Abstract: A pipe-joining method for building a hydrocarbon pipeline, in particular an underwater pipeline, includes welding two adjacent pipes to form a cutback, and forming a protective coating about the cutback. Forming the protective coating includes applying an LE (liquid epoxy) resin or a powdered FBE (fusion bonded epoxy) resin to the cutback to form a primer coat; and applying a powdered polypropylene adhesive on top of the still-wet primer coat to form an auxiliary adhesive coat. Forming the protective coating also includes fitting a polypropylene heat-shrink sleeve around the auxiliary adhesive coat; and heating the sleeve to shrink and bond the sleeve to the auxiliary adhesive coat.

Abstract: A heat-delivery apparatus (12) heats a heat-shrinkable sleeve (10) on a pipe (2). The heat-delivery apparatus (12) includes one or more heater elements (20) which define an interior heating surface that surrounds the sleeve (10). An air space is thus defined between the exterior of the sleeve (10) and the interior heating surface. The flow of air, that would otherwise be generated by the step of applying heat, within said air space is controlled or restricted for example by means of fins (50, 50s, 60) that control or restrict the airflow, fully or partially sealing the air space with one or more sealing members (70), or fans (80) that generate an opposing airflow (82).

Abstract: A field joint coating unit for coating a cutback area along a pipeline in which the apparatus includes an extruder having an extrusion outlet positioned adjacent and facing the cutback area so that a protective sheet can be extruded having a width that exceeds an axially extending width of the cutback area, and a mechanism supporting the extruder and its tank, the extrusion outlet, and a roller for compressing the protective sheet onto the cutback area in which the mechanism rotate the extruder, the tank, the extrusion outlet, and the roller about the pipeline as the protective sheet is extruded while maintaining the position of the extrusion outlet relative to the cutback area.

Abstract: A method of joining pipes to produce underwater pipelines, wherein the facing free ends of two adjacent pipes, aligned along an axis, are welded to define a cutback; a protective sheet of plastic material is extruded close to the cutback; and the protective sheet is wound about the cutback by simultaneously rotating the extruder extrusion outlet and the extruder about the pipeline as the protective sheet is extruded from the extrusion outlet.

Abstract: A heat-delivery apparatus (12) heats a heat-shrinkable sleeve (10) on a pipe (2). The heat-delivery apparatus (12) includes one or more heater elements (20) which define an interior heating surface that surrounds the sleeve (10). An air space is thus defined between the exterior of the sleeve (10) and the interior heating surface. The flow of air, that would otherwise be generated by the step of applying heat, within said air space is controlled or restricted for example by means of fins (50, 50s, 60) that control or restrict the airflow, fully or partially sealing the air space with one or more sealing members (70), or fans (80) that generate an opposing airflow (82).

Abstract: A pipe-joining method for building a hydrocarbon pipeline, in particular an underwater pipeline, includes welding two adjacent pipes to form a cutback, and forming a protective coating about the cutback. Forming the protective coating includes applying an LE (liquid epoxy) resin or a powdered FBE (fusion bonded epoxy) resin to the cutback to form a primer coat; and applying a powdered polypropylene adhesive on top of the still-wet primer coat to form an auxiliary adhesive coat. Forming the protective coating also includes fitting a polypropylene heat-shrink sleeve around the auxiliary adhesive coat; and heating the sleeve to shrink and bond the sleeve to the auxiliary adhesive coat.

Abstract: A method of joining pipes to produce underwater pipelines, wherein the facing free ends of two adjacent pipes, aligned along an axis, are welded to define a cutback; a protective sheet of plastic material is extruded close to the cutback; and the protective sheet is wound about the cutback.

Abstract: A method of joining pipes to produce underwater pipelines, wherein the facing free ends of two adjacent pipes, aligned along an axis, are welded to define a cutback; a protective sheet of plastic material is extruded close to the cutback; and the protective sheet is wound about the cutback.

Abstract: A method of joining pipes (3) to produce underwater pipelines (2), wherein the facing free ends (15) of two adjacent pipes (3), aligned along an axis (A), are welded to define a cutback (18); a protective sheet (22) of plastic material is extruded close to the cutback (18); and the protective sheet (22) is wound about the cutback (18).

Abstract: A method of joining pipes (3) to produce underwater pipelines (2), wherein the facing free ends (15) of two adjacent pipes (3), aligned along an axis (A), are welded to define a cutback (18); a protective sheet (22) of plastic material is extruded close to the cutback (18); and the protective sheet (22) is wound about the cutback (18).