US 12,280,456 B2
Method for joining elements of underwater pipe for transporting fluids
Liborio Moceri, Lommoye (FR)
Assigned to SAIPEM S.A., Montigny le Bretonneux (FR)
Filed by SAIPEM S.A., Montigny le Bretonneux (FR)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/525,218.
Application 18/525,218 is a division of application No. 17/310,251, granted, now 12,179,294, previously published as PCT/FR2019/052679, filed on Nov. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1900887 (FR), filed on Jan. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0091890 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. B23K 37/053 (2006.01); B23K 37/0533 (2025.01); F16L 1/16 (2006.01); F16L 1/20 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 37/0533 (2013.01) [F16L 1/161 (2013.01); F16L 1/206 (2013.01); F16L 1/207 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for jointing subsea pipeline elements for transport of fluids by means of:
a jointing device having a support structure capable of being connected to a guide structure having two parallel fixed rails and on which a pipeline section to be jointed to a pipeline element is intended to be mounted;
four plates each having a first element capable of cooperating with a rail and a second element fixed on the support structure, the first element and the second element of each plate being linked together by a first cylinder aligned along a first adjustment axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pipeline section and a second cylinder aligned along a second adjustment axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline section and to the first adjustment axis; and
a system for controlling the first and second cylinders of the plates to achieve movements along the first and the second adjustment axis and capable of cooperating jointly with a set of cylinders for guiding in translation the support structure along the longitudinal axis of the pipeline section so as to allow jointing of the pipeline section and of the pipeline element,
the method comprising the successive steps of:
(a) mounting and locking the pipeline section to be jointed on the support structure of the jointing device;
(b) placing the first cylinder of each plate in a retracted position and deploying the second cylinder of each plate in an intermediate position;
(c) pivoting the support structure in an inclined position;
(d) unlocking the pipeline section to be jointed from the support structure of the jointing device;
(e) engaging the first element of each plate in the rail;
(f) deploying the first cylinder of each plate to put the first element of each plate into abutment in a corresponding rail in order to stabilize the pipeline section; and
(g) controlling the cylinders of the plates in cooperation with translational guidance of the support structure along the longitudinal axis of the pipeline section to perform jointing of a pipeline element with the pipeline section installed on the support structure.