Saipem Limited

Antonio Passerini

Valerio Bregonzio

Umberto Giovannini

A method of joining pipes to produce an underwater pipeline on a firing line includes supplying the firing line with pipes having previously roughened end portions; welding the end portions of adjacent pipes to form cutbacks, each of which is defined by two end portions, and by an annular weld bead between the two end portions; cleaning, by cryogenic blasting, the outer surface of each cutback; and forming a protective joint coating about each cutback.

Pipe-joining method and system for producing underwater pipelines and underwater-pipeline-laying vessel comprising such a system

Process for the towing of underwater pipelines by means of head tugs for the pulling and tail tugs for the counter-pulling characterized in that it is effected by the use of a set of equipment, connected to the pipeline itself, including floats, of which at least a part has a variable buoyancy or partially variable buoyancy, which, when placed in a pre-established position and at pre-established intervals, provide a graded buoyancy to the pipeline in relation to the distance from the bed so as to obtain a 'festoon' configuration of the pipeline, i.e. with suspended sections of pipeline, in correspondence with the floats, alternating with resting sections.

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Pavia, Italy

Antonio Passerini