Patent ID: 7648378

Claim:
A pipestring comprising: a first pipe segment comprising a primary conduit portion made of a composite material comprising reinforcing fiber impregnated in a resin matrix, a leading coupling portion permanently attached to the lead end of this primary conduit portion, a leading seal part installed in the leading coupling portion, and an electrical line embedded in the resin matrix of this primary conduit portion and having a leading end section extending into the leading coupling portion and electrically connected to the leading seal part; and a second pipe segment comprising a primary conduit portion made of composite material comprising reinforcing fiber impregnated in a resin matrix, a trailing coupling portion permanently attached to the trail end of this primary conduit portion, a trailing seal part, and an electrical line embedded in the resin matrix of this primary conduit portion and having a trailing end section extending into the trailing coupling portion and electrically connected to the trailing seal part; wherein the leading coupling portion of the first pipe segment and the trailing coupling portion of the second pipe segment are to be coupled together; wherein the seal parts interface to form a fluid seal between the first and second pipe segments and also provides an electrically conductive path between the electrical lines in the first and second pipe segments; wherein each seal part includes an electrically conductive ring and an electrically insulating seal body molded around the ring, and wherein the electrically conductive path includes a pathway from the end section of the respective wire to the ring of the respective seal part; wherein the ring of the seal part of one of the first pipe segment and the second pipe segment has a ledge which projects axially beyond the seal body; wherein the ring of the seal part of the other of the first pipe segment and the second pipe segment has a ledge which is recessed axially within the seal body; and wherein the ledges of the respective rings are to be abutted against each other to form an electrical pathway between the seal parts.