Abstract: The invention relates to a method of gasifying carbon-containing compounds incorporating mineral elements and/or potential contaminants, and it also relates to a gasification installation having means for containing a bath of molten slag, means for charging said compounds into said bath, means for injecting at least oxidizer into the bath so that the mixture of carbon-containing compounds and oxidizer is super-stoichiometric, whereby a first fraction of the compounds is pyrolyzed, a second fraction is subjected to a combustion reaction suitable for delivering heat energy to the bath of slag, and a third fraction diffuses into the bath, means for recovering the gas given off by the pyrolysis and the combustion of the first and second fractions, and means for lowering the temperature of a portion of the molten slag so as to allow it to solidify, thereby immobilizing at least a portion of the third fraction of the compounds containing mineral elements and/or potential contaminants.

Abstract: A plugging fluid for plugging a subterranean formation zone surrounding a drill hole comprises an emulsion comprising a dispersed aqueous phase containing an aqueous base and a continuous hydrophobic phase containing a polymer consisting of a grafted cellulose ether derivative, a surfactant and a crosslinking activator of the polymer. The polymer is preferably 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose grafted with vinyl phosphonic acid. Upon shearing, preferably through the drilling bit, the emulsion inverts so that the rupture of the emulsion droplets releases the crosslinking activator into the water phase thus forming a gel structure.

Abstract: A plugging fluid for plugging a subterranean formation zone surrounding a drill hole comprises an emulsion comprising a dispersed aqueous phase containing an aqueous base and a continuous hydrophobic phase containing a polymer consisting of a grafted cellulose ether derivative, a surfactant and a crosslinking activator of the polymer. The polymer is preferably 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose grafted with vinyl phosphonic acid. Upon shearing, preferably through the drilling bit, the emulsion inverts so that the rupture of the emulsion droplets releases the crosslinking activator into the water phase thus forming a gel structure.

Abstract: The invention concerns cementing compositions, particularly for squeeze cementing, comprising a liquid phase and a solid phase constituted by particulate materials which are insoluble in said liquid phase, in particular a microcement. The compositions of the invention comprise additives of a nature and composition such that variations in viscosity of the composition due to fluid loss are minimized. Preferably, the compositions comprise at least one “very fine” additive formed from particles which are smaller than the cement, with a ratio of the average grain sizes of the particles of said additive and those of the cement in the range 5 to 100, preferably about 10, the respective proportions of the solid particles corresponding to a packing volume fraction close to the maximum, and the porosity of the solid mixture being such that the mixture is in a state of hindered settling.

Abstract: A load lifting device of the hoist type, comprises a flat strip 5 arranged to form two hoist runs on opposite sides of a connection member 6 for a load. The two runs of the strip 5 are simultaneously wound up on, or unrolled from, a single reel. A spacing roller 20 forms in the strip 5 a substantially horizontal upper run. This improves the stability of the load by spacing apart the upright runs 21, 22 of the hoist.

Abstract: So as to avoid installing a heavy remote handling machine in a containment comprising a lifting unit, such as a travelling crane, the present invention proposes an autonomous remote handling machine (20) suitable for being suspended from the hook (b 16) of this crane. This machine (20) includes a support (22), a gripping arm (24) and a counterweight (26) being joined to said support around a normally horizontal axis (26). A device (44) detects any possible slanting of the support (22) with respect to vertical in order to control any modification of the orientation of the counterweight (26), independently of the orientation of the arm, so as to annul any detected slanting.

Abstract: A method for fixing a tube by expansion improve the seal between a tube and a support plate which are joined by expansion fixing. The method comprises forming fine annular projections on the surface of a bore which is formed in the support plates, and inserting a tube within the bore so that upon expanding the tube within the bore, the projections engage the tube to produce a seal.

Abstract: A gas-tight connector, especially for the remote handling of radioactive or hazardous products by means of a master-slave manipulator. The connector is composed of a tong-unit connector element, a gas-tight connector element and a remote-manipulator connector element. The gas-tight element is engaged coaxially within the tong-unit element and the remote-manipulator element is engaged coaxially within the gas-tight element and also coupled to an articulated supporting arm. All three elements are traversed from one end to the other by shafts which are capable of translational motion in order to initiate opening and closing of the tong unit.