Clamping pipelines

Abstract

A method of fixing a clamp around a pipe comprises supporting the pipe between curved clamp parts, namely a cradle and shells, that are assembled in mutual opposition about the pipe while fabricating the clamp. By placing the pipe into the cradle and then bringing the shells into contact with the pipe, those opposed clamp parts are simultaneously in contact with the pipe. Initially, a gap is maintained at an interface between the clamp parts. A full penetration weld is then formed in the gap. As the weld cools and shrinks, the clamp parts are drawn together, to a mutual spacing narrower than the original gap, to compress the pipe between them. The clamp is suitable for attaching the pipe to a structure such as the frame of a subsea pipeline accessory, for example a valve in fluid communication with the pipe.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.