Abstract: A device is provided for fracturing a geological hydrocarbon reservoir including two packers defining between them a confined space in a well drilled in the reservoir; a pump for increasing the pressure of a fluid in the confined space; an apparatus for heating the fluid; at least one pair of two electrodes arranged in the confined space; and an electric circuit for generating an electric arc between the two electrodes, the circuit including at least one voltage source connected to the electrodes and an inductance between the voltage source and one of the two electrodes. The device permits improved fracturing of the reservoir.

Abstract: A method is provided for fracturing a geological hydrocarbon reservoir, including the static fracturing of the reservoir by hydraulic pressure, and the electrical fracturing of the reservoir by generating an electric arc in a well drilled into the reservoir. This enables the improved fracturing of the reservoir.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a device for mixing a multiphase fluid which includes a mixing chamber; a mixing element translatable along a central axis of the mixing chamber, the distance between a point of the inner surface of the mixing chamber and the central axis being occupied between 85% and 95% by the mixing element along at least one section transverse to the central axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring pressure in an underground formation containing a fluid, comprising the following consecutive steps: establishing fluid communication between a test chamber arranged in a drilling well and the underground formation, via a flowline; moving a piston in the test chamber so as to suction fluid into the test chamber; ensuring fluid isolation of the test chamber relative to the flowline; measuring the pressure in the flowline; and repeating the preceding steps. The invention also relates to a device for measuring pressure in an underground formation containing a fluid adapted for the implementation of said method.

Abstract: The application discloses a process and apparatus for characterising the evolution of a reservoir by co-analyzing the changes in the propagation times and seismic amplitudes of seismic reflections. The method comprising the steps of: providing a base survey of the reservoir with a set of seismic traces at a first time; and providing a monitor survey of the reservoir, taken at a second time, with a set of seismic traces associated to the same positions as in the base survey. The evolution of the reservoir is then characterised by inversion to obtain an estimate of the changes having occurred in the time interval between base and monitor surveys, the inversion being performed using at least some seismic traces for which no assumption is made that the energy is propagating vertically. In a main embodiment, inversion is performed by minimising a function which includes a term dependent on the incident angle of the seismic reflections.

Abstract: A method for determining the amount of hydrocarbons in a composition including hydrocarbons and water, includes: adding a chemical agent to the composition in order to form an emulsion of water and hydrocarbons; taking a sample of the emulsion and dissolving this sample in a common solvent for water and hydrocarbons in order to form a solution; measuring the amount of hydrocarbons in the solution. An installation suitable for implementing this method is also provided.

Abstract: A high-temperature drilling fluid is disclosed based on brine and on a mixture of solids of controlled grain size, with water, dissolved salts and insoluble mineral solids comprising at least in part a weighting material of a grain size such that its D50 ranges between 1 and 25 ?m and in part colloids of a grain size such that its D50 ranges between 0.2 and 2 ?m. The total volume fraction of the solids ranges between 30 and 50% in relation to the total volume, and the total volume comprises at least 10% by volume of the colloids.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for sampling and diluting concentrated emulsions, which may be oil-in-water emulsions, water-in-oil emulsions, or other concentrated emulsions. One method embodiment of the invention comprises obtaining a sample of a concentrated emulsion comprising a dispersed phase and a continuous phase fluid; measuring droplet concentration of the dispersed phase in the sample; and for droplet concentration of the sample greater than about 1000 ppm, diluting the sample with substantially pure continuous phase fluid, forming a first diluted emulsion. Methods of the invention include those wherein the obtaining of a sample comprises opening a fluid connection to a flowing stream comprising the concentrated emulsion, wherein the obtaining and diluting steps occur in real time.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a drilling fluid composition comprising:—at least one (per)fluoropolyether oil comprising recurring units of formula —CF(CF3)CF2O— said oil having a kinematic viscosity of 30 to 80 cSt measured according to ASTM D455 standard at 20° C. [oil (E)] and possessing a polydispersity index (PDI) of at least 1.15; and—at least one (per)fluoropolyether phosphate comprising at least one perfluoropolyoxyalkylenic chain and at least one phosphoric acid group, in its acid, amide, salt or ester form [phosphate (P)], to a method for its manufacture and to its use in a drilling rig equipment.

Abstract: A method is proposed for heating a hydrocarbons reservoir, comprising the provision of an installation comprising: a first wellbore equipped with an injection string fitted with an adjustable choke and an extraction string fitted with an adjustable choke, a set of sensors, intended to measure physical variables, an automatic device making it possible to control and monitor the operation of the installation; the circulation of steam from one string to the other; the control of the steam injection flow rate in function of a target value; the keeping of a set of physical variables within a predetermined range of values by continuous action of the automatic device on the choke of the injection string, and on the choke of the extraction string.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sampling a sulphur-containing solid product including supplying a gas flow comprising hydrogen sulphide, bringing the gas flow into contact with a solid reagent and reacting the solid reagent with the hydrogen sulphide contained in the gas flow, the reaction fixing the sulphur of the hydrogen sulphide by forming a sulphur-containing solid product which is different in color from the solid reagent, and recovering the sulphur-containing solid product. The invention also relates to a device suitable for the implementation of this method.

