Abstract: It is of the type comprising at least two reinforcing armour plies (3-6) wound in opposite senses about a longitudinal axis (A-A) and at least one pressure sheath (7), which can collapse in a given direction under the action of external pressure greater than the internal pressure in the said collapsible pipe, the collapse being able to cause a transverse elongation of the said pressure sheath, and it is characterized in that at least one stiffener (8, 9) is provided on at least one surface (7a) of the said pressure sheath, which is made of a thermoplastic, so as, during collapse, to limit the said elongation to a value of less than the elongation threshold of the said thermoplastic.

Abstract: A process for the high-yield recovery of ethylene and heavier hydrocarbons from the gas produced by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in which the liquid products resulting from the fractionated condensation of a cracking gas for the recovery of almost all the ethylene, are supplied to a distillation column, called a de-ethanizer, at different intermediate levels. At the top of the de-ethanizer the vapor of the column distillate is treated directly in an acetylene hydrogenation reactor, the effluent containing virtually no acetylene being separated by a distillation column called a de-methanizer, into an ethylene- and ethane-enriched tail product, while the head product is recycled by compression or treated for subsequent recovery of ethylene.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for separation of a gas mixture. A process and an installation for cryogenic separation of the constituents of a natural gas under pressure in a first phase separator in which the constituents of each phase are separated in a distillation column. Part of the gaseous fraction from the top of the column is recycled into the highest stage of the column. The process also includes branching of part of a first top fraction from the first phase separator. The process also includes separation of a first bottom fraction from the first separator, in a second separator.

Abstract: In combination, a lower pipeline, an upper pipeline which crosses the lower pipeline, and at least one pipeline crossing module for supporting the upper pipeline above the lower pipeline. The pipeline crossing module may comprise a spacing element; a clip element attached to the spacing element and sized for surrounding the upper pipeline while permitting the module to rotate about the upper pipeline to a position in which the module is disposed downward from the upper pipeline. The at least one module may comprise a first module and a second module, the first module and the second module being disposed on the upper pipeline so as to define a downward-facing support surface for contacting an upper surface of the lower pipeline to support the upper pipeline thereon.

Abstract: A device for arresting the propagation of a buckle appearing on an outer tube of a double-walled rigid pipe intended to transport hydrocarbons and consisting of two coaxial tubes. The double-walled pipe is of the reelable type and intended for very great depths and consists of a thick and rigid annular transverse partition fastened to the inner tube and to the outer tube. The partition is joined to the outer tube and to the inner tube by means of an outer and inner sleeve having the same diameter as the outer and inner tubes and fastened to the latter.

Abstract: A device for arresting the propagation of a buckle appearing on an outer tube of a double-walled rigid pipe intended to transport hydrocarbons and consisting of two coaxial tubes. The double-walled pipe is of the reelable type and intended for very great depths and consists of a thick and rigid annular transverse partition fastened to the inner tube and to the outer tube. The partition is joined to the outer tube and to the inner tube by way of an outer and inner sleeve having the same diameter as the outer and inner tubes and fastened to the latter.

Abstract: Process for the high-yield recovery of ethylene and heavier hydrocarbons from the gas produced by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons (1) in which the liquid products (12-15, 23) resulting from the fractionated condensation of the cracking gas (1) for the recovery of almost all the ethylene, are supplied to a distillation column (C1), called the de-ethanizer, at different intermediate levels, at the top of which the vapor (31) of the column distillate is treated directly in an acetylene hydrogenation reactor (R1), the effluent containing virtually no acetylene being separated by a distillation column (C2) called the de-methanizer, into an ethylene- and ethane-enriched tail product (43), while the head product (44) is recycled by compression or treated for subsequent recovery of ethylene.

Abstract: In an umbilical, one or more steel rods, which provide strength and ballast, are wound helically within the umbilical along with the steel tubes and/or elongated active umbilical elements. These steel rods replace some or all of the thermoplastic filler elements that would otherwise be included within the umbilical. An umbilical according to an embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of steel tubes helically wound around a core, and at least one substantially solid steel rod helically wound around the core, the steel rod being arranged in a void between the steel tubes. Thus, the invention avoids the need to apply additional armoring layers to the outside of the umbilical for strength and ballast.

Abstract: It is of the type comprising, from the inside to the outside, a flexible metal tube 2 having a helical winding of turns, an internal sealing sheath 3 arranged around the said flexible metal tube, at least one armouring ply 5 wound around the said internal sealing sheath and at least one external sealing sheath 7, the internal sealing sheath being extruded onto the flexible metal tube using extrusion means, characterized in that it furthermore consists in heating the said flexible metal tube 2 upstream of the extrusion means and to a temperature below 100° C.

Abstract: The invention concerns an annular clamping ring in particular for laying oil ducts including a rigid annular base (2) supporting with support apparatus a coaxial ring-shaped assembly of vertical jaws (4) mobile in the diametral planes; said apparatus includes long connecting rods (14) articulated on the base (2) and on the outside of the jaws (4) in an almost vertical position, and the rigid annular body (3) enclosing the jaw (4) assembly, mobile in vertical translation by means of controllable cylinder actuators (6) linking it to the base (2); the jaws (4) are linked with the annular body (3) by at least two connecting rods (5) forming an articulated parallelogram, such that the annular body (3) vertical displacement relative to the base (2) causes a substantially radial and synchronized displacement of the jaw assembly (4).

