Abstract: An undersea installation for transporting hydrocarbons between a seabed and a surface and to a method for installing same. The installation includes a tubular undersea pipeline, a float and a coupling device. The undersea pipeline has a rising part, a connecting part and an intermediate portion. The coupling device includes a first longitudinal part and a second part connected in a coupling region of the first part. The coupling region of the first longitudinal part and the float being configured to be connected together. The first part is configured to pivot about the coupling region while bending the intermediate portion when the rising part is unwound and tilts towards the seabed.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing an annular space between an inner and an outer pipe in a double-walled subsea pipeline which seal assembly comprises an annular member (1) and moveable blocking means (2, 3) and: (a) under normal operating conditions is in a non-sealing position which allows the passage of a gas through said seal assembly; and (b) is actuatable from a non-sealing position to a sealing position in response to the entry of liquid into said annular space.

Abstract: A flexible duct with a frame made by winding a S-profiled metal strip into clamped turns, wherein the edges of two adjacent turns overlap each other in order to form between them a helical closed space having an essentially rectangular cross-section and at least partially filled by a helically-wound spacer separate from the metal strip and resting on at least two opposing walls of the lower surface and the upper surface, wherein the spacer has, in the winding radial direction, a crush resistance substantially equal to zero and, in the winding longitudinal direction along the pipe, a substantial crush resistance.

Abstract: An attachment fitting and a method for connection to a tubular duct comprising at least one ply of armors, the armors having a free end respectively defining an outer surface, the attachment fitting comprising a bushing and a sleeve having an attachment part and a connection part with a reception portion, the sleeve being mounted on the duct by spreading the free ends of the armor perpendicularly to the reception portion, the armors comprising a widening device, the bushing being mounted about the connection part and forming an annular chamber for receiving a flow of a mass-curing material for encapsulating the free ends of the armors. The widening device connected to the free outer surface of the free ends of the armors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to piping (1) for use in industrial activities, where the piping (1) has a specific geometry. In particular, the piping (1) is formed as a lowamplitude helix, which causes fluid flowing through the piping (1) to swirl. This swirl flow provides a large number of advantages. Particular applications where the piping (1) can be used include petroleum production risers and flowlines, production tubing for downhole use in wells, pipelines for the transportation of fluids, static mixers, bends, junctions or the like, penstocks and draft tubes, reactors for chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical applications, heat exchangers, cold boxes, incinerators and furnaces for waste disposal, static separators, and air intakes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved method and system for loading a topsides onto an offshore structure by functional modules. A module support frame forms a supporting structure to which production modules can be assembled. The production modules are adapted to extract or process hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon well in an offshore location. One production module is a well bay production module to which other production modules can be coupled, including a drilling support production module, separation production module, export module, and utility module. The module support frame can be loaded onto floating barges and other modules assembled thereto to allow the barges to provide incremental and controlled support during the loading process and for the floatover installation. The barges can be floated out to the offshore structure and loaded onto the offshore structure by methods including a floatover method or with a heavy-lift crane vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structure for transporting, installing and dismantling a fixed oil platform provided with framework elements which are substantially formed by a bridge and at least one supporting pillar. The inventive structure comprises a floating U-shaped shell provided with at least three lifting legs adapted for resting upon the bottom of the sea and a shuttle movable along the lifting legs for displacing a platform element. Said shuttle consists of at least three elements each of which is associated with the lifting leg and is provided with mechanical means for driving on the corresponding lifting leg in a manner independent of the shell of the structure and with means for connecting to displaceable framework element. Methods for transporting, installing and dismantling the bridge or the supporting pillar of a fixed offshore oil platform are also disclosed.

Abstract: For regulating the lateral buckling of a section of pipe, at least one device permanently applies a force to a point on the section of pipe. The force is preferably applied substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the axis of the pipe. Preferably, two of the devices that apply equal and opposing forces are positioned at a distance from each other along the section of a pipe. Each device comprises a clamp, a cable, a return device and a buoy or a weight.

Abstract: A system for starting up a flowline suitable for conveying hydrocarbons is provided. The flowline is extended over the seabed from a wellhead and terminated at a joint end. The joint end is suitable for connection to a subsea riser extended in a catenary. The flowline is able to stretch and a lock fixes the joint end with respect to the seabed for maintaining the flowline in its stretched position, and preventing its return movement.

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 centerline curves in three dimensions, to induce swirl flow in the tube. Preferably, the tube is formed as a helix.

Abstract: A suction pile comprising a cylindrical wall and a piston that is movable inside the cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall has one suction end suitable for sinking into an ocean floor. The piston delimits two chambers, one being able to be filled with water. The suction pile includes a pump for extracting the water from the one chamber and for causing the sinking of the suction end. The pump comprises a device for stopping the piston while the cylindrical wall has one water intake end to allow water to enter into the other chamber. The piston is alternatively stopped and driven in movement as the suction end sinks.

