An apparatus configured to coat pipelines, in particular a cutback along a pipeline, having: a frame, which extends along a designated axis and is fixable with respect to the pipeline so as to arrange the designated axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline; a carriage, which is supported by the frame, is movable along the designated axis with respect to the frame, and is configured to designated a heater and an applicator; an actuator configured to advance the carriage along the designated axis; and a control unit configured to select a travel distance for the carriage from a plurality of travel distances.

A mold for coating a pipeline section with molten coating material from an injection molding machine, wherein the mold Includes a shell of impervious material reinforced by an exoskeleton of non-distensible material. An assembly for supporting a mold including a plurality of mutually separable shell bodies for coating a pipeline section, wherein the assembly includes motorized opening and closing of the shell bodies in a straight line. An assembly for supporting a bent pipeline section wherein the assembly includes a base and a pair of arms extending from the base, wherein each arm includes a respective clamping collar for clamping a bent pipe section between the arms. A vehicle for induction heating a bent pipeline section, wherein the vehicle includes a helical induction coil; and wheels arranged to guide movement of both ends of the induction coil through a tubular inside face of a bent pipeline section.

The invention provides improvements to electrofusion fitting methods that allow for continuity and repeatability of welds between an electrofusion fitting and a pipe lining (or stand-alone pipe). An electrofusion fitting for joining sections of lined pipe has heating elements configured to create at least one weld between the electrofusion fitting and a pipe lining, however prior to the weld step taking place the electrofusion fitting is heated and expands accordingly to ensure contact with the pipe lining. Preheating the electrofusion fitting also provides a predetermined starting temperature for the fitting and the lining which results in improved fusion cycle reliability. Furthermore, the need for clamps or support frames to support the electrofusion fitting in situ is removed, with corresponding reductions in cycle times, complexity, and hence cost.

A connector for lined pipelines comprises a tube having opposed male interface elements extending inwardly for respective ends of the tube. One or more circumferential permeable chokes project radially from each male interface element. The chokes minimise flow of oxidising fluid from the bore into the micro-annulus between the liner and the pipe while maximizing flow of fluid from the micro-annulus into the bore in the event of catastrophic pressure drop in the bore. To maintain gaps between the tube ends and the pipe liners for fluid flow, shoulder formations defined by radially-projecting bands extend circumferentially around the tube. The connector may be used in a joint arrangement where each liner comprises a body section, an end section of lesser thickness and greater bore than the body section that terminates short od an end of the pipe, an inner step disposed between the body section and the end section, and an outer step disposed between the end section and the pipe.

The present invention relates to a method for filling a gap (13) in the coating (5) of a pipeline coated with a coating, in particular a thermo-insulating coating. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of placing in the gap (13) a mixture of solid elements and a thermoplastic polymeric material in fluid state, and letting the thermoplastic polymeric material in fluid state solidify.

A pipeline system is enclosed including unlined or plastic lined pipes. A mechanical metal to metal connection is employed that can provide a fluid tight seal. A pipe coupling may be employed to span the connection. Plastic lined pipes can have their plastic liners connected to form a fluid tight bladder. Electro fusion may be employed.

In order to reduce or remove the potential risk of heat damage in the absence of cooling jackets when joining lined pipe sections, each lined pipe section is provided with an insulatory sleeve which is disposed between the host pipe and the respective liner. The sleeves provide discrete thermal protection to the ends of the liners and, where applicable, electrofusion welds between an electrofusion fitting and the liners. The sleeves are first located in the ends of the host pipes which are then lined by drawing the liners through the host pipes via a reduction die to reduce their external diameter. The liners are then reverted towards their original dimensions resulting in a tight fitting against the internal surface of the host pipes and of the insulatory sleeves thereby compressing the insulation material.

A method of applying protective sheeting of polymer material to a pipeline, the method including the steps of advancing a carriage along an annular path extending about the longitudinal axis of the pipeline; extruding the protective sheeting on the carriage; winding the protective sheeting, as the protective sheeting is extruded, about a cutback on the pipeline; and plastifying the polymer material on board the carriage.

An applicator machine and a process for heating and coating a section of pipeline. The applicator machine includes a frame configured to rotate about a section of pipeline to be heated and coated, rotating means operable to rotate the frame, and coating material applicators induction coils and radiant heaters mounted on the frame and rotatable therewith. The induction coil is configured to heat a section of pipeline adjacent to the induction coil to a coating material application temperature. The radiant heaters are configured to heat factory-applied coatings. Each coating material applicator sprays coating material through an aperture in a respective induction coil. The applicator includes an enclosure configured to surround a section of pipeline and provision for evacuating and collecting waste coating material. The coating material applicator may be configured to spray powder coating material, such as fusion bonded epoxy powder material and/or chemically modified polypropylene powder material.

A method lays lined pipeline which actively and successfully removes air pockets which night be trapped in the annulus between the liner and the host pipe by progressively flooding the lined pipeline. Further, the liner is brought into closer contact and engagement with the host pipe. The removal of air in the annulus enables the pipeline test pressure to stabilize more quickly and avoids the risk of potential collapse during operational service life in the event the pipeline pressures fluctuate or a vacuum is created during an emergency shutdown.