Abstract: An inflatable packer includes an inflation assembly having an inner expandable bladder, an expandable support position about the bladder, and a reinforced sealing member positioned circumferentially about a portion of the support structure.

Abstract: The hydraulic braking device (10) to be installed in a turbine (2) provided with a turbine shaft (4) comprising at least one body (12) connected to the said turbine shaft (4). When the said hydraulic braking device (10) is immersed in a fluid medium, axial rotation of the turbine shaft (4) about its axis causes a movement of the said at least one body (12) with respect to the said fluid medium, this movement generating a resisting torque (T) related to the rotation speed of the turbine shaft (4) through a non-linear relation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base pipe and a fluid control material. The base pipe includes openings, and the fluid control material is mounted to the pipe to control fluid communication through the openings of the pipe. The fluid control material has a permeability that may be changed to selectively control the communication of well fluid through the openings.

Abstract: A packer assembly for use in wellbore operations includes a first packer and a second packer interconnected by an adjustable length spacer. The spacer provides a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the first packer and the second packer when the assembly is positioned in a wellbore.

Abstract: A casing apparatus is provided to install a hard, pressure-resistant seal along a wall of a well in situ. The casing apparatus includes a moving device and a deformable tubular sleeve having a first end and a second end and. The moveable element is radially inflatable and movable inside the deformable tubular sleeve along a longitudinal axis of the deformable tubular sleeve. When the moving device is radially inflatable to an inflated condition and is moved from the first end to the second end, the moving device deforms the deformable tubular sleeve radially against the wall and progressively from the first end to the second end. A force of deforming the tubular sleeve applied by the inflated moving device is adjustable by changing the inflated condition of the moving device during the deformation process.

Abstract: Expandable packers and methods of using same are described. The expandable packers include an anti-extrusion layer comprising a fibrous layer having a first surface adjacent an outer surface of an inner expandable elastomeric member, and a cable layer adjacent the fibrous layer, the cable layer comprising a plurality of stacked unidirectional layers of cables. The cable layer is adapted to form a barrier substantially devoid of gaps through which the inner elastomer member would otherwise extrude into upon expansion of the inner elastomeric member. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A deflector device (22) for use with a tow lie between a towing vessel (10) and a tow (16) in water behind the vessel, the device comprising a principal wing-shaped body (28) shaped to produce in use a sideways force which urges the tow line (16) laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the towing vessel, a boom (32) extending rearwardly from the principal wing-shaped body (28), and an auxiliary wing-shaped body (52), smaller than the principal wing-shaped body (28), secured to the end of the boom (32) remote from the principal wing-shaped body (28) and shaped so as to produce in use a sideways force in generally the opposite direction to that produced by the principal wing-shaped body (28).

Abstract: A packer assembly for use in wellbore operations includes a first packer and a second packer interconnected by an adjustable length spacer. The spacer provides a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the first packer and the second packer when the assembly is positioned in a wellbore.

Abstract: An inflatable packer includes an inflation assembly having an inner expandable bladder, an expandable support position about the bladder, and a reinforced sealing member positioned circumferentially about a portion of the support structure.

Abstract: Expandable packers and methods of using same are described. The expandable packers include an anti-extrusion layer comprising a fibrous layer having a first surface adjacent an outer surface of an inner expandable elastomeric member, and a cable layer adjacent the fibrous layer, the cable layer comprising a plurality of stacked unidirectional layers of cables. The cable layer is adapted to form a barrier substantially devoid of gaps through which the inner elastomer member would otherwise extrude into upon expansion of the inner elastomeric member. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A deflector device (22) for use with a tow lie between a towing vessel (10) and a tow (16) in water behind the vessel, the device comprising a principal wing-shaped body (28) shaped to produce in use a sideways force which urges the tow line (16) laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the towing vessel, a boom (32) extending rearwardly from the principal wing-shaped body (28), and an auxiliary wing-shaped body (52), smaller than the principal wing-shaped body (28), secured to the end of the boom (32) remote from the principal wing-shaped body (28) and shaped so as to produce in use a sideways force in generally the opposite direction to that produced by the principal wing-shaped body (28).

