# US 10,865,933 B2 · Field joint arrangement for a pipeline and protecting method thereof

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,865,933 B2
- Document ID: US10865933B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/414,719
- Filed: 2019-05-16
- Published: 2019-09-05
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2014-12-24
- Assignees: Subsea 7 Limited
- Applicants: Subsea 7 Limited
- Inventors: Nicolas Monfort-Moros; Sylvain Popineau; Philippe Benoit Jacques Hoffmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865933B2

## CPC

- F16L 59/20: for non-disconnectable joints
- B21D 39/00: Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating ({joining mitred profiles B21D53/745; } riveting B21J; uniting components by forging or pressing to form integral members B21K25/00; welding B23K; press-fitting, force-fitting, or shrinking in general B23P11/00, B21D19/00; by adhesives F16B11/00 {; Connections as such F16L, F16B}); Tube expanders
- B29C 45/00: Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor (injection blow-moulding B29C49/06)
- B29C 45/14614: {Joining tubular articles}
- B29C 45/14639: {for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components}
- B29C 45/14819: {the inserts being completely encapsulated}
- B29C 65/1412: {Infrared [IR] radiation}
- B29C 65/1432: {direct heating of the surfaces to be joined}
- B29C 65/5042: {covering both elements to be joined}
- F16L 3/1066: {with three or more members surrounding the pipe}
- F16L 3/1075: {with two members, the two members being joined with a hinge on one side and fastened together on the other side}
- F16L 9/04: Reinforced pipes
- F16L 9/147: comprising only layers of metal and plastics with or without reinforcement
- F16L 13/00: Non-disconnectable pipe joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive, or caulked joints ({non-disconnectable pipe joints to walls or other pipes, the joined pipe axis being perpendicular to the plane of the wall or to the axis of the other pipe F16L41/082;} joints for rigid pipes of plastics F16L47/00)
- F16L 59/021: {comprising a single piece or sleeve, e.g. split sleeves; consisting of two half sleeves; comprising more than two segments}
- F16L 59/024: {consisting of two half sleeves}
- F16L 59/029: {layered}
- B29C 65/4815: {Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives}
- B29C 65/542: {by injection}
- B29K 2075/00: Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material
- B29L 2023/225: {Insulated}
- F16L 1/00: Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
- F16L 9/121: {with three layers}
- Y10T 29/4998: Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
- Y10T 29/49982: Coating
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method protects a field joint of a pipeline, where chamfered edges of thermally-insulating parent coatings on conjoined pipe lengths are in mutual opposition about a longitudinally-extending gap. The method includes manufacturing an hourglass-shaped inner layer around the pipe lengths, which layer may be moulded. The inner layer extends longitudinally along the gap between the chamfered edges and at least partially overlies the chamfered edges. A thermally-insulating solid insert is assembled from two or more parts to lie in the gap surrounding the inner layer, and pressure is applied radially inwardly from the insert to the inner layer. An outer layer of molten material is manufactured around the insert to form a watertight barrier and to form one or more melted interfaces with the inner layer. Corresponding field joint arrangements are also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A field joint arrangement for a pipeline, comprising:
pipe lengths joined end-to-end at a joint;
thermally-insulating parent coatings on each of the pipe lengths, the parent coatings having chamfered edges that are spaced from the joint in mutual opposition about a longitudinally-extending gap; and
an annular field joint coating that comprises:
an hourglass-shaped inner layer that surrounds the pipe lengths, extends longitudinally along the gap between the chamfered edges and has inclined end parts that at least partially overlie the respective chamfered edges;
a thermally-insulating solid insert disposed in the gap, the insert being made up of two or more parts that cooperate to surround the inner layer; and
an outer layer surrounding the insert that forms a watertight barrier and has one or more melted interfaces with the inner layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising an anti-corrosion layer and an adhesive primer layer interposed between the pipe lengths and the inner layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the parts of the insert are held together by tension to maintain radially-inward pressure on the inner layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the parts of the insert are held together by one or more straps under tension.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the parts of the insert are held together by one or more clips under resilient tension.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the parts of the insert are held together by barbs of one of those parts engaged with holes of another of those parts, that engagement maintaining resilient deflection of the parts to keep the barbs under tension.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the barbs are an interference force-fit within the holes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the inner layer is elastically compressed by the radially-inward pressure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the inner layer has been plastically deformed by virtue of radially-inward pressure exerted through the insert.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the insert is of a softer material than the inner layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the inner layer is a moulding formed around the joined pipe lengths.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the inner layer comprises a tape or side-wrap, wound or wrapped around the joined pipe lengths.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the side-wrap is extruded in situ.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the outer layer is a moulding formed around the insert.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the outer layer comprises a side-wrap, wrapped around the insert.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the insert and the inner layer cooperate to fill the longitudinally-extending gap between the chamfered edges of the parent coatings.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the insert has end faces inclined to lie closely against the end parts of the inner layer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of any claim 1, having gaps between end faces of the insert and the end parts of the inner layer, which gaps are filled by material of the outer layer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the end parts of the inner layer extend longitudinally beyond the outer layer, which seals against the end parts of the inner layer at melted interfaces.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the outer layer extends longitudinally beyond the end parts of the inner layer to bond to the parent coatings outboard of melted interfaces with the end parts of the inner layer.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The arrangement of claim 20, wherein the outer layer bonds to the chamfers of the parent coatings.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the end parts of the inner layer extend longitudinally beyond the chamfered edges to bond to radially outer surfaces of the parent coatings.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the end parts of the inner layer terminate on the chamfered edges, radially inwardly with respect to radially outer surfaces of the parent coatings.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the end parts of the inner layer terminate radially inwardly with respect to a radially outer surface of the insert.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the end parts of the inner layer extend radially outwardly beyond a radially outer surface of the insert.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein a radially outer surface of the insert lies at substantially the same radius as radially outer surfaces of the parent coatings.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the end parts of the inner layer terminate radially at substantially the same radius as a radially outer surface of the outer layer.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the chamfered edges each comprise at least one step coinciding with a boundary between layers of the parent coatings.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The arrangement of claim 28, wherein an inner layer of each parent coating protrudes longitudinally into the gap from the chamfered edge.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The arrangement of claim 28, wherein the end parts of the inner layer extend into spaces defined by cutting back an outer layer of each parent coating from the chamfered edge.

### Claim 31 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a longitudinal series of segments alternating with relatively flexible links.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The arrangement of claim 31, wherein the links are relatively thin parts of the insert leaving gaps between the segments on a radially outer side of the links, which gaps are filled by material of the outer layer.

### Claim 33 (depends on 1)

The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the inner and the outer layers each have a thickness of between one sixth and one quarter of the aggregate thickness of an assembly comprising the inner layer, the insert and the outer layer.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The arrangement of claim 33, wherein the insert has an overall thickness of between one half and two thirds of the aggregate thickness of said assembly.

### Claim 35 (depends on 1)

A subsea pipeline comprising at least one field joint arrangement in accordance with claim 1.