Abstract: The suspension device for the support legs of a jack-up oil platform having a hull movable along the legs includes a driving mechanism having a plurality of output gear pinions cooperating with racks mounted along at least a part of the legs. Each of the output gear pinions is drivable by an electric motor associated with a speed reducer which is pivotally mounted on a structure which is connected to the hull and has at least one bearing which allows a given angular movement of the speed reducer and each corresponding output gear pinion. Each speed reducer cooperates with an energy absorbing mechanism including at least one torsionally elastically yieldable support element connected to a corresponding speed reducer and affording a progressive absorption of shock particularly at the moment when the legs contact the sea floor.

Abstract: A method of and system for recovering a solvent from a mixture of solvent and hydrocarbons, the system comprising at least two evaporation flasks successively fed with a charge consisting of said mixture to be separated, at least one steam generator performing the condensation of the solvent, a circuit for conveying the evaporated solvent and connecting the flasks to the generator and a circuit of an intermediate fluid in gaseous phase including a compressor for raising the condensation temperature of this fluid, the latter circuit connecting the generator to heat exchangers arranged upstream of each flask.

Abstract: A support device for a leg (2) of an off-shore drilling jack-up platform including a separate heightener (3) adapted to be interposed between each leg of the platform and the sea bed so as to increase the depth of installation of the platform. Each heightener is provided with detachable means (4, 7, 11, 12) for connecting the heightener to the lower end (4) of a respective leg (2) which improves the strength thereof.

Abstract: A multi-passage swivel joint for simultaneous transfer of a plurality of separate fluids between two groups of conduits, the second group rotating about the first group has a plurality of sliding contact seals with a bundle of flow passages in deformable sheaths providing segregation continuity on the one hand for large rotations by sliding of the seals and on the other hand for small alternating angular motions by elastic deformation of at least one deformable sheath defining the flowpaths. The stiffness of the deformable sheath compared with the force required for causing the seals to slide being such that the coefficient of friction of the seals has a value such that sliding occurs before the maximum allowable deformation of the sheaths is reached.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cryogenic fractionation of a gaseous feed comprising a contact purifying-refrigerating column into the bottom of which is injected a partially condensed gaseous feed, the said column producing in its head portion a residual gas and in its bottom portion a liquid which is injected into a fractionating column producing in its head portion a distillate which is at least partially condensed and injected into the head portion of the column to thus recover in the bottom liquid of this column the heavy compounds contained in the vaporized fraction of the gaseous feed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for cryogenic fractionation of gas feeds, the apparatus comprising essentially a contact purifying-refrigerating column associated with a fractionating column, an exchange system, a plurality of ducts with valves connecting the above three elements and two closed end independent refrigerating circuits integrated to the exchange system.

Abstract: This method for raising a platform comprising a platform proper or deck carried by legs bearing on the sea bed comprises: fixing on each of the legs (2) of the platform a raising device (4) constituting a reinforcing device whose regions of fixing to the legs (2) are located on each side of a region of the leg to be cut; cutting the leg so as to divide it into a lower portion (2a) and an upper portion (2b); when all the legs have been cut, actuating the raising devices associated with each of the legs so as to raise the platform to an extent corresponding to the desired raising while controlling the attitude of the platform, and fixing between the ends of the portions (2a) and (2b) of each leg a heightening element (5) which once more interconnects the two portions of the leg, and removing the raising devices.

Abstract: A suitable system for connecting an anchored marine structure and a rotating moor arm of a floating facility in which a swivel combines for connecting the marine structure and the mooring arm has at least one plain journal bearing with at least one elastic pad arranged about the axis of the bearing such that the rotation of the mooring arm about the marine structure is achieved. Initially, rotation is achieved for large angular motions and significant rotations in particular those exceeding one complete turn by sliding of the journal bearing and secondly, for small alternating angular motions by elastic deformation of the pad. The stiffness of the pad is such, compared with the coefficient of friction of the journal bearing that the sliding threshold of the bearing is not reached.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for heat treatment of a powder material comprising a device for post-combustion of the combustible constituent remaining in the powder material which contains, or is mixed with, a constituent apt to cause an exothermic reaction either with a gas or with another constituent, proceeding from a precalciner ensuring a primary combustion of the said constituent, so as to achieve the complete combustion of the said constituent.

