Abstract: The assembly includes a one group (40A to 40C) of hydraulic shock absorbers (42), each shock absorber (42) comprising a hydraulic jack comprising a cylinder designed to be supported by the first element (14), and a shock-absorbing member partially received in the cylinder. The shock-absorbing member has a head protruding outside the cylinder, the head being designed to come into contact with the second element during mounting of the second element on the first element (14). The shock-absorbing assembly (17) includes, for each group (40A to 40C) of shock absorbers (42), a fluid accumulator (44) connected to each cylinder of the group of shock absorbers (42), to allow a hydraulic fluid transfer between the different cylinders of the group of shock absorbers (42) during contact between each head and the second element.

Abstract: An umbilical for use in the offshore production of hydrocarbons, and in particular a power umbilical for use in deep water applications, is described comprising a plurality of longitudinal strength members, wherein at least one longitudinal strength member comprises rope comprising high strength organic fibers having a tensile modulus >100 GPa. In this way, the or each longitudinal strength member being such a rope achieves the synergistic benefit of favorable mechanical properties in the axial direction, with weight reduction and other favorable mechanical properties, especially during tensioning or the like of the umbilical, more especially during manufacture, installation and/or repair. With weight reduction, longer umbilicals for deeper water can be made and used.

Abstract: An extrusion facility (10) includes an extrusion screw (12), capable of providing a heat-softened viscous plastic material, and an extrusion (14). The extrusion head includes an annular chamber (24) that is capable of receiving viscous plastic material. The viscous plastic material, provided by the extrusion screw, has, at a constant temperature, a viscosity variable from a value ?i at a constant value ?cst during a given period so that ?cst>?i. A buffer chamber (16) between the extrusion screw (12) and the extrusion head (14) to store the viscous plastic material during the given period in order to enable the plastic material to reach the viscosity value ?cst before being injected into the extrusion head (14).

Abstract: Method for testing a pipe for carrying hydrocarbons. The pipe has at least one internal sealing sheath made of polymer material, incorporating elements of reactive compound capable of reacting with corrosive gases contained in the hydrocarbons which diffuse radially through the sheath. The reaction forms a first layer, extending radially from the internal surface, in which the elements of reactive compound have reacted with the gases. A second layer, extends between the first layer and the external surface, in which the elements of reactive compound have not yet reacted with the gases. The method uses ultrasound to determine the position of an interface between the first and second layers to measure the progression of the diffusion of the gases through the sheath.

Abstract: A pipe (10) including an inner corrugated tube (16) having an axis A-A?, defining a plurality of corrugations (30) leading radially towards the axis (A-A?) and at least one tensile armor layer (18), arranged around the corrugated tube (16). It includes at least one thermal insulation layer (44, 46), arranged around the armor layer (18). The pipe (10) comprises an inner sheath (14) for guiding the flow of cryogenic fluid arranged in the corrugated tube (16), the inner sheath (14) being made up of a plurality of cylindrical segments (50). Each cylindrical segment (50) of the inner sheath (14) covers a plurality of successive corrugations (30) of the corrugated tube (16) and includes an outer abutment (54) for axial wedging received in a corrugation (30) of the corrugated tube (16).

Abstract: A filling platform connected to a ship, and at least one manifold which opens onto the platform. A detachable tubular connector connects the manifold to a fluid delivery hose carried by a delivery installation. At least one carriage conveys the connector over the platform. The carriage is moveable across the platform to convey the tubular connector over the platform between a storage position and an active position, in which latter position, the connector is fixed to the manifold. The system is applicable to the transfer of liquefied natural gas from offshore storage installations to tanker ships.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method of reducing vortex induced vibration (VIV) with a plurality of tangentially disposed side plates having an open space on both faces transverse to a current flow of water. The side plates cause water separation around the plates with transverse VIV movement of the platform caused by the current flow against the platform, and the tangential side plates resist the VIV movement of the platform from the current. The side plates can be disposed tangentially around a periphery of an open truss structure below the hull of a spar platform. In another embodiment, the tangential side plates can be disposed tangentially away from a periphery of a hull to form a gap with an open space between the plates and the hull.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a simplified electric submersible pump (ESP) system for installation into a borehole, regardless of whether a caisson is formed in the borehole or whether an internal volume under a cap of a housing with the ESP is pressurized. A frame with associated ESP equipment can be mounted over the borehole. The ESP system can allow direct access to the ESP without having to lift the frame or a housing surrounding the ESP for maintenance and repair. A bypass provides flow during the period in which the ESP in non-operational.

Abstract: A device including a plurality of disconnected ballast elements (24) for a pipe (16). Each ballast element (24) has a lower surface (34) to be laid at the bottom (12) of a body of water (14) and an upper surface (32) delimiting at least one concave trough (38) for supporting the pipe (16A, 16B). A top cover (26) for protecting the pipe and connecting at least two disconnected ballast elements (24) so as to cover the pipe (16A, 16B) between the ballast elements (24). The cover (26) extends opposite the trough (38) and delimits, together with the upper surfaces (32) of each ballast element (24), a passage for receiving the pipe (16A, 16B).

Abstract: A method and an installation for constructing a layer (12) of armor strips around a tubular core (10) of a flexible pipe. The installation has a support wheel (14) of a plurality of armor strips (32, 34) having, respectively, two opposite faces (44, 46) and a plurality of pairs of guide members (20, 22). The pairs of guide members include upstream guide members (52, 54) and downstream guide members (56, 58) which sets of guide members extend along axes that are angularly offset from one another. The support wheel (14) has devices (78, 92) for adjusting the downstream guide members (56, 58) into a position such that the two opposite faces (44, 46) of the armor strip entering and leaving the downstream guide members (56, 58) are substantially perpendicular to the plane of flexing (Pf) defined by the entering and leaving armor strip.

