Abstract: A subject of the invention is a ship (20) for recovering petroleum products floating at the surface of the sea, characterized in that it comprises an open front part equipped with a rotary collecting drum (24) which is partially submerged and comprises longitudinal elements (32) that can be moved with respect to the external surface of this drum (24) between two positions, one projecting, one retracted, a hopper (40) situated behind the said drum (24) for recovering the said petroleum products removed by this drum (24), and means (45) for transferring these products from the hopper (40) to at least one settling and storage tank (46).

Abstract: A jack-up platform of the type having a buoyant upper barge (10) mounted so that it can be moved along the length of bearing legs (12), mechanical mechanism (18) for moving the legs (12) relative to the barge (10), and submerged storage tank (14) intended to rest on the bottom. The tank (14) has a lower opening (26) allowing the inside of the tank (14) to be placed in contact with the marine environment. The tank defines a bell-shaped/inverted U-shaped cavity confining an air bubble (30) in its upper part. The tank (14) is connected to the lower end of the legs (12) so that it can be moved relative to the barge (10) from the mechanical mechanism (18) for moving the legs.

Abstract: An off-shore oil production platform of the present invention includes an upper barge (1) stretching above the level of the sea. The barge (1) is connected to a completely submerged hollow lower base (3) by partially submerged connecting legs (2) forming a buoyance tank and stretching substantially vertical. The legs (2) along their submerged height includes at least two successive portions (10, 14). A first portion (10) with solid walls delimits a closed space and forms a buoyancy tank. A second portion (14) with openwork sidewall has an interior space open to a surrounding marine environment.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of assembling sections (20) of support legs (2) of an oil platform in which an opening (11) is formed in the hull and in the lower part of the drive mechanism support framework (10) for each leg (2) to pass through, the sections (20) are engaged successively in the lateral opening (11) and the sections (20) are assembled to form each leg (2).

Abstract: A jack-up offshore drilling or production oil platform of the type including a barge (1) mounted so that it can be moved between a position for floating and a position for production out of the water. The barge is moved along bearing legs (2) by means of drive mechanisms (10) which each include at least two opposed sets (11). Each set is formed of a motor (12) associated with at least one set of reduction gears (13) driving, via a shaft, an output pinion (15) interacting with opposed racks (16) mounted on the bearing legs (2). Each rack (16) is provided along a length of the corresponding leg (2) necessary for moving the barge (1) between the position for floating and the production position. Also provided are devices for controlling the lowering of each leg (2) as far as a bearing structure (6) or as far as a seabed (7).

Abstract: The process for assembling long sections (11) of booms of support legs of an oil platform comprises machining an inclined flat surface (15) on the whole of the length of each main face of a rectangular plate (12), machining a groove behind each flat surface (15), machining an inclined chamfer on longitudinal edges of a stiffener (13), placing a stiffener (13) on each main face of the rectangular plate (12), welding each stiffener (13) to the rectangular plate (12), under a vacuum from the exterior by means of an electron beam, in the region of the chamfers and the flat surfaces so as to produce a section (11), and heat treating the section (11).

Abstract: Offshore oil drilling or producing platform comprising a hull (1) carried by legs (2) provided with feet (3) adapted to rest on the sea bed, characterized in that the walls of each of the legs (2) define a space opening onto the respective foot (3) in which are retracted anchoring piles (5) for the leg carried by the foot, each leg (2) being also provided in its upper part with support means (7) in vertical alignment with the piles within the space defined by the walls of the leg (2) for supporting a device for driving the piles into the sea bed.

Abstract: A platform comprises a hull mounted on legs such that it can be moved relative to the legs be by jack mechanisms disposed in a carrying structure. The jack mechanisms include a plurality of output gear pinions which cooperate with racks mounted along at least a part of the length of the legs. The hull is provided with a first device for applying an overload on the leg through the jack mechanisms. A second overload device is also provided an includes at least one additional load which is temporarily and directly lockable to each leg of the platform when the legs are being set on the sea bed.

Abstract: A device for the integrated suspension and manipulation of legs supporting a jack-up oil platform having a hull mounted displaceably on the legs by drive mechanisms having at least two opposite units each formed by a motor associated with at least one speed reducer driving an output gear co-operating with opposite racks mounted on at least part of the length of the legs. The opposite units of each drive mechanism are mounted in articulated fashion on a structure supporting them via at least one bearing allowing a determined angular deflection of the units and of each corresponding output gear. The motor and the speed reducer of each opposite unit are housed in a member for absorbing energy, used, in particular, at the moment of the placement of the legs on the sea bed and for limiting the stresses due to the flexure of the legs under the action of swells and the wind.

Abstract: The suspension device for the support legs of a jack-up oil platform having a hull movable along the legs includes a driving mechanism having a plurality of output gear pinions cooperating with racks mounted along at least a part of the legs. Each of the output gear pinions is drivable by an electric motor associated with a speed reducer which is pivotally mounted on a structure which is connected to the hull and has at least one bearing which allows a given angular movement of the speed reducer and each corresponding output gear pinion. Each speed reducer cooperates with an energy absorbing mechanism including at least one torsionally elastically yieldable support element connected to a corresponding speed reducer and affording a progressive absorption of shock particularly at the moment when the legs contact the sea floor.

Abstract: A support device for a leg (2) of an off-shore drilling jack-up platform including a separate heightener (3) adapted to be interposed between each leg of the platform and the sea bed so as to increase the depth of installation of the platform. Each heightener is provided with detachable means (4, 7, 11, 12) for connecting the heightener to the lower end (4) of a respective leg (2) which improves the strength thereof.

Abstract: The locking device for a self-raising oil platform comprising a shell (1) mounted to be movable along legs (2) by means of raising mechanisms comprising output gear pinions cooperative with racks (3) mounted on at least a part of the length of the legs (2), comprises a toothed member (6) forming a counter-rack (6a) mounted on the shell of the platform, means (7) for shifting the toothed member (6) transversely of the direction of the rack with which the device is associated for engaging the teeth of the toothed member in the teeth of the rack (3) or for disengaging them from the teeth of the rack, clamping plates (13) connected to the toothed member and clamping counter-plates (15) connected to the platform, and means (20) for clamping the plates and counter-plates together so as to lock the toothed member (6) in position in the rack.