Abstract: The locking device for a self-raising oil platform comprising a shell (1) mounted to be movable along legs (2) by means of raising mechanisms comprising output gear pinions cooperative with racks (3) mounted on at least a part of the length of the legs (2), comprises a toothed member (6) forming a counter-rack (6a) mounted on the shell of the platform, means (7) for shifting the toothed member (6) transversely of the direction of the rack with which the device is associated for engaging the teeth of the toothed member in the teeth of the rack (3) or for disengaging them from the teeth of the rack, clamping plates (13) connected to the toothed member and clamping counter-plates (15) connected to the platform, and means (20) for clamping the plates and counter-plates together so as to lock the toothed member (6) in position in the rack.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for liquefying a gas with a low boiling point, such as natural gas, by heat exchange with a main refrigerant fluid having several components. The whole of the vapor phase of this main refrigerant fluid, after being condensed and subcooled, is expanded at once to at least one first pressure, and the whole of the liquid phase of the subcooled main refrigerant fluid is expanded at once to at least one second pressure, different from the said first pressure.

Abstract: A user is assisted in accomplishing a technical operation, such as a graph, or the like, by an interactive computer program having an element movable with respect to another element so as to display, at each step of the program, all the information necessary for its execution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing ethylene. This apparatus comprises essentially a phase separator connected to an ethylene fractionating unit. The fractionating unit comprises a first or lower-pressure fractionating column and a second or higher-pressure fractionating column, the second column being fed with an intermediate liquid fraction from the first column and having its head connected to the heating circuit of the reboiling system associated with the first column to at least partially condense the head fraction of the second column. Thus, the invention allows high-purity ethylene to be produced with minimum energy consumption.

Abstract: A method of making ethylene consisting in processing an ethylene gas condensate which is passed through a de-ethanizer to separate as gases the C.sub.2 -hydrocarbons with two carbon atoms, cooling said hydrocarbons to condensate a part thereof, feeding said hydrocarbons into a separator where the condensed phase is separated and recycled to the de-ethanizer, and feeding the non-condensed fraction of said hydrocarbons into an ethylene-recovering unit with which is associated a reboiling system for heating the fluid taken from said unit prior to recycling it to the latter, and further comprising the step of exchanging heat between the hydrocarbons from the de-ethanizer and the reflux fluid from said reboiling system so as to at least partially condensate the hydrocarbons fed to said separator.

Abstract: A process of and apparatus for liquefying a dry gas with low boiling point in a first circuit through heat exchange with a main refrigerating fluid in a second circuit itself pre-cooled to its at least partial liquefaction through heat exchange with an auxiliary refrigerating fluid in a third circuit, wherein, for a same amount of treated products, the required total compression input power for the refrigerating fluids is reduced by performing in said third circuit an intermediate condensation between the two last compression stages followed by a phase separation, the gaseous phase being compressed to a high pressure in the last compression stage whereas the liquid phase is compressed to a high pressure by a pump and recycled to a cryogenic heat exchanger for cooling the gas initially in the moist state thereby at least partially drying same.

Abstract: A process of and an apparatus for saving energy in a method of liquefying a natural gas by cooling same with the vapor from a liquid coolant sub-cooled after expansion thereof in the liquid condition, the vapor simultaneously sub-cooling the liquefied coolant, the process consisting in expanding the sub-cooled high-pressure liquid coolant in a hydraulic turbine providing mechanical power possibly for driving a rotary machine.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for treating residue gases proceeding from units applying the Claus reaction for the removal of sulphur and having been subjected to a conversion of the sulphur compounds into sulphuretted hydrogen.This method consists in that, prior to absorption of the sulphuretted hydrogen by a selective solvent in aqueous solution, the gases to be treated are cooled to a temperature so selected as to condense the water contained in the gases to form an aqueous effluent which is thereafter injected into the circuit of the selective solvent.

Abstract: A large capacity tank for the seasonal storage of hot water from electrical power-generating thermal and nuclear plants to be used seasonally to heat buildings, consisting of a large basin which comprises partitions dividing the basin into several portions communicating with each other in parallel and/or series relationship, at least one hot water supply input from said plants, leading to the distribution systems which open into one portion of the basin and at least one cold make-up and/or return water supply input for the distribution systems opening into another portion of said basin.

Abstract: Method of liquefying a mixture of gas rich in methane by performing an auxiliary cycle and a main cycle in which are used an auxiliary and a main refrigerating fluid of several components. In each cycle are performed the compression, cooling, liquefying and sub-cooling of the refrigerating fluids in counter-flowing relationship with themselves after expansion-vaporization in a heat exchanger. The gas to be liquefied is cooled in parallel with said main refrigerating fluid which has been pre-cooled in the auxiliary cycle. Pre-cooling of said gas is performed in an exchanger cooled by the refrigerating main fluid after its expansion-vaporization in said heat exchanging column of said main cycle and before its re-compression.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cooling a gaseous mixture wherein a fractional condensation of said mixture is carried out under a high pressure by using at least a first stage and a last stage of fractional condensation, the penultimate and the last condensed fractions are expanded down to a low pressure forming a main refrigerating stream, and at least the first condensed fraction of the cycle mixture is expanded down to an intermediate pressure between said high pressure and said low pressure forming an auxiliary refrigerating stream.