Abstract: The invention provides a tool for disconnecting a guideline connector hooked in a sleeve forming the extension of a guide column of an underwater station, by means of retractable locking heads housed in a bore in the body of the connector.It comprises a re-entry cone, whose upper cylindrical part 1, adapted to cap the top of the connector having helical ramps, comprises swivel pins to cooperate with said ramps and is connected to a widened cylindrical part 4, ending in an upturned funnel 5, by a truncated cone-shaped part 3, with which are associated valve means 18 for controlling hydraulic cylinders 14 and 14a responsive to the pressure exerted by the body of the connector, when the re-entry cone rests on the connector, as well as two hydraulic cylinders 14 and 14a and hydro-pneumatic accumulator 12, mounted outside the cone.

Abstract: This invention concerns the connection and disconnection of well-pipes in an articulated structure level with the articulation.The device comprises a length of flexible pipe, at one end of which is an adapter containing a sealing device, a positioning device and a locking device, and at the other end of which is another adapter containing a sealing device and a locking device, these sealing, positioning and locking devices being designed to fit into upper and lower receptacles, the upper receptacle consisting of the lower end of the tubing pipe, and the lower receptacle consisting of the upper end of the seabed pipe, the whole connection-disconnection device being able to pass through the upper receptacle.This connection-disconnection device is specially designed for use in articulated hydrocarbon-production installations.

Abstract: Electric connector for use with underwater well head. This device comprises a coaxial cylindrical male element 20 of the suspension connector 3 of the tubing 15 in the well head 2, fixed to the suspension connector 3 by a ring element 23 bored by at least one passage 24 for the effluent and bearing on its cylindrical outline three metallic ring contacts 25, 26, 27 connected through the body of the male element 20 and the connector to the conductors of a cable 19 leading to a motor 16 and a female element 21 in the form of a cylindrical bell adapted to slide along the male element 20 and bearing three electric contacts 28, 29, 30 corresponding to the contacts of the male element 20, these contacts being connected to an electric power supply, a delivery pipe 31 for neutral gas issuing at the bottom of the cylindrical bell 22.Such a connector is adapted to supply the offshore deep well pumps with electric power.

Abstract: Safety device for igniting fuel gas discharged by the orifice of a flare stack, incorporating a pilot light whose nozzle issues into the vicinity of the orifice of the flare, said pilot light which is equipped with an ignition device is connected by a supply pipe to an auxiliary fuel gas source, said supply pipe being provided with a valve having an opening position and a closing position which are controlled by a mechanism connected by a first servo-system to the detector detecting the admission of the gas to be burned into the flare stack such that the detection of a flow of gas into said stack controls the opening position of the valve and the detection of the stoppage of this flow controls the closing position of the valve, wherein the ignition means of the pilot light comprises a refractory body located in the extension of the nozzle of the pilot light, said solid body being provided with heating means for raising it and maintaining it at a temperature of at least 800.degree. C.

Abstract: A flexible joint for deep-sea oil installations.This joint combines the two parts of a swivel joint, consisting of a spherical ring-shaped male adapter and a spherical ring-shaped female adapter, by using means of connection comprising a plurality of identical resilient devices, positioned in even numbers in two crowns, the far ends of these devices resting on two ring-shaped end-plates, the upper end-plate being integral and coaxial with the male adapter, and the lower end-plate being connected to the upper end-plate by a system that also attaches it coaxially to the male adapter, and the close ends of the resilient devices resting, by means of thrust-plates, either on one of two opposed shoulders associated to the male adapter, equidistant from the end-plates on which the far ends of the two crowns rest, or on one face of a ring-shaped flange integral and coaxial with the female adapter.Prestressing of the resilient devices makes this joint particularly suitable for use with riser pipes.

Abstract: Catalytic process for the production of sulphur from an acid gas containing H.sub.2 S, in which a part of H.sub.2 S is catalytically oxidized in order to form an effluent containing H.sub.2 S and SO.sub.2 in a molar ratio of 2:1 and a given quantity of sulphur. The effluent is then contacted with a CLAUS catalyst to form a further quantity of sulphur.Said process involves:an oxidation reactor with a fixed bedan indirect gas/gas heat exchangerdeoxygenation reactor having a fixed beda catalyst conversion batterya thermal incinerator.

Abstract: Triphosphonic esters, each of the three phosphorus atoms of which is bound to a carbon atom of the same hydrocarbon group, having 2 or 4 free acid functions or two salt functions, may be used for various known uses of phosphonates, including the extraction of heavy metals.

Abstract: A method of seismic exploration using acoustic logging comprises transmitting and receiving sound waves, recording all of the signals received by the receivers, the respective positions of the emitter-receiver pair which give rise to each recording, grouping the recordings in pairs so that each recording of a given pair of sound paths have a common path segment and a part which is not common to both which is located facing the geological stratum of interest and the difference in time of arrival for at least one type of wave is measured for each pair.

Abstract: New diphosphonic acid diesters in which the two phosphorus atoms are bound by a hydrocarbon group while each of the two acid functions of the diphosphonate is esterified by a radical having at least three carbon atoms are suitable for various known uses of the different diphosphonates and in particular for the complexing of heavy metals; they are used in particular for the extraction of uranium and metals associated with it.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispersing waste gas in the form of mixtures of controlled composition. This apparatus ejects the gas through at least one nozzle at a pressure above blast pressure and below the stable ignition pressure in the presence of a flame, these blast and ignition pressures being predetermined in relation to the area of the nozzle opening. The apparatus can comprise a number of nozzles which diverge relative to each other, the area S of the opening which corresponds to a diameter d=.sqroot.4S/.pi., with a minimum angle .alpha..alpha. between the axes of adjoining nozzles, and a distance D between each nozzle opening, and wherein D/d.gtoreq.80 and .alpha..gtoreq.20.degree..

