Abstract: Composite catalytic products composed of a metal chelate based catalyst on a solid adsorbent support for use in fixed-bed processes for sweetening mercaptans contained in petroleum fractions are disclosed. The composites contain from 0.05 to 5 weight percent of a metal chelate, from 5 to 15 weight percent of pyrolyzed carbon and from 60 to 90 weight percent of a mineral matrix. The support material is obtained by pyrolysis of wash concentrates of raw wools.

Abstract: An immersible electrical coupling includes a fixed connector (2) mounted on the wall (1) of a device, and a cable terminal (6) engaged with the connector. An outer molding of synthetic resin (33) surrounds tubular metal components (16, 12, 8, 10, 9) of the terminal, and a concentric inner molding 32 isolates the outer and inner sheaths (13, 17) of the cable (7). Within the terminal (6), the insulated conductors (19) which emerge from the end of the cable are spaced from one another, and traverse an insulating sealing plug (20) inserted in a watertight manner inside the tubular metal components (8, 9).

Abstract: A servicing apparatus for installing a piece of equipment horizontally on a submerged unit and for removing it therefrom, comprises a movable servicing module designed to engage on the upper part of the submerged unit, pivot thereabout and lock against it in a horizontal position, and a cradle supporting the piece of equipment. The cradle is carried, by means of connections allowing transverse adjustment, by sliding supports mounted in the servicing module, and movable longitudinally by means of jacks. Mutual engagement means are provided on the submerged unit and on the piece of equipment to ensure that the latter is positioned accurately on the unit.

Abstract: The invention concerns a positioning device for a tube cleaning element rotatably driven by fluid passing through the tube. This is particularly useful for heat exchanger tubes. This device includes an open-frame support member (1) having one or more parts (8a, 8b) (preferably of generally cylindrical shape) for mounting on the outside on one end of said tube, and further includes a spindle (2) mounted for rotation with respect to said frame (1) along the axis of the end of said tube and adapted to be fastened to said rotatable element.

Abstract: A multi-purpose fitting system includes a container having an inner tank and an outer tank made of a plastic material. An aperture is provided at the top of the container in which a multi-purpose fitting is provided. The fitting includes a close-off fitting base having a flange which is permanently attached to an outer surface of the inner tank. A close-off skirt made of a plastics material rest on the flange and extends beyond the flange to additionally rest on the outer tank. This skirt is securely attached to an outer surface of the outer tank such as by a continuous weld which provides a seal between the skirt and outer tank. A close-off ring is threadably received on a threaded upper portion of the close-off fitting base to press the skirt against the flange. A fitting member is threadably received in an interior threaded aperture of the close-off fitting base as appropriate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the thawing point of jet fuels by first cooling a sample of the fuel until crystals appear and then heating the sample until the crystals disappear, detecting the point at which the crystals appear both thermally and optically, detecting the point at which the crystals disappear both thermally and optically and correlating the resulting measurements to obtain an indication of the thawing point.

Abstract: A remote utility reading and control system includes a central utility use data bank which communicates by communications link with a plurality of relay modules located at power sub-distribution transformers. Each relay module separately addresses and communicates by PLC with a number of site units in its locality. The site units may include on/off controls for buildings, light systems or single pieces of equipment, or may include utility meters or real power meters. The PLC communication utilizes error checking and message verifying to acquire valid status or measurement signals, which are then transmitted to the central data bank. A CRC error code identifies faulty messages. After multiple interrogation, five responses are stored, and a message is confirmed only when three of five reponses are identical. Systems for electricity, water, and gas are described.

Abstract: A consistometer usable at a work site comprises a stationary receptacle (9) which is placed in an enclosure (3) defined by a consistometer casing (2) and is provided with a stirrer (17) with a rotary drive spindle (18). The casing has an extension (20) in which there is arranged an intermediate shaft (23) angularly fast with a torque receiver (22) of a magnetic type actuated from outside the extension by a driven torque transmitter (21). Shaft (23) is angularly fast with a coupling device (24) for engagement with the spindle simply by the spindle being introduced into the coupling device when the receptacle is placed in the casing.

Abstract: An annular safety assembly comprising, between an upper cylindrical body and a lower cylindrical body, through which connecting tubes of production tubes pass, a packer and a low-bulk anchorage system consisting of a radial spacing ring, a resilient anchorage ring split along a generatrix and provided with peripheral anchorage teeth and a thrust ring which can be moved upwardly by thruster-plungers extending from the lower cylindrical body to apply the anchorage ring to the casing, and a safety valve arranged separately from the connecting tubes, which extend between the said cylindrical bodies, and below the lower cylindrical body.

Abstract: A support platform includes a notch for engaging an upright member, such as a tree or utility pole, and further includes a flexible steel band that encircles the upright member and supports the platform. The band is positioned at an angle extending upwardly and rearwardly from the platform and further supported at either side of the platform with adjustment means to lengthen or shorten the band to accommodate the periphery of the upright member.

