Compagnie Francaise Des Petroles

Compagnie Generale Pour Les Developpements Operationnels Des Richesses

Entreprise De Recherches Et D'activites Petrolieres (e.r.a.p.)

Compagnie Maritime D'expertises

Compagnie Maritime D'expertises, Societe Anonyme

Ateliers Et Chantiers De Bretagne-a.c.b., Societe Anonyme

Ateliers Et Chantiers De Bretagne

Etudes Petrolieres Marines, Societe

Etudes Petrolieres Marines, Societe Responsabilite Limitee

Michel J Jegousse

Bruno J De Sivry

Yves R Le Hir

Bernard G Sudreau

The invention relates to the setting-down of a pipe in the sea using a setting-down line. The line is provided with sinkers at its lower end portion which tension the line and allow a reduction in the angle of general inclination of the line with the vertical and thus a reduction in the length of the line.

Temporarily terminating laying of underwater pipe line

An internal mandrel (22) cooperating in the operation of joining two successive lengths of tubing by welding, and it is characterized in that this mandrel comprises zones (25, 26, 27) separated longitudinally and serving respectively for matching, welding, and welding checking, and means of displacement of the mandrel (22) by a step, enabling the latter to present the said zones in succession in front of one and the same working station.

Internal mandrel used in an operation of butt joining two lengths of

In the positioning of an additional tubular element, e.g. a pipe section, on a tubular structure, e.g. a pipe-line in the course of immersion, where the end surfaces to be brought into contact are not in radial planes, the additional element is brought in alignment with the structure and at a short distance from the latter. The end surfaces of the element and structure are then brought into contact, the contacting ends are centered, and a compressive force is applied to them in such a way that the element can pivot about the point of contact between the element and the structure until its end surface is brought into complete contact with the end surface of the structure.

Positioning of an additional tubular element on a tubular structure

In the assembling and laying of an undersea pipe in which the already submerged pipe portion is suspended from a surface support, the end of the submerged pipe portion being supported on a variable inclination laying ramp, and a new pipe section is moved into alignment with the end of the pipe portion and fixed thereto, the submerged pipe portion is so suspended from the surface support that the tension in the pipe portion is maintained substantially constant irrespective of vertical movements of the surface support caused by the action of waves on the surface support.

Method and apparatus for assembling and laying underwater pipeline

To enable the release and consequent recovery of a support float which supports a load, e.g. a pipe, as it is lowered to the sea bed, a marker buoy is lowered with the float to be released when the load reaches the sea bed, the marker buoy having an inflated flexible envelope which is trapped in a housing fast with the float and having an opening through which the float can escape only when it has been compressed to a predetermined extent under the effects of a predetermined hydrostatic pressure. The marker buoy is connected to the float by a cable and the float is released from the load either by operations on that cable, or on a release cable connected to the float, on appearance of the marker buoy at the water surface.

Growing community of inventors

Nantes, France

Michel J Jegousse