, having a lower axial stiffness in the direction of strain sensing than that of the carrier rod (16). Under an applied hydrostatic load, the sleeve (18) exerts an axial compressive load onto the section of rod (16) within the sleeve (18). The axial compressive strain experienced by the rod (16) is thereby increased in the region within the sleeve (18) compared to the axial compressive strain that would be produced in the rod (16) if the sleeve (18) was not present.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of at a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix, wherein at least one circumferential segment of the pipe wall comprises or defines a local variation in construction to provide a local variation in a property of the pipe.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix. At least one longitudinal portion of the pipe wall comprises or defines a local variation in construction to provide a variation in a property of the pipe.