A method of joining a non-metallic pipe to a metallic pipe. The pipe may be wrapped with one or more sheets of reinforcement material (e.g., pre-impregnated fiberglass, carbon fiber, or aramid fiber) and then fitted with an adapter or fitting that is connectable to a metallic pipe. The reinforcement material may be heated using a heating apparatus which allows the material to bond to the pipe to strengthen the joint.

A tape winding apparatus (1) for winding a tape around a cutback between two factory coated, welded pipes to form a field joint coating, the apparatus comprising a housing (2) having first and second ends and adapted to be mounted over or around the cutback, a tape cassette (62) rotatably mounted within the housing and means (120, 44, 80) for linearly driving the cassette through the housing from a first position adjacent a first end of the housing to a second position adjacent the second end of the housing, a heat source (70) mounted on the cassette for directing heat towards one end of the cutback and the tape as it is wound onto the pipe, and further comprising an additional heat source (150) mounted within the housing adjacent the second end of the housing for directing heat towards the other end of the cutback.

A system for coating a field joint of a pipeline places at least one body having a thermoplastics material around the field joint. The body is heated in a mould cavity around the field joint to effect thermal expansion of the thermoplastics material. Thermal expansion of the body in the mould cavity is constrained to apply elevated pressure between the body and pipe sections joined at the field joint. The elevated pressure improves bonding and fusing between the body, which forms a field joint coating, and the parent coatings and the exposed pipe sections of the pipe joints. The body need not be fully molten, which reduces the mould residence time including in-mould heating and cooling phases.

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 of connecting together two unit elements (2, 4) of an undersea fluid transport pipe that is subjected to fatigue, by welding together two metallic or bi-metallic unit pipe elements that have been put into abutment via their respective free ends (2a, 4a), the welding being done by making three distinct weld beads (6, 8, 10), with a last weld bead (8) being deposited between two lateral first weld beads (6, 10), and being followed directly by controlled sanding of the weld beads in order to apply compression stresses on them.

A metal pipe and a system of pipes, and a method of producing the same. The pipe is for conveying oil and gas. The pipe includes a metal coating in a transition region. The metal coating of the transition region obviates a subsequent coating of the inner surface of the transition region after connecting two pipes using a welding process in order to form a pipeline.

A machine for making a protective joint has a guide system, which is selectively clampable about a pipeline on opposite sides with respect to the annular junction portion and configured for defining an annular path about the annular junction portion; at least one heating unit moveable along the annular path and configured for heating the annular junction portion and moveable along the annular path; at least one spray unit moveable along the annular path and configured for applying at least one polymer material to the annular junction portion; and an extrusion die moveable along the annular path and configured for applying a protective foil about the annular junction portion.

This invention encompasses a system and a method used in the petrochemical and mechanical engineering area, more specifically in the area of protecting pipes or similarly shaped objects against external or internal damage or wear, which comprises a protective system for the ends and the inside of coated pipes, using the coating itself and other additional devices. The system is comprised of a cup (1), spacer (2), coating (3), external ring (4), and cap (5) used in the production line of the pipe-coating process, using the external coating itself, preventing corrosion and mechanical damage at the ends/bevel, in the sandblasted area of the collar and internal surface, from storage and transport to the location where it will be used, and welding in the field or on the vessel.

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 of connecting together two unit elements (4, 4′) of a fluid transport pipe, each unit pipe element being made of metal alloy and being covered in an outer insulating coating (6, 6′) made of a thermoplastic material, with the exception of an end portion that does not have an outer insulating coating, the method comprising a step of butt-welding together two unit pipe elements at their end portions having no outer insulating coating, a step of mechanically assembling at least two rigid shells (14, 16) made of a thermoplastic material on the end portions of the unit pipe elements not having an outer insulating coating, and a step of keeping the shells sealed against the outer insulating coating of the two unit pipe elements.