Institut Francais Du Pe'trole

Aerospatiale

Other

Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle

Societe Nationale Industrielle Et Aerospatiale

Institute Francois Du Petrole

Areospatiale

Institut Francais Du Petrole Et Aerospatiale

Societe Aerospatiale

Charles P Sparks

Pierre Odru

Marcel Auberon

Guy Metivaud

Jean-Francois Fuchs

Michel Huvey

Jacques Behar

Jacques Schmitt

Jean-Jacques Thouraud

Jacqes E Chaussepied

Process for optimizing the features of multilayered tubes made of fibrous composite materials, allowing to maintain within the specified limits the limit elongations and stresses which they withstand in response to the applied strains. The process comprises selecting at least two optimized features characteristic of each layer (its thickness and the winding angle of the fibers for example) by starting from an initial tube selected a priori. Through small deviations applied to the parameters, the relations between small deviations applied to the parameters and the variations of the resulting limit elongations and stresses are determined, as well as the inverse relations relating the variations of the limit elongations and stresses to the parameter deviations. Knowing these inverse relations allows, in one or several stages, to find out the deviations to be applied in order to make up the measurable differences between the limit elongations and stresses of the optimized tube and the tube selected a priori. Application to the achievement of tubular pipes for the oil industry for example.

Process for optimizing multilayered tubes made of composite materials

A riser for great water depths includes a main tube, peripheral lines, and a base at the lower end of the main tube. The main tube has devices for holding the peripheral lines in position with respect to the main tube. The lower end of each of the peripheral lines is connected with another device placed on the base allowing axial relative movement of at least one of the peripheral lines with respect to the main tube. Also, the riser is provided with a damping device.

Riser for great water depths

A composite material tube, withstanding the internal pressure, and comprising at least two layers of pressure reinforcement fibers, or pressure resistant layers, wound at an angle at least equal in absolute value to 70.degree., with respect to the center axis of the tube. The two layers both undergo radial expansion under an effect of the pressure, with one of these two layers being inside the other. A circumferential modulus of elasticity of the external layer is greater than the circumferential modulus of elasticity of the internal layer.

Tube comprising composite layers with different modulii of elasticity

Process for manufacturing a variable stiffness line and associated

A tube includes a tubular part of composite material with a thermosetting resin matrix. A metallic end coupling member is connected to one end of the tubular part and is engaged at least partially inside the tubular part. A tubular covering member of impermeable material is placed over the inner face of the tubular part and is integrally attached to the tubular part. An impermeable joint is formed between the end coupling member and the covering member. The inner face of the tubular part is covered by the end coupling member and the covering member.

Tube of composite material for drilling and/or transport of liquid or

A method of joining a tube of composite material and a tubular metal fitting includes, winding filaments of pre-impregnated fibers to produce a tube with a longitudinal axis. The fibers that provide tensile strength for the tube are at a tensile fiber angle relative to the longitudinal axis. A tubular metal fitting is introduced at least partially into an end of a tube section, with inner and outer parts of the fitting being located inside and outside of the tube section. The inner and outer parts are secured by inserting penetrating elements extending radially through the tube section and the parts of the fitting. The penetrating elements are arranged in uniform circumferential alignments which are equally spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis. Each circumferential alignment defines an alignment plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and spaced by a distance which is a function of an integer, the number of circumferential alignments, the interval between two consecutive penetrating elements in the same circumferential alignment and the tensile fiber angle.

Method for mechanical joining a tube of composite material and a

A composite material tube, substantially insensitive to the variations of elongation under the effect of the internal pressure, comprising a number n of stable layers of reinforcement fibers, the fibers of each layer (i) being placed at the same winding angle in absolute value, referenced theta, with respect to the axis of the tube with an equal proportion of fibers wound at said angle in one direction (.vertline.theta.vertline.) as fibers wound in the opposite direction (-.vertline.theta.vertline.), the fibers of each layer being buried in a matrix which adheres to these fibers. The fibers of the same layer and the associated matrix have a volume referenced Y, the parallel fibers of the same layer and the associated matrix having overall a modulus of elasticity in the natural direction of the fibers, referenced E, wherein said n layers of fibers comply as a whole with the following relationship:

Composition material tube substantially insensitive to the variations of

Fibers, which are substantially longitudinally profiled, are wound both around a cylindrical mandrel and a metallic double cone-shaped tip which is engaged onto said mandrel. Said fibers are turned back about studs distributed on a ring which is mounted on a threaded portion extending from the tip, whereupon said longitudinal fibers are binded thereto by means of circumferential fibers before the polymerization process of the tube has been completed. The composite tubes thus produced may be used in off-shore oil prospecting.

Method for affixing a metallic tip to a tube made of composite wound

An improved platform comprising several columns at least partially submerged in service, wherein, over at least a submerged portion of at least one column, the section defined by the intersection of this portion with a horizontal plane decreases when the depth increases.

Sea platforms for improving their dynamic balance

A variable rigidity element is provided to surround and protect a riser or transfer column installed at a water bottom and extending usually to a platform associated with production of hydrocarbons. The element is composed of a number of shells which surround the riser and two or more concentric rings of shells may be provided. The shells, preferably made of metal, are shaped to avoid contact and have an ogive end remote from the bottom installation.

Variable rigidity element for transfer column foot

This riser has a central pipe connected to an underwater installation through a flexible assembly, and a plurality of satellite pipes connected to corresponding tubes of the underwater installation through a plurality of hoses each arranged along an helical winding. Upper and lower fastening means secure these hoses to the upper and lower parts of the flexible assembly and maintain the ends of each connecting hose in the extension of the helical winding.

Growing community of inventors

Le Vesinet, France

Charles P Sparks