Abstract: A tensioner system for a top-tensioned riser in a floating platform includes a hydro-pneumatic tensioner assembly resiliently mounted to the floating platform, and a riser support conductor surrounding the riser coaxially, wherein the support conductor conveys a pull-type tensional force from the hydro-pneumatic tensioner assembly to the riser through a riser conductor coupling assembly that engages the tensioner assembly and the riser support conductor to convey the tensional force. A riser tension joint support assembly conveys the tensional force from the riser support conductor to a riser tension joint on the riser. The tensioner assembly compensates for relative platform motion including pitch, heave, and yaw. Also a reactive load assembly is mounted to the platform and reacts to a two-point dynamic bending moment imposed on the riser support conductor, while resisting riser support conductor rotation.

Abstract: A method and an installation for connecting a rigid submarine pipe and a flexible submarine pipe. The rigid pipe terminates in a free connection end. The flexible pipe has a flow-line portion and a suspended portion. The flow-line portion has an input end connected to the free connection end. The installation comprises an anchoring device to hold the flow-line portion anchored at an anchor point and to allow the flow-line portion to form an undulation. The anchoring device is suitable for holding the anchor point at a distance and close to the free connection end to form the undulation between the anchor point and the free connection end.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and system of a deep-draft semi-submersible hydrocarbon, such as for liquefied natural gas (LNG), floating production and storage vessel that can include a pontoon containing hydrocarbon tanks, fixed ballast at the bottom in a double-bottom portion, and segregated ballasted tanks with variable ballast located generally above the fixed ballast portion that can assist in keeping the pontoon submerged during various storage levels. Multiple vertical columnar supports can penetrate the pontoon from top to bottom and extend above the water surface to support a deck, including various topside structures. An intermediate double-deck on the top of the pontoon can provide access to the tanks, for example, through the vertical columnar supports. The double bottom structure, deck, and vertical columnar supports can provide overall structural integrity.

Abstract: An installation for and a method for driving a submarine pipeline scraper, wherein one of the ends of the pipeline has a launch device and the other end has a receiving device. The scraper defines an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber. It can be launched inside the pipeline from the launch device in the direction of the receiving device, allowing water to enter through the launch device in order to subject the upstream chamber to hydrostatic pressure. The receiving device is identical to the launch device, such that water can enter through the receiving device in order to balance the pressure of the two chambers, and also enables a fluid to be injected into the downstream chamber to drive the scraper toward the launch device.

Abstract: A cracking furnace having a firebox provided with cracking coils is described. The cracking coils have at least one inlet, at least one inlet section, at least one outlet and at least one outlet section, and burners, and the parts of the coils are shielded. A process for cracking hydrocarbon feeds, and making use of a furnace with the thermal shielding are also described.

Abstract: A flowline for hydrocarbon which is capable of being reeled and which is unreeled for being laid on the seabed using the reeled lay method is comprised of successive pipe sections having opposing ends which are joined by an anchor collar that is butt welded to the opposing ends. The pipe sections have a jacket on the exterior of the pipe sections, but the pipe sections are able to be reeled. Anchor collars are affixed by butt welding between the ends of adjacent pipe sections. Each anchor collar has a fixture or protrusion radially outward which has an outer diameter less than or at least not more than the outer diameter of the pipe section jacket. The flowline has the same inner diameter at the pipe sections and the collar, and the pipe has the same outer diameter as the collar, while the protrusion protrudes outward from the exterior of the collar.

Abstract: A complementary locking system for locking legs to the deck of a jack-up offshore drilling platform is disabled. The system includes at each leg, at least one assembly comprising plates forming two counter-racks that engage with a leg rack and, on one side of the plates, at least one internal element for connecting the internal edges of the plates, at least one external element for connecting the external edges of the plates and at least one intermediate member for connecting said at least one internal element to said at least one external element. Methods of installing said complementary locking system on the legs of a jack-up offshore drilling platform are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible tubular duct for transporting gases under high pressure in the field of offshore oil exploitation. The duct is of the unlinked and smooth passageway type, and comprises from inside to outside an inner polymer tube, a pressure vault formed by the short-pitch rolling of at least one wire, a first inner pair of crossed traction armor plies, an intermediate polymer sleeve, a second outer pair of crossed traction armor plies and an outer polymer sleeve. The inner pair of traction armor plies is wound with a helical angle of less than 35° and the outer pair of traction armor plies is wound with a helical angle substantially equal to 55°.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an efficient system to obtain a pile from a storage location on a vessel and shift the pile across the vessel without significant rotation of the pile. The pile can be transferred into an assembly that can lower the pile and launch the pile. The disclosure provides a method of translating and launching a pile for a marine application, comprising: storing at least a first pile on a rack located on a vessel; transporting the pile to an installation site; lifting the pile from the rack with a cart; supporting the pile on the cart; shifting the cart and the pile to a launch arm assembly; transferring the pile from the cart to a first portion of the launch arm assembly adjacent a side of the vessel; lowering the first portion with the pile; and releasing the pile from the first portion into a marine environment.