Importance

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Abstract

A method for removing from a terrain (T) a buried longitudinal portion (P) of a substantially cylindrical pipe made of a ductile material and of a type suitable for use in oil pipelines, water pipelines, gas pipelines or the like, which method comprises steps of: digging at least an excavation (S1, S2) in the terrain (T), at a longitudinal end (P1, P2) of the buried portion (P) to be removed, such as to make the end accessible; making at least a through-cut in the wall of the portion (P) of pipe to be removed, so as to obtain at least a strip having two opposite longitudinal edges which define a width of the strip that is smaller than a circumference of a wall of the portion (P) of pipe; taking the strip and removing it from the terrain, passing it through the excavation (S1, S2); and obstructing the underground volume that has housed the portion (P) of the pipe (P) and the excavation (S1, S2) with filler material. The invention also relates to a cutting machine comprising: a cutting part (11), entirely insertable in said portion of pipe (P), comprising cutting means (41) for making at least a through-cut in the wall of the portion of pipe; and a support part (12), for supporting the cutting part (11), also entirely insertable in the portion of pipe (P), and comprising abutting means (31, 32, 33) for contemporaneously abutting, at a plurality of points, an internal surface of the portion of pipe so as to engage the machine (1) to the portion of pipe (P) to be cut.

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First Claim