Abstract: A reentry system for a subsea apparatus or station including a normally retracted guide post, which is extendable above the well apparatus for connection to a single guide line. A frame structure lowered along the single guide line includes a gimbal mounted guide funnel assembly which provides self-adjustment of the funnel assembly during a non-axial approach into axial alignment with the guide post means. The guide posts means and funnel assembly are provided with orientation and positioning means for the frame structure so that well equipment carried by the frame structure is positioned in alignment with its cooperable part on the well apparatus. A retractable, extendable guide post which is non-rotatable and which is recoverable for maintenance and service. A method of making such a reentry to a subsea well apparatus.

Abstract: An adaptor means for aligning two members to be connected in coaxial, sealed relationship in which the adaptor means includes an adaptor body member having an inner central portion with a throughbore and of preselected length, at least two-part cylindrical or arcuate segments spaced radially outwardly of said inner portion and in concentric relation thereto, said arcuate segments having a length greater than the length of the inner portion; and tubular nipple members carried in passageways in said body member, said tubular members having a length not greater than the length of the inner portion or the segments and lying on a radian between a segment and the inner portion. The arcuate segments each subtend a different angle and are slidably, precisely received in corresponding arcuate recesses provided on a mandrel end of a well tool for precise alignment of the tubular nipple member with a passageway in the well tool.

Abstract: New chemical products formed by sulphates of alkyl and sulphonium, the latter having on its sulphur atom an alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a second alkyl containing at least 6 carbon atoms, and a 2-hydroxy-ethyl group.These products are prepared by reacting a dialkyl sulphate with a sulphide of an alkyl containing at least 6 carbon atoms and of --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH.The sulphonium compounds of this type, and particularly the compound in which the heavy alkyl is a n-octyl, are useful as fungicides.

Abstract: A device for connecting successive duct sections, especially between a sea-bed petroleum storage tank and a surface platform, comprising a flexible tubular joint secured at both ends to two cylindrical coupling units slidably mounted respectively within two duct sections to be coupled together, remotely operated means for anchoring each coupling unit within an end-shoe and remotely operated means for forming a tight seal between the external surface of the coupling units and the internal surface of the duct sections.

Abstract: A flowline connector device for subsea well operations in which a connector means on the end of the flowline is moved laterally into position for connection to a fixed connector means on a subsea station. The connector means on the subsea station includes an axially movable mandrel located within a chamber in a body member, the mandrel having sealing surfaces at one end thereof juxtaposed to sealing surfaces on the flowline connector member when laterally positioned. A fluid pressure actuated locking means moves said sealing surfaces on the mandrel into sealed relationship with the sealing surfaces on the flowline connector member and locks the sealing surfaces in fluid tight sealed relation. A mechanical backup lock means for the mandrel is carried by the connector means on the subsea station for positively and unyieldingly mechanically locking the mandrel in fluid tight sealed relation. In the event of a drop in fluid pressure, leakage at the sealing surfaces is prevented by the mechanical locking device.

Abstract: A high quality water proofing material of easier applicability than those employed previously comprises a non woven fabric of isostatic polypropylene fibres treated with a mixture of bitumen and sulphur.

Abstract: This invention concerns a device for emitting shock-waves, with adjustable capacity.Such a device comprises a valve, a barrel with a seat for this valve, barrel and valve being on the same axis, and forming between them an annular combustion chamber, which can be placed in communication with the outside atmosphere by axial movement of the valve, and which comprises means of admitting the oxidant-fuel mixture, the said valve forming a differential piston, one side of which forms a mobile wall of a pressurized fluid chamber, and part of the other side of which forms a mobile wall of the combustion chamber. In this device a fixed wall of the combustion chamber contains at least two regularly spaced apertures at its perimeter, into which fit removable plugs, each of which comprises a cavity opening into the combustion chamber, and which comprise means of admitting fuel and oxidant, and ignition means. The device generates compression waves for seismic exploration.

Abstract: A riser pipe consists of a plurality of sections of production pipe which are centered and free to slide axially in a guide shaft. The guide shaft is fixed to a pivoted structure and the riser pipe comprises a lower section which is connected at one end to piping at the bottom of the water by means of a remotely controlled releasable connector and at the other end to the penultimate section of the pipe by a connector which is longitudinally slidable to the said guide shaft. The bending stresses on the pipe may be distributed over the length of a lowermost section which may be removed and replaced from the surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically escaping from a derrick comprises a chamber movable along a cable attached at one end to said derrick, and an automatically releasable system for holding the chamber at the derrick end of the cable, said system comprising a release pin connected to be actuated when a person jumps into the chamber. The chamber comprises a light metallic frame and a flexible pocket connected by a chain to said release pin.

Abstract: This invention concerns a device for inserting samples into a chromatography column.The device comprises a syringe mounted on a carriage, a sample-holder consisting of a circular plate and a control system linking the syringe and sample-holder. The plate and syringe axes are parallel, the axis of the sample-holder cell is at an angle of at least 10.degree. to the horizontal, each cavity for a sample-holder cell is followed in turn by an aperture and a cavity for a cell containing a rinsing liquid, and a control system is provided so that during injection of the sample into the chromatography column, the syringe needle passes through the aperture.The proposed device is specially adapted for chromatographic analysis of samples in the trace form.

Abstract: Novel hydrophilic modified acrylic polymers, which are, in particular, hydrosoluble or hydrodispersible. These novel polymers contain, expressed in molar percentages, p % of units derived from an acrylic acid or ester, q % of units derived from an alkanolamine of said acid, r % of units derived from the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt of the said acid, and s % of units derived from a vinylic monomer, p, q, r and s representing integers and being so selected that 1.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.99, O.ltoreq.q.ltoreq.96, O.ltoreq.r.ltoreq.99 and O.ltoreq.s.ltoreq.40, and the sum (p+q+r+s) is equal to 100.

Abstract: Purification of the effluents from mineral oil drillings, carried out on land, for permitting the discharge of the residual waters into the natural surroundings. First, microorganisms are cultivated on a volume of the effluent, in order to make them capable of digesting the impurities of the effluent. The culture, thus obtained, is then developed in the mass of the effluent to be treated until the BOD is reduced to the required limit. This treatment is preferably followed by a flocculation with chemical agents in the known manner. This anti-pollution treatment permits the regulations in force to be applied in all locations where the drillings are undertaken, whatever may be the auxiliary fluids used in the drilling operation.

Abstract: Novel hydrophilic modified acrylic polymers, particularly hydrodispersible or hydrosoluble modified acrylic polymers, containing, expressed in molar percentages, p % units derived from an acrylic acid or ester, q % units derived from an alkanolamide of said acid, r % units derived from the alkanolammonium salt of said acid, and s % units derived from a vinyl monomer, wherein p, q, r, s represent integers so selected that 1.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.95, O.ltoreq.q.ltoreq.99, O.ltoreq.r.ltoreq.99 and O.ltoreq.s.ltoreq.40, the sum (p+q+r+s) being equal to 100, and q and r never being nil simultaneously.

Abstract: A multidetector is constituted by a lattice of N rods each having a ferromagnetic portion and slidably mounted within N coils forming the secondary windings of a transformer, each detector being constituted by a rod associated with a coil. The common primary circuit of the transformer is formed by a single coil which surrounds the N secondary windings and is supplied with alternating current of constant amplitude. The rods are brought into contact with an object for taking an impression of a portion of its external surface. The N voltages developed at the terminals of the N secondary coils are transmitted sequentially by a multiplexer to the screen of a storage oscilloscope so as to form the impression by means of N points, a coordinate of each point being a linear function of the voltage developed at the terminal of the corresponding secondary coil.