Abstract: It is of the type comprising a first cylindrical structure and a second cylindrical structure with different diameters (1, 2), the main first flexible pipe (8) being held and stored in a first cylindrical structure (1), the two cylindrical structures (1, 2) being concentric, able to rotate about an approximately vertical axis of rotation (A) and having an upper face (1a, 1b) which is open and a lower face which is closed by an end plate (3), and means (4) for rotating the said cylindrical structures, characterized in that the secondary second pipe (14) is arranged in the second cylindrical structure (2) which comprises three distinct and concentric housings (11, 12, 13), the two end housings, namely the innermost housing (13) and the outermost housing (11), being for holding and storing the said secondary second pipe (14), the central housing (12) constituting a transition zone for the passage of the said secondary pipe (14) between the innermost and outermost housings (11, 13).

Abstract: Process and installation for separation of a gas mixture, and gases obtained by this installation. The present invention pertains to a process and an installation for cryogenic separation of the constituents of a natural gas under pressure (14) by a first phase separator (B1) in which the constituents of each phase are separated in a distillation column (C1). Part of the gaseous fraction (5) from the top of the column (C1) is recycled into the highest stage of the column. The process also includes branching (9) of part of a first top fraction (3) from the first phase separator. The process also includes separation of a first bottom fraction (4) from the first separator, in a second separator (B2). Other modes of embodiment are also described.

Abstract: The invention concerns a flexible tubular pipe comprising, from inside outwards, a web (1) made of interlocked steel strips, an inner impervious sheath (2) in polymer material, a short-stepped helical winding of interlocked forming wire (3) arranged above the internal sheath (2), at least a hoop (4) consisting of a short-stepped metal wire winding without interlock, at least a long-stepped tractive armouring layer (5) wound around the pressure vault and an outer polymer protective and sealing sheath (8); the sickness (Ef) of the hoop (4) is greater than the thickness (Ez) of the metal forming wire (3), preferably by one to three times.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible tubular pipe for carrying fluids under pressure containing H2S and to a method for designing such a flexible pipe. The pipe includes a body (7), an internal sealing sheath (8), at least one steel armouring layer (9,10) withstanding the stresses induced by the inside/outside pressure difference, and at least one traction-resisting steel armouring layer (11, 12) spirally wound at an angle less than 45° in relation to the axis of the pipe. In this pipe, at least the armouring layer withstanding the stresses induced by the inside/outside pressure difference is made of a determined steel meeting H2S resistance criteria, and at least the traction-resisting armouring layer is made from steel wires that do not meet H2S resistance criteria.

Abstract: This one-piece subsea flexible multilayer tubular pipe comprises a carcass (1) made of interlocked metal strip, an inner sealing sheath (2) made of a polymer material, a winding of an interlocked metal element (3) wound in a helix with a short pitch, at least one ply (5) of tensile armor layers wound with a long pitch around the pressure vault, where appropriate at least one thermal insulation layer (7) and an outer protective sealing sheath (8); this pipe has, over its length, sections intended for regions of different use and the physical characteristics of at least one of the layers are modified at manufacture over at least one section of the length of the pipe, without modifying the outside diameter of the said layer, so as to tailor the properties of the pipe in this section to the conditions for the zone in which it will be used.

Abstract: A marine riser, particularly but not exclusively for use in connecting a subsea well installation to a dynamically positioned servicing vessel, comprises at least one section formed from rigid pipe and at least one section formed from flexible pipe. Preferably, the upper and lower sections (10, 12) are formed from fixed lengths of flexible pipe and the central section is formed from a plurality of lengths of rigid pipe which may be assembled to make up any required length. The riser may be deployed from a moonpool of the vessel and serves to accommodate movements of the vessel on the surface. This allows the use of a dynamically positioned service vessel rather than a conventional drilling rig.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for deploying, recovering, and servicing an AUV are disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The linelatch system can be connected to a surface vessel by an umbilical on one end and to an AUV on the other end. In addition to providing a mechanical connection, between the AUV and a surface vessel, the linelatch system can also carry power and data between the surface vessel (i.e., through the umbilical) and the AUV.

Abstract: Method for measuring the gap separating a vault of at least one end fitting and a given element of one end of a thermal part of a pipe, comprising; moving an autonomous measuring detector inside the said pipe, carrying out at least one series of measurements during the movement of the detector in the end fitting, the measuring comprising detecting in real time, the passage of the consecutive transitions between the vault of the end of the terminal part of the pipe, triggering the measurements for a predetermined time between the detections of the transitions, storing the said measurements in the form of signals in at least one memory and processing the stored signals in order to determine the gap (D) and separating two consecutive transitions. The device for measuring includes two eddy current detectors on a support wound through the pipe and a memory for the detected signals and a processing circuit for processing the signals in memory.

Abstract: A device for crimping or coupling end elements of a flexible pipe. The pipe includes a metal carcass of a helically wound wire wherein the winding provides gaps between adjacent windings. A sealing sheath outward of the carcass. The device comprises a cylindrically shaped tubular nipple that fits over the carcass with a tapered first conical leading end that is insertable between the sealing sheath and the carcass. The nipple has over a portion of its external surface grooves which substantially match in shape the squeezed out or crept parts of the sheath such that after the nipple has been installed at least part of the squeezed out crept parts of the sheath are almost completely housed in the grooves of the nipple.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the continuous production of a flexible tube body from two stapled wires (9, 10) individually bent in bending means (7, 8), three stitches, unsupported by a mandrel, and such that wires (9, 10) remain constantly in contact so as to optimize their resistance to external pressure. Bending means (7, 8) can be arranged with respect to each other without affecting the bending adjustment. The method consists in stapling the two spirals by elastically deforming the turns so that one crosses the other to cause the wires to overlap partially. The invention also concerns an equipment for producing a flexible tube body.