Method of lining a tubular structure with a plastics liner pipe comprising the steps of: temporarily reducing an outside diameter of the liner pipe by passing the liner pipe through a roller system; cooling the liner pipe once its outside diameter has been reduced and applying a thermal restraint; transporting the liner pipe to an installation site remote from the roller system; removing said thermal restraint; and installing the liner pipe in said tubular structure at said installation site.

Method of lining a tubular structure with a plastics liner pipe comprising the steps of: temporarily reducing an outside diameter of the liner pipe by passing the liner pipe through a roller system; cooling the liner pipe once its outside diameter has been reduced and applying a thermal restraint; transporting the liner pipe to an installation site remote from the roller system; removing said thermal restraint; and installing the liner pipe in said tubular structure at said installation site.

A pipe, the inner surface of which is lined with a thermoplastic layer, is produced by a process comprising the following steps: a) a metal pipe is provided, b) a tubular inliner composed of a thermoplastic material is provided, c) a tape is cohesively helically bonded to the inliner, wherein the region of the contact surface of the tape consists of a moulding composition or an adhesive which adhere firmly to the surface of the inliner, and wherein the region of the opposing surface of the tape consists of a moulding composition or an adhesive which adhere firmly to the metal of the pipe, wherein the tape contains unidirectional reinforcing fibers; d) the cross section of the inliner is optionally reduced by exposure to an external force, e) the inliner is inserted into the metal pipe, f) by means of contact pressure and optionally heat, the inliner and metal pipe are firmly bonded to each other.
Relative movements between the metal pipe and inliner are thereby prevented; the inliner also has high safety against collapse. The pipe is used to produce a routed pipeline.

A method and apparatus for lining a host pipe with a shape memory polymer liner in which the liner is fed through a manufacturing assembly including a pipe tensioner, followed by a deformation tool, prior to entering the host pipe, the liner being pulled through the host pipe from a leading end, the component parts of the manufacturing assembly acting to temporarily reduce the liner outside diameter during the pulling operation, while allowing the liner to revert to at least the internal diameter of the host pipe upon removal of the pulling load. The liner being used is a shape memory polymer which exhibits the ability to return from a deformed shape to an original shape induced by an external stimulus.

A method and apparatus for lining a host pipe with a shape memory polymer liner in which the liner is fed through a manufacturing assembly including a pipe tensioner, followed by a deformation tool, prior to entering the host pipe, the liner being pulled through the host pipe from a leading end, the component parts of the manufacturing assembly acting to temporarily reduce the liner outside diameter during the pulling operation, while allowing the liner to revert to at least the internal diameter of the host pipe upon removal of the pulling load. The liner being used is a shape memory polymer which exhibits the ability to return from a deformed shape to an original shape induced by an external stimulus.

Methods and apparatus enable the integrity of a liner pipe to be quickly and effectively tested in the field, while permitting rapid removal and replacement of the liner pipe if it is compromised. The liner pipe is leak tested prior to reversion, after being pulled through a host pipe to be lined via a swaging die and while the liner pipe is still under tension. If the liner pipe exhibits a leak, it can be removed from the liner pipe immediately and, importantly, before it has expanded to contact the host pipe. Leak testing apparatus includes a packer, which seals the opposite end of the liner pipe from the end which is pulled, creating a contained fluid volume upon which the leak test is performed. The leak test may be a pressure test or a vacuum test or any other suitable test.

A method of manufacturing a length of lined pipe inserts a radially contracted liner pipe into an outer host pipe. Injector needles are inserted through an end of the outer pipe into an annular gap between the pipes. Adhesive is injected between the pipes at locations inboard of the end of the outer pipe. After withdrawing the injectors, at least a portion of the liner pipe is expanded to close the gap and to bond the pipes together via the injected adhesive. Shims can be inserted into the gap between the pipes. A portion of the liner pipe inboard of the shims can be expanded radially while the shims constrain local radial expansion of an outboard portion of the liner pipe to maintain the gap for accommodating the injectors. Withdrawing the shims after injecting the adhesive allows radial expansion of the outboard portion to close the gap between the pipes.

Methods and apparatus enable the integrity of a liner pipe to be quickly and effectively tested in the field, while permitting rapid removal and replacement of the liner pipe if it is compromised. The liner pipe is leak tested prior to reversion, after being pulled through a host pipe to be lined via a swaging die and while the liner pipe is still under tension. If the liner pipe exhibits a leak, it can be removed from the liner pipe immediately and, importantly, before it has expanded to contact the host pipe. Leak testing apparatus includes a packer, which seals the opposite end of the liner pipe from the end which is pulled, creating a contained fluid volume upon which the leak test is performed. The leak test may be a pressure test or a vacuum test or any other suitable test.