(19)
(11) EP 1 092 901 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
02.04.2003 Bulletin 2003/14

(43) Date of publication A2:
18.04.2001 Bulletin 2001/16

(21) Application number: 00309017.2

(22) Date of filing: 13.10.2000
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: F16L 1/028, E21B 23/00, E21B 31/00, E21B 7/30
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 13.10.1999 GB 9924112

(71) Applicant: M.P. Burke plc
Barnsley S73 0HH (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • Bircumshaw, Peter Stanley
    Wombwell, Barnsley S73 0HH (GB)

(74) Representative: Moreland, David, Dr. et al
Cruikshank & Fairweather, 19 Royal Exchange Square
Glasgow G1 3AE
Glasgow G1 3AE (GB)

   


(54) Method for removing and/or replacing an underground conduit


(57) There is disclosed a method and apparatus for removal and for replacement of pipes such as underground pipes, and particularly, though not exclusively a method and apparatus for removal of lead water supply pipe and, if required, its replacement with a plastics water supply pipe.
The invention provides a method of economically removing buried lead pipe from the ground and, if required, for subsequent installation of a plastics pipe more economically than has previously been known.
Accordingly the present invention provides a method of removing a buried pipe (15) from the ground (10) comprising:
  • (i) injecting a curable resin (15) into the pipe (15) so as to at least partly fill the pipe (15) with resin;
  • (ii) allowing or causing the resin (15) to cure; and
  • (iii) applying a tensile load to one end of the resin (15)/pipe (5) composite whereby the resin (15)/pipe (5) composite is pulled from the ground (10) in a generally axial direction.






Search report