Abstract: The present invention relates to a device that conditions high entrance velocity, superheated feed gas, which include some high boiling components, for example, asphaltenes and poly-nuclear aromatics that tend to coke upon condensation and exposure to the superheated feed gas temperature. Also included in superheated feed gas are solid catalyst fines, from a single or multiple feed nozzles to a quiescent flow regime for uniform distribution of the gases, to a contact device within the Main Fractionator (MF) column.

Abstract: A vessel launch and retrieval system and method are disclosed with a cage that can surround a vessel and variable elevation float. The variable elevation float allows the vessel in the cage to be guided throughout the process of launch and retrieval, because the cage moves in elevation relative to the float. On launch, the cage with the vessel surrounded by the cage members can be lowered into the water until the vessel is floating above the surrounding members sufficiently to allow the vessel to exit the cage. The variable elevation float guides the vessel as it enters the water and continues to guide as the vessel begins to float and finally clears the surrounding members. Retrieval can generally reverse the process.

Abstract: A device for laying a pipe in an expanse of water includes a tower (30) intended to protrude along a tower axis (B-B?) in a floating laying structure (10), and assemblies (34A, 34B) for gripping and moving the pipe (12) in order to guide the movement of the pipe (12) towards the expanse of water (11) along a laying axis (C-C?). Each gripping and moving assembly (34A, 34B) is borne by the tower (30). The tower (30) is formed by a barrel (32) extending along the tower axis (B-B?), each gripping assembly transversely protruding from the barrel (32) relative to the tower axis (B-B?).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device that conditions high entrance velocity, superheated feed gas, which include some high boiling components, for example, asphaltenes and poly-nuclear aromatics that tend to coke upon condensation and exposure to the superheated feed gas temperature. Also included in superheated feed gas are solid catalyst fines, from a single or multiple feed nozzles to a quiescent flow regime for uniform distribution of the gases, to a contact device within the Main Fractionator (MF) column.

Abstract: A method for installing a self-supporting tower at a sea bed. An anchoring mechanism (32) is installed on the bed. A float (18) and a tubular pipe (68) are submerged and then driven towards the bed (12) to attach to one of the ends (72) of the anchoring mechanism (32), while the float (18) is fastened to the other (70) of the ends keeping the pipe (68) vertical above the anchoring mechanism (32). The tubular pipe (68) and the float (18) are supplied separately. The float (18) is kept submerged at a distance away from the anchoring mechanism (32). The tubular pipe (68) is suspended from the float via the other (70) of the ends of the pipe.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a flexible tubular underwater pipe (10): A leakproof tubular structure (12, 14, 16) is covered with at least one layer (18, 20) of armor wires. At least one continuous longitudinal element made of a deformable material is wound in a helix with short pitch around the layer (18, 20) of armor wires to form a holding layer 24. The at least one longitudinal element is wound under longitudinal tension T0 so as to stretch its deformable material according to a relative elongation corresponding to a tensile stress ?0 less than the elastic limit value ?E of the deformable material, and the elastic limit value ?E corresponds to a tensile stress beyond which the deformation of the material is irreversible.

Abstract: A guide wheel (26) for fitting a layer of carbon armor wires around a tubular core (24). The guide wheel (26) has a central cavity (32), an internal circular edge (34), and a peripheral circular edge (38) that extends coaxially at a distance from said internal circular edge (34), the guide wheel (26) includes a plurality of guiding devices (46), each of which is capable of guiding in translation a plurality of carbon armor wires, the guiding devices being mounted around said central cavity (32). The guiding device (46) includes a peripheral redirecting member (50) in order to be able to guide the carbon armor wires to the internal circular edge (34), and a central redirecting member (52) in order to be able to guide said carbon armor wires through a second curved passageway.

Abstract: This method comprises the following steps: treating a feed stream (12) to obtain a treated gas stream (60); cooling the treated gas stream (60) in a heat exchanger (34) to form at least one column feed fraction; feeding each column feed fraction into a distillation column (50); heating at least one downstream flow (106) derived from the column head stream (104) in the heat exchanger (34). The treatment step comprises the forming of an intermediate stream (20) containing at least 20 mole % ethylene and at least 20 mole % carbon monoxide, the method comprising a step to remove the carbon monoxide contained in the intermediate stream (20).

Abstract: A recovery system and method for recovering a deployed vessel having a rotatable support coupled with a stored recovery assembly, including a release unit, line, deployment weight, and drag device on the deployed vessel. A recovery vessel can have a hoist with a coupling element, such as a grapple. For recovery, the recovery assembly can be deployed from the deployed vessel. The drag device can assist in floating and/or maintaining a taut line, especially when the vessel is downwind of the drag device. The coupling element from the recovery vessel can couple with the taut line. Once coupled, the recovery vessel can raise the coupling element with the line, which can rotate the rotatable support to a lifting position above a center of gravity of the deployed vessel. The recovery vessel can then lift the deployed vessel vertically out of the water to a storage position.

Abstract: A method for installing an assembly (10) for recovering hydrocarbons escaping from an underwater facility (21), including a first bottom assembly (25) including a rigid canopy having a large surface area, and a second top assembly (26) for raising fluids up to a surface facility (13). The steps of towing the fluid-raising top assembly are carried out concurrently during the installation of the fluid-raising top assembly (26).