Abstract: A deflector for offsetting a streamer being towed by its lead-in by a seismic survey vessel comprises a wing-shaped body which is coupled to the lead-in and shaped to produce a sideways force which urges the lead-in laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the vessel. A boom extends rearwardly from the wing-shaped body, and forms part of an arrangement by which the angle of the wing-shaped body in the water, and therefore the sideways force produced by it, can be varied. The upper end of the wing-shaped body is directly connected to the underside of an elongate float.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base pipe and a fluid control material. The base pipe includes openings, and the fluid control material is mounted to the pipe to control fluid communication through the openings of the pipe. The fluid control material has a permeability that may be changed to selectively control the communication of well fluid through the openings.

Abstract: The hydraulic braking device (10) to be installed in a turbine (2) provided with a turbine shaft (4) comprising at least one body (12) connected to the said turbine shaft (4). When the said hydraulic braking device (10) is immersed in a fluid medium, axial rotation of the turbine shaft (4) about its axis causes a movement of the said at least one body (12) with respect to the said fluid medium, this movement generating a resisting torque (T) related to the rotation speed of the turbine shaft (4) through a non-linear relation.

Abstract: A deflector device for use with a tow line between a seismic survey vessel and a tow, in particular a streamer or streamer array, in the water behind the vessel comprises a vertically oriented wing-shaped body for producing a sideways force as it is towed through the water, and a towing bridle adapted to connect the wing-shaped body to the tow line. The bridle comprises first and second connecting elements connected between the tow line and respective longitudinally-spaced points along the high pressure side of the wing-shaped body. The wing-shaped body includes one or more buoyancy elements to render it slightly positively buoyant, and the length of at least one of the connecting elements is adjustable by remote contol in order to tilt the wing-shaped body. This gives the sideways force a vertical component, and so allows remote control of the depth of the deflector device, as well as its lateral offset from the vessel.

Abstract: A deflector for offsetting a streamer being towed by its lead-in by a seismic survey vessel comprises a wing-shaped body which is coupled to the lead-in and shaped to produce a sideways force which urges the lead-in laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the vessel. A boom extends rearwardly from the wing-shaped body, and forms part of an arrangement by which the angle of the wing-shaped body in the water, and therefore the sideways force produced by it, can be varied. The upper end of the wing-shaped body is directly connected to the underside of an elongate float.

Abstract: This float comprises a fuselage (6) analogous to classic floats, but which here is topped by a leg (7) such that the fuselage (6) is completely submerged. This arrangement, combined with others that are secondary, makes it possible to reduce the vertical oscillations of the float produced by the sea swell while still ensuring good directional stability and satisfactory stability relative to other disturbances. Thus, a structure (1) suspended from the float (5) and which is part of a line (2, 3) towed by a ship remains at a constant depth. This invention can be applied, for example, to seismic tests at sea.

Abstract: A deflector device for use with a tow line between a seismic survey vessel and a tow, in particular a streamer or streamer array, in the water behind the vessel comprises a vertically oriented wing-shaped body for producing a sideways force as it is towed through the water, and a towing bridle adapted to connect the wing-shaped body to the tow line. The bridle comprises first and second connecting elements connected between the tow line and respective longitudinally-spaced points along the high pressure side of the wing-shaped body. The wing-shaped body includes one or more buoyancy elements to render it slightly positively buoyant, and the length of at least one of the connecting elements is adjustable by remote contol in order to tilt the wing-shaped body. This gives the sideways force a vertical component, and so allows remote control of the depth of the deflector device, as well as its lateral offset from the vessel.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluid meter comprising ultrasound transducers, attenuation means for attenuating parasitic ultrasound waves of wavelength &lgr;, and constituted by at least one passage in which said waves propagate along a main direction corresponding to a longitudinal dimension a of said passage, said passage having a transverse dimension b perpendicular to a and much smaller than the wavelength &lgr; of the parasitic waves in the propagation medium, said passage comprising a plurality of consecutive passage portions each having a part presenting a reduction in transverse propagation section along the dimension b of the passage, the longitudinal dimension of each passage portion being substantially equal to &lgr;/2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluidic oscillator which is symmetrical with respective to a longitudinal symmetry plane, comprising a fluid inlet intended to form a bidimensional fluid jet which oscillates transversally with respective to the symmetry plane, an obstacle wherein is arranged a cavity which faces said fluid inlet and which is scavenged by the oscillation jet, characterized in that the obstacle has a front wall which has two so-called front surfaces substantially planar and framing the cavity, the plane of each surface being substantially perpendicular to the symmetry plane, said cavity being defined by a surface which is substantially parallel to said plane at the points where said surface joins each of said front surfaces, the obstacle also having two side walls of which said side surfaces are substantially parallel to the symmetry plane at the points where each of them joins the corresponding front surface.