Abstract: A rotary vortex separator for heterogeneous liquids, e.g. water with a small oil content on an offshore oil platform, includes injection channels (30) which inject water to be de-oiled at an axial speed relative to the periphery of the separator at the upstream end (4) of a cylindrical separation chamber (2) rotating about its axis (8). Purified water leaves from the other end (6) of said chamber via an annular outlet opening (26) of smaller radius to constitute a free vortex type of flow. The oil is removed by an axial tube (28).

Abstract: A valve, for example for use as a pipeline stop valve or a blow-out preventer, comprises a body with a central passage and opposed aligned guideways extending outwards from the passage. A closure member is provided in each guideway, each of which guideways is closed by a bonnet housing moving means for the respective closure member. The moving means are adapted to move each closure member through the central passage and into the opposite guideway, the closure members sealing therein to enable the opposite bonnet and associated closure member to be removed for a servicing operation.

Abstract: Hydraulic cement composition with delayed setting, intended to be employed in an environment which may be under extreme temperature, pressure and salinity conditions, the composition being characterized in that it incorporates(a) a saline or nonsaline aqueous liquid phase,(b) at least one hydraulic cement,(c) a setting-retarder adjuvant preserving and/or improving the rheological properties, a water-soluble copolymer resulting from the copolymerization of ethylenic acids, acrylamides and ethylenic esters of phosphoric acid.

Abstract: An improved system for containment and detection of leakage of petroleum products from a subterranean storage tank is disclosed wherein the tank is provided with leak sensing means positioned at one end of the tank and the tank, together with the leak sensor, is enclosed in an impervious enclosure which is sealed about the tank to prevent actuation of the leak sensor except due to leakage from the tank. In one form the leak sensor may be housed in a perforated duct which extends through and is sealed within the enclosure permitting access to the leak sensor and the interior of the enclosure in the event that a leak is detected. A preferred material for use in making the enclosure is welded linear high density polyethylene (HDPE). In a second preferred form, a drainage mesh is positioned between the tank and the enclosure to ensure that any leakage from the tank drains to the leak sensor, and an absorbent strip is positioned beneath the tank and inside the enclosure to conduct leakage to the sensor.

Abstract: An improved process for hydrocarbon conversion-catalyst regeneration processes particularly useful for residual oil, especially high carbon content residual oil conversion. The process generally comprises cooling the compressed air which is introduced into the second stage catalyst regeneration vessel in order to allow processing of feeds which typically produce high coke loading of catalyst in the conversion zone. The cooling process described can be installed and maintained with minimal expense in existing facilities and generally comprises a refrigeration unit and a heat exchange means installed in the conduit transporting air from a compressor unit to the second stage catalyst regenerator air distributor means.

Abstract: A safety valve for use in a hydrocarbon production tube comprises a valve member which is opened by a piston tube displaceable as a result of the intake of hydraulic fluid into an operating chamber therefor, and a tubular receptacle for receiving an auxiliary safety valve recoverable by means of a cable. The receptacle is longitudinally displaceable between inactive and active positions and is engaged telescopically with the piston tube in a sealed manner to define, with the piston tube, the operating chamber. The receptacle is normally retained in its inactive position by shearable elements, but after the elements have been sheared, descends to its active position simultaneously driving the piston tube to its lower position to open the valve member.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an assembly of pipes, particularly but not exclusively submarine pipes, adapted to permit disconnection of a tubular member therefrom while maintaining the interior of the remainder of the assembly isolated therefrom. The assembly comprises a first pipe provided with a first tubular connection portion for coaxial connection to a second tubular connection portion of a tubular member. The tubular member is also provided with a tubular extension which is coaxial with the second connection portion and houses a closure means. The end of the tubular extension is adapted to receive the casing of a manipulator for moving the closure means from the tubular extension into the first connection portion of the first pipe to isolate the first pipe from the tubular member and permit disconnection thereof.

Abstract: An internal chuck for use in the butt welding of tubes 16, 17 aligning the tubes and for bringing them into abutment comprises a central tube 6, a sleeve 7 slidable on the central tube and carrying centering means 12 and welding backup means 8, the centering means and the welding backup means being longitudinally spaced from one another, gripping means 2, and jaws 33 for clamping against the tubes. The jaws are displaceable longitudinally relative to the gripping means and central tube to draw the two tubes together and a jack 27 is provided for displacing the sleeve longitudinally relative to the central tube so that either the centering means or the welding backup means can be aligned with the ends of the tubes.

Abstract: A method of defining homogeneous rock formation zones along a borehole on the basis of logs, uses two logs, a lithological log and a log relating to the impregnation fluids. Individual limits of zones are determined by reproducing or reshaping each of the logs in the form of rectangular zones or crenellations, preferably rough crenellations for the first log and smoothed crenellations for the second log, and the individual limits are combined to obtain synthetic limits, some of the individual limits belonging to the first log only preferably being subsequently eliminated when the first log is smoothed.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a tubular element 24 to be butt joined horizontally at one of its ends to a tubular structure 27, comprises an upwardly acting, vertical hydraulic thrust jack 9 which compensates at least partly for the weight of the tubular element and which is placed towards the other end of the tubular element. The thrust jack is pivoted at its upper end on a slide 11 which is vertically movable and carries support members 23 for supporting the tubular element, and at its lower end on a base 6 mounted on a lower frame 2 provided with wheels 3 adapted to run on rails 4.