Abstract: A device forming a swivel joint for a cryogenic liquid with at least one central duct for the flow of said cryogenic liquid through the joint and comprising at least one annular duct co-axially surrounding said central duct for the return of the cold gas originating from the vaporization of the moving liquid, said annular duct comprising gas inlet and outlet pipes; a stationary portion and a portion mounted in rotating relation to said stationary portion by means of a ball or roller bearing operating at a temperature close to ambient temperature, a double set of sealing gaskets also operating at a temperature close to ambient temperature; and heat insulation of at least the parts of said stationary and movable portions forming said annular duct and contacted by said cold gas, so arranged as to prevent any cooling-down of said sealing gaskets through convection or radiation; the device being applicable in particular to the off-shore transfer of liquefied natural gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of assembling and installing a device for exploiting an oil-field. Said device comprises an upper structure comprising two superposed platforms provided with a vertically slidable column, and a lower structure comprising at least two tanks connected to the upper structure by means of support legs. Such a device allows its elements i.e. each of the platforms and the tanks to be fabricated separately, and the assembly to be performed only in floating conditions and not in a dry dock. Furthermore the fabrication can therefore take place in a yard designed for constructions of small size compared with that of the completely assembled device.

Abstract: Equipment for removing and refitting resilient packing in a cardan joint at the base of a platform or column mounted on the sea bed, the cardan joint connected a pipe in the sea bed with a pipe leading up the column, said packing comprising a stack of rubber rings and metallic washers disposed between end plates and capable of being deformed in torsion and said packing being compressed between an abutment on the end of a hollow shaft in the cardan joint and an abutment on the adjacent end of a pipe.