Abstract: The disclosure provides an independent support of outlet system in a steam reformer furnace. The thermal expansion of the firebox and/or header box that occurs during operation of a reformer is decoupled from the manifold. The manifold is supported independently on a separate saddle support that supports and allows the manifold to move, while the manifold is still substantially enclosed in the header box. The header box is allowed to expand thermally into different configurations without forcing a substantial change in the manifold configuration. Further, the present invention allows the transfer lines coupled to the manifold through connection tees to laterally move the manifold and reduce lateral stress on the manifold. Thus, the invention provides for independent support of the manifold that allows vertical, lateral, and longitudinal thermal expansion of associated components without overstressing the manifold and causing failures.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved design for a pull tube sleeved stress joint and associated pull tube for managing stresses on a catenary riser for a floating offshore structure. The pull tube sleeve stress joint includes at least one sleeve surrounding a length of the pull tube with an annular gap between the sleeve and pull tube and a link ring therebetween. For embodiments having a plurality of sleeves, a first sleeve can be spaced by an annular first gap from the pull tube and coupled thereto with a first ring between the pull tube and the first sleeve, and a second sleeve can be spaced by an annular second gap from the first sleeve and coupled thereto with a second ring between the first sleeve and the second sleeve. Both pull tube and sleeves can be made with regular pipe segments welded together with regular girth welds.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved system and method for increasing an anchoring force on a pile. The concepts regarding the pile can apply whether the pile is degraded and no longer able to support its intended load, or a load on the pile has increased to a level that may overstress the pile. A sleeve can be installed even in subsea conditions over the pile and can be used to provide an additional securing force to the existing pile. The sleeve may include its own padeye for coupling an anchor line or other coupling member to a structure to be secured. The sleeve may also include an assembly of rings coupled together with at least one longitudinal member. The assembly with the rings spaced a distance away from each other may help reduce an installation friction on the sleeve, as it is installed into the sea floor.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a device for monitoring the curvature of a stiffener (18) of a flexible sea line: A monitoring device has a deformable rod (26) having a central axis (C) and at least three optical sensors (29, 30, 31) maintained pressed against the perimeter of the rod (26). The method includes the steps, for different consecutive orientations of bending planes around the central axis; bending the rod (26) according to the same curvature radius; measuring the deformation of the sensors (29, 30, 31) during the bending; using the measured deformations to extrapolate a sine function of the deformation for each sensor according to the orientation of the bending plane; calculating error-correction coefficients according to the angular shift between the extrapolated sine functions and according to the amplitude of the extrapolated sine curves.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an offshore platform and related method, having: a floating structure, a truss assembly coupled to the floating structure, and a heave plate coupled to the truss assembly. The floating structure includes a pontoon adapted to be disposed at least partially below a surface of water in which the offshore platform is disposed; and at least three vertically extending columns coupled to the pontoon, the columns having a larger lateral dimension than the pontoon coupled to the column, creating a pontoon offset portion. The truss assembly includes at least three separated walls of trusses slidably coupled to the columns, each truss wall having at least two vertically disposed truss legs, each truss leg being slidably coupled to a column at the pontoon offset portion independently from a truss leg of an adjacent wall; and cross-bracing between the truss legs of each of the truss walls.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a tension leg platform (“TLP”) with a plurality of buoyant pontoons suitable for highly disturbed seas that can expand the stability of the tension leg platform by extending at least one buoyant pontoon beyond an intersection of two pontoons. In at least one embodiment, the location of the column can be decoupled from the customary end of the pontoon. The tendons can be located at the ends of the pontoons extending beyond the intersection. In some embodiments, such as four-column TLPs, the pontoons can be extended orthogonally relative to an adjacent pontoon. The extending pontoon increases a buoyancy of the pontoon, increases a pitch stability of the TLP, and increases quayside stability. The extended pontoon can be structurally intersected with the adjacent pontoon to strengthen the extended pontoon and reduce the failure mode of such structure.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method for locking and unlocking an extendable column to a deck. A deck-to-column connection assembly includes a pawl and shim used in a sequential de-ballasting and ballasting of the column to the deck that can easily lock and unlock the column with the deck. Generally, the locking method includes ballasting the column to insert a pawl between the column and the deck, de-ballasting the column to raise the column relative to the deck and create a vertical gap between the column and the deck, inserting a shim to fill the gap and secure the pawl in a deployed position, and further de-ballasting the column to raise the deck connected to the column. Generally, the unlocking method lowering the deck to float on water, de-ballasting the column to remove compressive stress on the shim, removing the shim, ballasting the column, and retracting the pawl.

Abstract: An underwater buoy for hanging a duct between a sea bed and the surface, the buoy including a frame and a plurality of modular members mounted in the frame, the modular members extending between their two opposite modular-member ends, the frame including a longitudinal body for receiving the extended tubular duct, and retainers mounted on the body for maintaining the modular members substantially parallel to the body. The retainers include two retaining structures spaced from each other along the body. The retaining structures are maintained in a fixed position relative to each other in order to hold at least one modular member.

Abstract: An underwater connection installation (26) and a laying method for connecting a riser and a flexible pipe (22) that are intended for carrying hydrocarbons. A post (28) is attached to a float (20) to suspend the riser (12) below the surface. The post (28) supports a gooseneck shape pipe (54) that has a bent-over outlet free end (58) ending in a first coupling (60). A coupling end piece (32) mounted on the flexible pipe (22) includes a second coupling (86). The coupling end piece (32) and the post (28) define mechanical guides including complementary frustoconical rings (64, 84). The driving of the coupling end piece (32) and of the bent-over free end (58) toward each other causes the frustoconical rings (64, 84) to engage one another to bring about coaxial alignment of the couplings (60, 86).