Abstract: The device of the disclosure comprises an assembly (22) for collecting material on the bed (12) of a body of water (14), a riser (48) for lifting the solid material, and a pump (90) for lifting the solid material collected by the collection assembly (22) in the riser (48) towards the surface facility (26). The device also comprises a separator (42) for generating a stream having a high content of solid material and a stream having a low content of solid material, the separator (42) including a lower outlet (76) for discharging the stream with high content of solid material. The device comprises an upstream hose (40) connecting the collection assembly (22) to the separator (42), and an intermediate pipe (44) connecting the or each discharge outlet (76) of the stream with high content of solid material to the riser (48), the delivery outlet (100) of the pump being tapped into the intermediate pipe (44).

Abstract: A flexible underwater pipe for transporting hydrocarbons, including a plurality of layers, at least one of which includes a polyethylene having enhanced heat resistance, to its preparation method and to its use for transporting hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structure for transporting, installing, and dismantling a deck (1) of an off-shore exploitation rig, for installing, and dismantling this deck (1) on at least one supporting column, characterized in that it comprises two transport barges (20) and means (30) for supporting and raising the deck (1), temporarily connected to said deck and to said barges and configured to be supported by these barges for supporting said deck between said barges and a method for transporting, installing, and dismantling the deck (1) using the structure for transporting, installing, and dismantling the deck (1).

Abstract: An umbilical for use in the offshore production of hydrocarbons, and in particular to a power umbilical for use in deep water applications is described, comprising a plurality of longitudinal strength members, wherein at least one longitudinal strength member comprises rope enclosed within a tube. In this way, the or each longitudinal strength member being a rope and tube combination achieves the synergistic benefit of favorable mechanical properties in the axial direction, with favorable mechanical properties in the radial direction during tensioning or the like of the umbilical, especially during installation.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an in-situ system and method for transferring a load from a tensioned flexible link between at least two bodies, such as between a buoyancy can and a subsea riser or between a moored offshore platform and a pile. The system and method provides a tether assembly having a hydraulic cylinder and/or a transfer assembly, where the hydraulic cylinder is configured upon actuation to decrease a distance between the two bodies; and the transfer assembly includes a mechanical interlock configured upon actuation to maintain the decreased distance between the two bodies independent of the hydraulic cylinder. The mechanical interlock can include various embodiments that can be selectively activated and deactivated position to allow the hydraulic cylinder to operate at various times in the transfer process. A support assembly can provide additional support to the flexible link independent of or in addition to the transfer assembly.

Abstract: An assembly for connecting a flexible line (20) to an underwater installation (18). The line is extended between the underwater installation (18) and a surface installation (16). The line (20) includes (i) a surface end (22), a bottom end (28) (ii) a contact portion (26) near the bottom end and a floating portion (24) which extends between the contact portion (26) and the surface end (22). The contact portion (26) includes an angled part (40) that divides the contact portion (26) into a first part (36) and a second part. Then angled part (40) is moored to the bottom (10) at an anchoring point (42) located in the opposite direction from both the bottom end (28) and the floating portion (24).

Abstract: An assembly, which consists of a flexible tubular pipe (1) for transporting hydrocarbon fluids including a metal carcass (10) produced by the short pitched helical winding of a profiled strip, the said strip defining a plurality of intervening gaps (10a) between each winding turn (10b), an inner polymeric sealing sheath, at least one metal armour layer, and an outer polymeric sheath, and of a secondary metal tube (2) coaxial to the tubular pipe (1)

Abstract: The disclosure reduces vertical movement of a floating offshore platform by including a centralized open keel plate coupled to the hull that allows water below and above the keel plate. As the floating platform moves vertically, the keel plate separates the water and causes drag on the platform. The water moving vertically with the plate also increases the dynamic mass. The drag results in less vertical movement of the offshore platform without the need to extend legs of the platform to gain an equivalent reduction in vertical movement. The added dynamic mass increases the natural period of the vertical motion away from the wave excitation period to minimize the wave driven motion. The keel plate generally is above or at the same level of the keel, and therefore would not reduce the clearance between the seabed and the keel of the hull at the quayside.

Abstract: A device including a fluid transport pipe (24), a superstructure (16), and a floating barge (18) rotatably mounted on the superstructure (16) about an axis of rotation (A-A?). The pipe (24) includes a hose section (150) wound around the axis of rotation (A-A?) supported by an intermediate structure (20) mounted between the superstructure (16) and the barge (18), between a configuration rotatably driven with the barge (18) about the axis of rotation and a configuration rotatably retained about the axis of rotation (A-A?) by the superstructure (16). During a step of connecting the pipe (24), the intermediate structure (20) is placed in either the driven configuration or the retained configuration, a step of disconnecting the pipe (24) including switching the intermediate structure (20) to the other one of the driven configuration and the retained configuration.

Abstract: An underwater fluid transport apparatus (10) to transport a fluid between a sea bed (12) and the surface (14) of the sea vertically above the sea bed. A riser (20) is connected to a flexible pipe (32) leading to the sea surface (14). A retaining float (24) is installed around the riser in order to maintain the riser (20) in a stretched suspended position between the sea bed (12) and a subsurface region situated between the sea bed and the surface (14) of the sea. The flexible pipe (32) extends in a catenary curve between the riser (20) and the sea surface. An additional float (28) is installed between the riser (20) and the sea surface (14). The riser (20) is attached to the additional float (28) to increase the buoyancy of the riser.