Method and device for applying protective sheeting of polymer material to a pipeline

A method of applying protective sheeting of polymer material to a pipeline which extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a cutback bounded at opposite axial ends by two end portions of respective protective coatings of a polymer material, said method comprising:

• rotating a carriage about the pipeline, wherein an extrusion die, and a heat treating unit including at least two heaters are mounted on the carriage with the at least two heaters located between the extrusion die and the pipeline, said at least two heaters configured to direct and confine heat onto the end portions;
• directly heating free faces of the end portions;
• simultaneously:
• (i) extruding, by an extrusion die, a protective sheeting wide enough to cover the cutback and the end portions, and
• (ii) winding the protective sheeting about the pipeline;
• and
• compressing the protective sheeting against the pipeline including the end portions.

A pipeline protective sheeting application device comprising:

• a carriage rotatable about a pipeline extending along a longitudinal axis and including a cutback bounded at opposite axial ends by two end portions of respective protective coatings of a polymer material;
• an extrusion die mounted on the carriage and configured to simultaneously wind about the pipeline and extrude a protective sheeting of polymer material wide enough to cover the cutback and the end portions;
• a heat treating unit mounted on the carriage and including at least two heaters, said heat treating unit configured to direct and confine heat onto the end portions and configured to directly heat free faces of the end portions, wherein that the at least two heaters are located between the extrusion die and the pipeline;
• and
• a roller configured to compress the protective sheeting against the pipeline including the end portions.