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of a connector intended for a pipe, including an end piece which is mounted to the end of a pipe. The connector includes a sleeve covering said pipe end in order to crimp same onto the mounting end. According to the invention, the sleeve includes an annular chamber, while the armoring wires have free ends which are folded back against the outer polymer sheath, said sealed annular chamber surrounding the aforementioned pipe end. The annular chamber is then dilated with the injection of a fluid in order to maintain the free ends engaged between the outer polymer sheath and the sleeve.

Abstract: A termination assembly for a steel tube umbilical, wherein a plurality of the elongated umbilical elements which compose the umbilical are steel tubes, said termination assembly comprising a cavity through which said tubes pass, said cavity being filled with a filler material, at least one of said tubes having at least one region of increased localized diameter at a location within said cavity to define at least one load bearing face on the tube to anchor said at least one tube within said cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for thermally cracking a hydrocarbon feed in an installation comprising a radiant section and a convection section, wherein a hydrocarbon feed stock is fed to a feed preheater present in the convection section, the heat pick-up of the feed preheater is controlled by regulating the heat exchange capacity of an economiser, said economiser being located in the convection section between the feed preheater and the radiant section, and wherein the feed heated in the preheater is thereafter cracked in the radiant section. The invention further relates to an installation for the cracking of a hydrocarbon feed.

Abstract: Piping for use as a pyrolysis tube in a cracking furnace, wherein the tube is formed such that it has at least one section whose centerline curves in three dimensions, to induce swirl flow in the tube. The tube can be formed as a helix.

Abstract: A subsea flexible pipe, including an internal sealing sheath (18), at least one tensile pressure armor layer (14, 16) wound around the internal sealing sheath, a retaining layer (12) having at least one reinforcing strip (34), the reinforcing strip having filamentary strands (36) directed substantially longitudinally. The filamentary strands (36) having polymer fibers (38). The polymer fibers have, at room temperature, an elastic modulus in excess of 55 GPa so that the reinforcing strip is able to prevent radial expansion of the armor layer, when the armor layer experiences radial force; and the polymer fibers furthermore have an elongation at break in excess of 4% such that the reinforcing strip is able to undergo deformation without breaking.

Abstract: An apparatus for venting an annular space between a liner and a pipeline of a subsea riser used for conveying hydrocarbons, the apparatus comprising a permeate recovery device for recovering permeate passing through the liner into the annular space. The permeate recovery device includes a first vent port in a wall of the pipeline at or adjacent a lower region of the pipeline and communicating with a permeate recovery line defining a flow path between the annular space and a permeate collection vessel. A one-way valve is associated with the permeate recovery line for preventing flow from the permeate recovery line into the annular space. A gaseous permeate recovery line connected to a second vent port at an upper region of the pipeline defining a flow of gaseous permeate from the annular space.

Abstract: The present invention reduces loads and saves steel on topsides and grillage of a catamaran system by creating a lifting force from a barge to the topsides to offset a sagging bending moment of the self-weight on the topsides during transportation. The present invention can reduce the span of the supports on the topsides on the catamaran float-over barges and move the reaction forces toward inner edges of the float-over barges. The lifting force can cause a reduction of stress on the topsides' and grillage's members caused during the topside offloading and transportation. The stress reduction can result in the members withstanding the additional dynamic load caused by a catamaran system without increasing member sizes adequate for an offloading operation. The reduction results in a significant savings, given the size of a typical topsides for a Spar hull or other offshore structure.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring the movement of a subsea pipeline. The measuring device has an accommodating mount anchored in the sea bed to accept the subsea pipeline. The subsea pipeline is liable to be made to move over a determined travel with respect to the accommodating support as the pipelines deforms. The movement has an amplitude that varies according to the deformation of the subsea pipeline. A plurality of frangible elements secured to one of either the deformable subsea pipeline and the accommodating mount. The frangible elements are intended to be broken in succession by the other of either the deformable subsea pipeline and the accommodating mount when the pipeline is caused to move.

Abstract: A method of installing an underwater riser includes anchoring an installation to the seabed; coupling a tubular pipe to the installation; equipping the installation with a submersible float; submerging the float and the pipe, while the float and the pipe are being held from a surface vessel; a cable and a return device are installed on the seabed installation so that the cable can be connected to the pipe; attaching a submerged hauling buoy to the hauling cable; then removing ballast from the float in order to compensate for the tensile forces corresponding to the weight of the float and the pipe and to some of the load applied to the cable; and finally, anchoring of the hauling buoy to the installation and gradually releasing the float.

Abstract: A method for the drainage of permeate gases from a flexible tubular pipe and a pipe embodied for carrying out the method. The pipe comprises at least one inner pressure sleeve, for the transport of hydrocarbons, which contain permeate gases which diffuse across the wall of the inner pressure sleeve. The pipe has an outer sleeve and several reinforcement layers, arranged in an annular zone between the outer sleeve and the inner pressure sleeve. The annular zone has transport ducts in which the permeate gases can circulate towards the removal. The method comprises a forced circulation of the permeate gases in the annular zone through the transport ducts towards the removal.

Abstract: The invention relates to piping for use as a pyrolysis tube in a cracking furnace. The tube is formed such that it has at least one section whose centreline curves in three dimensions, to induce swirl flow in the tube. Preferably, the tube is formed as a helix, more preferably a low-amplitude helix.