Abstract: There is disclosed a nutrient composition to be added to a hydrophobic medium for culturing microorganisms comprising a micro-emulsion of an aqueous solution of nutrient material in a liquid immiscible with water. As the source of nitrogen, compounds soluble in water are used, such as urea or ammonium nitrate, sulphate or phosphate, and, as the source of phosphorus, compounds soluble in water are used. The medium sould also contain a directly-assimilable source of carbon. Application of this composition for culturing of microorganisms allows operations to be carried out which comprise the degrading of hydrocabons covering an area of water or ground; an application of particular interest for operation is for combatting oil pollution of the sea by biological degradation. As the source of nitrogen, compounds soluble in water are used, such as urea or ammonium nitrate, sulphate or phosphate, and, as the source of phosphorus, compounds soluble in water are used.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an organic dithio-acid by reaction of the corresponding dithio-ester and an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydrosulphide in a solvent in the presence of an excess of H.sub.2 S and treatment with a mineral acid. The dithioic acids so obtained can be utilized as collectors for the flotation of minerals.

Abstract: Improvement in the photoinitiated synthesis of mercaptans, in which an ethylenic compound is treated with hydrogen sulphide, preferably under pressure, in the presence of ultraviolet radiation and a photoinitiator involves the use of a xanthenic compound, possibly substituted, as the initiator. Preferably, the xanthenic compounds is employed in conjunction with an organic compound of an element of Group V A of the Periodic Classification of the Elements.

Abstract: Improved process for the production of sulphur from a gas containing H.sub.2 S, SO.sub.2, H.sub.2 and/or CO, in which the gas is caused to pass through a CLAUS catalyst in a primary catalytic stage operating at between 200.degree. and 460.degree. C. in order to form sulphur, and thereafter the sulphur contained in the reaction mixture issuing from this stage is condensed through indirect heat exchange with water to produce steam.The improved process consists in constituting at least the final eighth of the catalyst volume in this stage by a composite mass formed from a refractory oxide on which is fixed a transition metal compound, for example Co and/or Mo, and in entering into contact the gas with this composite mass at between 300.degree. and 460.degree. C. in order to oxidize H.sub.2 and CO.The energy resulting from this oxidation is recovered in the form of a supplementary quantity of steam during the sulphur condensation.

Abstract: Novel organic polymers have a chain carrying active groups, a hydroxyl, alkoxy, halogen, thiol or sulphide group or a second active group being attached as a substituent to a carbon which is in the alpha position with respect to that carrying the first active group. The preparation of these polymers is advantageously effected using polymers carrying epoxide bridges, which are opened by the action of an active cosmetological or other active compound. These polymers are particularly suitable for the protection of the skin against solar radiation, as creams or gels for the skin and for the hair and/or as pigments.

Abstract: In a device for interconnecting respective ends of two conduits a male connecting piece (2) is fixed on the end of one of conduits and provided on its outer periphery with annular ridges (4), while a female connecting piece is fixed to the end of the other conduit and comprises, in succession, as viewed from its end opening, a first cylindrical annular portion (5), a convergent frustoconical portion (6) and a divergent frustoconical portion (7) which is connected to a second cylindrical portion. A spherical ring member (10) slidably mounted on male connecting piece (2) engages the cylindrical portion (5) and the convergent frustoconical portion (6) of female connecting piece (3) and is subjected to a longitudinal force, so as to be locked on male connecting piece (2) under the effect of plastic deformation. This device can be used for connecting large diameter pipes used for transporting high pressure fluids, particularly in submarine installations.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to an improved filtering device adapted to eliminate any risk of clogging of the filtering material. The invention provides a filtering device for treating any effluents, which comprises a plurality of filtering walls arranged successively between a chamber containing the effluent to be filtered and a chamber containing the filtered effluent, each filtering wall being constituted by spacedly justaposed strips having a trapezoidal section with the large base of the trapezoid located on the inlet face of the filtering wall, said strips being separated from each other, on the inlet face of the filtering wall, by intervals of equal widths forming slots which define effluent inlet areas, the sum of said inlet areas constituting the total inlet area of a filtering wall, and the total inlet area of the upstream wall being less than the total inlet area of the adjacent downstream wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the selective extraction treatment of a gaseous hydrocarbon mixture containing 5 to 3000 ppm (parts per million) by volume of hydrogen sulfide and 0.3 to 3% carbon dioxide, in order to obtain a purified gas containing less than 4 ppm by volume hydrogen sulfide and less than 2% carbon dioxide.The gaseous hydrocarbon mixture is submitted to a series of counter-current washings by contact with a tertiary amine aqueous solution in an absorption zone from which is drawn a liquid effluent enriched in hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: A new surface-active agent of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R' are hydrocarbon groups, M being a cation it is particularly suitable for the production of micro-emulsions in the presence of aqueous saline solutions.One important application thereof is in the assisted recovery of crude oil.

Abstract: There is described a process for the culture of microorganisms in a medium comprising a hydrophobic material containing microorganisms by the use of nutrient substances in aqueous solution micro-emulsified in a liquid immiscible with water. As the source of nitrogen, compounds soluble in water are used, such as urea or ammonium nitrate, sulphate or phosphate, and, as the source of phosphorus, compounds soluble in water are used. The medium should also contain a directly-assimilable source of carbon. Application of this process to the culture of microorganisms, allowing operations to be carried out which comprise the degrading of hydrocarbons covering an area of water or ground; an application of particular interest for operations for combatting oil pollution of the sea by biological degradation.