Patent ID: 7766051

Claim:
A flexible pipe for transporting hydrocarbons, comprising, from the inside outward: a cylindrical structural assembly capable of withstanding radial forces, said cylindrical structural assembly including a short-pitch helical metal winding and a polymeric internal sealing sheath; and at least a first armor ply operative to withstand axial tensile forces, said first armor ply comprising a plurality of armor wires, said armor wires comprising flattened shaped metal wires, which have a width greater than a thickness, said wires being wound parallel in a long-pitch helix about said structural assembly making an angle of less than 60° with generatrices of said structural assembly, and said armor wires have a width/thickness ratio equal to or greater than 4 wherein said wires have four corners and, as seen in cross section, said wires have four corners with joining fillets of substantially rounded shape with an average radius greater than 0.5 mm.