Abstract: The disclosure provides a semi-submersible offshore platform with columns having an enlarged base on the bottom of each column with pontoons coupled between the columns. The enlarged column base can be at least as high as a height of the pontoon and on at least embodiment can be about 50% of the draft of the platform. The enlarged base can change a current flow shape around the base and columns for lower VIM. An outside corner of the base can be trimmed at an angle. Alternatively, the lower portions of the columns can be extended horizontally outward to form an effectively enlarged base having similar characteristics. In some embodiments, the pontoon volume can be reduced inversely proportional to the base enlargement to have comparable total buoyancy.

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, said strength members having one or more varying characteristics along the length of the umbilical. In this way, the longitudinal strength members in the umbilical can be provided to have for example a higher or greater tensile strength where required, usually nearer to the surface of the water or topside, while having lower or less tensile strength, and usually therefore lower or less weight, where higher or greater strength is not as critical.

Abstract: A flexible tubular duct for conveying corrosive fluids and used in the filed of petroleum extraction at sea. A flexible tubular duct includes at least one inner carcass (2) and a polymer sealing sheath (3). The inner carcass has a reinforcement metal profile (7) that is helically wound. The reinforcement metal profile (7) is made of an alloy having the following weight composition: 30 to 32% of Ni; 26 to 28% of Cr; 6 to 7% of Mo; 0.10 to 0.3% of N; 0.015% of C; 2% at most of Mn; 0.5 to 1.5% of Cu; 0.5% at most of impurities, the remainder consisting of Fe.

Abstract: An umbilical for use in the offshore production of hydrocarbons comprising an assembly of functional elements wherein at least one of the functional elements comprises an electrical cable, and wherein said electrical cable is enclosed within a tube, said tube being adapted to apply a radial compressive force on the cable whereby the tube is capable of supporting the weight of the electrical cable in an axial direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tower comprising a fluid transporting pipe (24) and an element (29) for anchoring a transporting pipe (24) to the bottom (14) of the expanse of water (12), which element is connected to an upstream point (38) of an intermediate section (30) of the pipe. The tower comprises a buoy (26) connected to a downstream point (40) of the intermediate section in order to keep the intermediate section (40) in a substantially vertical configuration. The buoy (26) has a height less than 1.5 times its maximum transverse direction and delimits a first through-passage (78A) in which the intermediate section (30) is fitted. The buoy (26) delimits a second through-passage (78B), separate from the first through-passage (78A), the second through-passage (78B) accepting the upper section (34). The tower (20) comprises a coupling section (32) that couples the connecting upper section (34) to the intermediate section (30).

Abstract: A marine pipeline-installation tower comprising at least two opposing legs, and one or more tensioning assemblies supported by the opposing legs for surrounding and supporting an intermediate pipeline during installation, at least one of the intermediate tensioning assemblies comprising two or more discrete segments, the segments being moveable between: a closed position wherein the segments are conjoined to form an enclosing pipeline annulus able to support the pipeline between the legs of the tower; and an open position wherein at least two of the segments are disconnected and separate. In this way, a better clearance is achievable between the parts of the segments able to form the enclosing pipeline annulus when the segments are in their open position, because the segments are able to be disconnected and separate despite still being supported within the limited room between the fixed legs of the tower.

Abstract: This process includes the cooling of an introduction stream (72) inside an upstream heat exchanger (28). It includes the introduction of the cooled introduction stream (76) into a fractionating column (50) and the tapping at the bottom portion of the column (50) of the denitrided stream of hydrocarbons. It also includes the introduction of a stream (106) rich in nitrogen obtained from the head portion of the column (50) into a separation container (60) and the recovery of the head gaseous stream from the separation container (60) in order to form the stream (20) which is rich in helium. The liquid stream (110) is obtained from the bottom of the first separation container (60) is separated into a liquid nitrogen stream (18) and a first reflux stream (114) which is introduced as reflux into the head of the fractionating column (50).

Abstract: This method comprises cooling the supply flow in a first heat exchanger, separation in a first separation flask in order to produce a light upper flow and a heavy lower flow and dividing the light upper flow into a supply fraction of a dynamic pressure reduction turbine and a supply fraction of a first distillation column. The method comprises forming a cooled reflux flow from an effluent from a dynamic pressure reduction turbine, the portion of the effluent being cooled and at least partially liquefied in a heat exchanger. It comprises introducing the cooled reflux flow from the heat exchanger into the first distillation column.

Abstract: The device of the present disclosure comprises a holder (80) fixed to the first element and a connection element (82) borne by the holder (80). The connection element (82) is intended to engage on the second element (24). It is mounted with radial mobility in relation to the holder (80) between a separated placement configuration and a contracted configuration for holding the connection elements (82) on the second element (24). The or each connection element (82) comprises a self-locking system (100) and a mobile catching member (102), the catching member (102) being mounted with the ability to move in the self-locking system (100). The fixing device (22) comprises an actuator (104) for moving the catching member (102) in the self-locking system (100) between a deployed position and a position in which it is retracted in the self-locking system (100).

Abstract: A floating offshore platform is disclosed with one or more extension plates fixedly coupled to one or more pontoons on the offshore platform and extending from the pontoons. As the floating platform moves, the pontoon-coupled extension plates separate the water and cause drag on the platform. The water moving with the extension plates also increases the dynamic mass. The added drag and dynamic mass increases the natural period of the motion away from the wave excitation period to minimize the wave driven motion compared to a platform without the extension plates. The extension plates can be coupled to the pontoons during fabrication at the yard directly or through frame members. The extension plates generally are generally located inclusively between the top and bottom elevations of the pontoons, and therefore do not significantly reduce the clearance between the seabed and the hull at the quayside.