Pipe Coupling Techniques for Marine Pipelines

American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines. Abstract Over 100 years ago, man conceived the idea of transporting petroleum liquids through pipe and petroleum liquids through pipe and successfully laid a 6 mile long line. Since that time he has solved problems of new materials, met many problems of new materials, met many challenges of terrain, and continually improved and expedited the process of joining two sections of pipe, installing connections and making repairs. Pipelines throughout the world are monuments to his success. Now a new and difficult problem confronts the designer and pipeliner: the successful installation and operation of offshore pipelines in waters of ever-increasing depths This paper presents a review of the methods and fittings developed for pipelines on land, discusses their suitability for underwater installations,, and reveals the new methods and fittings prepared specifically for underwater lines. Introduction Ever since man conceived the idea of transporting liquids through pipe, he has been confronted with the pipe, he has been confronted with the problems of changing materials and problems of changing materials and site environments, and challenged by pressures to improve and expedite the pressures to improve and expedite the process of joining two tubular process of joining two tubular sections, installing connections, and making repairs. In 1865, the first petroleum pipeline was connected by screwed pipeline was connected by screwed joints and the general reaction was that a major advance had been made. It was a 2-inch cast iron line, six miles in length, not a big accomplishment by our present day standards but of utmost importance at that time. Since then many developments have been made in pipelaying connections that not only pipelaying connections that not only improved the speed of installation but also the quality, service life, maintenance and repair of completed lines. Today there are few, if any, nations that are not spanned with a multitude of varied sized lines carrying numerous types of fluids.