Abstract: A water treatment method includes: withdrawing water from the environment; filtering the withdrawn water in a membrane filtration unit; extracting a production flow from an underground formation containing hydrocarbons; separating and collecting production water from the production flow; filtering the production flow in the membrane filtration unit; collecting a treated water flow from the membrane filtration unit. An installation adapted for applying this method is also provided.

Abstract: A unit for establishing contact between a liquid and a gas includes: a chamber having a vertical axis; a first series of contact sections disposed along the length of the vertical axis of the chamber; a second series of contact sections disposed along the length of the vertical axis of the chamber, alternated with the contact sections of the first series; and a liquid circulation system designed to circulate a liquid in the contact sections of the first series and in the contact sections of the second series in a separate manner.

Abstract: A method for testing a curing composition, comprising includes a curing composition; injecting the curing composition into a mold; curing the curing composition into a cured composition, in the mold at a controlled curing pressure; measuring at least one physical or mechanical property of the cured sample at a controlled test pressure, in the mold; the mold being rigid relatively to the cured sample during the curing step.

Abstract: A water treatment method includes: filtering water in a membrane filtration unit including at least one membrane filtration module; collecting a permeate and collecting a retentate at the outlet of the membrane filtration module; withdrawing solid materials and/or hydrocarbons contained in the retentate, in order to provide a treated retentate; recycling the treated retentate at the inlet of the membrane filtration module; providing a treated water flow from the permeate from membrane filtration module(s). An installation adapted for applying this method is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates, inter alia, to recombinant Gram-positive Clostridia host cells for producing solvents, fuels and/or chemical intermediates, and preferably ethanol, from plant cell walls comprising: (a) at least one nucleic acid encoding a plant cell wall degrading enzyme, wherein the host cells produce and secrete the plant cell wall degrading enzyme, (b) at least one nucleic acid encoding an enzyme that converts pyruvate to acetaldehyde and at least one nucleic acid encoding an enzyme that converts acetaldehyde to ethanol wherein the host cell is capable of expressing said nucleic acid, and, (c) a mutation in at least one nucleic acid encoding for an enzyme in a metabolic pathway which produces a metabolite other than acetaldehyde from pyruvate or ethanol from acetaldehyde, such that the mutation results in a reduced production of the metabolite.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing steam comprising the successive steps of: providing feedwater containing carbonate and/or sulfate ions; adding a crystallizing reagent able to react with carbonate and/or sulfate ions to the feedwater, in order to produce carbonate and/or sulfate crystals; filtering the feedwater with a ceramic membrane to produce a permeate stream; supplying the permeate stream to a boiler; and generating steam in the boiler. The invention also relates to an installation adapted for implementing said method, as well as to a process for extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation using the abovementioned method for producing steam.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for injecting a fluid into an underground formation, wherein: a fluid is transported in at least one injection pipe; the injection pipe includes a main portion further including a single tube, and a flow rate control valve including at least ten fluid transport tubes arranged in parallel; where the ratio of the section of the single tube of the main portion over the sum of the section of the fluid transport tubes of the flow rate control valve is less than or equal to 5; the flow rate of the fluid circulating in the injection pipe is adjusted by distributing the fluid in all or part of the fluid transport tubes of the flow rate control valve; and the fluid from the injection pipe is injected into the underground formation. The disclosure also relates to a flow rate control valve comprising an installation for injecting a fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the purification of a gaseous mixture containing mercaptans and other acid gases comprising a stage of bringing said gaseous mixture into contact with an absorbent solution comprising an alkanolamine, a C2-C4 thioalkanol and water.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a process for treating a natural gas containing carbon dioxide wherein the natural gas is separated by a cryogenic process in order to provide, on the one hand, a stream of liquid carbon dioxide, containing hydrocarbons, and, on the other hand, purified natural gas; at least one part of the natural gas is cooled in a first heat exchanger and then in a second heat exchanger before the cryogenic process and/or before a reflux to the cryogenic process; at least one part of the stream of liquid carbon dioxide is recovered in order to provide a stream of recycled carbon dioxide; the stream of recycled carbon dioxide is divided into a first portion and a second portion; the first portion is expanded and then heated in the first heat exchanger, in order to provide a first stream of heated carbon dioxide; the second portion is cooled, then at least one part of the second portion is expanded and then heated in the second heat exchanger, in order to provide a second stream of heated carbon dioxi