Abstract: A valve (2) has a body (4) defining a flow inlet (6), a flow outlet (8) and a valve chamber (10). A compression coil spring (24) is contained within the chamber (10) and its coils (32) divide the inlet (6) from the outlet (8). One end of the spring (24) is seated against a reaction block (20) and an actuating rod (16) extending into the valve chamber (10) bears on the block enabling it to be lowered or raised. This action causes the size of the helical gaps (34) between the coils (32) of the spring to be altered which adjusts the flow of fluid through the valve.

Abstract: A pressure protection system (32) has a docking manifold (44) to which an upstream portion (36) and a downstream portion (38) of a pipeline (34) are connected. Also connected to the docking manifold (44) is a retrievable module (64) which has a conduit circuit (66) that connects the upstream and downstream portions of the pipeline (34) enabling fluid to flow between the two portions (36, 38). The conduit circuit contains two fail-safe valves (72) which are controlled by a control module (80) within the retrievable module, and two pressure transmitters (76) co-operable with the control module (80). When wither pressure transmitter (76) senses fluid pressure in the conduit circuit (66) to be above a threshold value then it causes the control module (80) to effect closure of the valves (72) preventing the pressure rise from reaching the downstream portion (38) of the pipeline (34).

Abstract: A system (1) for extracting subsea hydrocarbon fluid has five discrete subsea developments (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) for hydrocarbon extraction linked to four hydrocarbon receiving facilities (2, 4, 6, 8) by a pipeline network (94). Each subsea development (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) has a manifold to which pipelines of the network (94) are connected, and a pair of retrievable modules (22) docked on the manifold. Each module has a control pod which is able to control flows of fluids between the subsea developments and between the subsea developments and the receiving facilities, and each control pod is connected to monitoring devices for monitoring parameters pertaining to the subsea developments. Parameters are monitored at a first one of the subsea developments and a requirement for a first fluid type is identified and parameters at another second one of the subsea developments are monitored and a surplus of the first fluid type is identified.

Abstract: An electric motor (30) is accommodated in a first portion (42) of a housing (40) and is arranged to drive a compressor (32) accommodated in a second portion (44) of the housing separated from the first housing portion (42) by a wall (46). An umbilical (48) introduces dry motor protection gas into the first housing portion (42) and a passage (54) between the first and second housing portions (42,44) allows a leakage of the motor protection gas from the first housing portion (42) into the second housing portion (44) at a higher pressure than gas supplied to the compressor (32) via an inlet pipe (58) thereby preventing moisture laden gas from the compressor (32) entering the first housing portion accommodating the electric motor (30).

Abstract: Gas is supplied from a host facility (2) to an underwater gas compressor (10) via a connecting pipeline (6) and the gas compressor is connected to a plurality of gas injection wells (7) for a hydrocarbon reservoir via well supply flowlines (8). The gas compressor (10) compresses the supplied gas to a higher pressure, and drives the gas into the reservoir via the flowlines (8) and gas injection wells (7) at a pressure at least as high as the pressure of the production fluid in the reservoir. This raises the overall pressure in the reservoir to drive production fluid there to the host facility (2). The compressed gas may alternatively be injected into production fluid in a production well to provide a gas lift effect.

Abstract: Production fluid is received in a seabed facility (3) from a hydrocarbon reservoir and water is separated from the production fluid by a fluid separator vessel (15) in the seabed facility (3). The production fluid is then conveyed to a host facility (2) by a production fluid pipeline (4). The separated water enters a fluid clean-up unit (19) which removes hydrocarbons from the water, and the water is then passed through a photo-chromatic device (20) which measures the amount of oil in the water. Providing that the water is measured to contain not more than the predetermined threshold maximum limit of oil in water, it is disposed of into the sea surrounding the seabed facility (3).

Abstract: Production fluid mixture is directed through a sand removal unit (12) in a retrievable module (1) installed in a modular seabed processing system, and the unit (12) collects sand from the mixture. The production fluid mixture then enters a fluid separation chamber (17) in the module (1) where it is separated into a gas and a mixture of oil and water. Seawater is drawn in from outside the module and is pumped into the sand removal unit (12) to flush the collected sand. The mixed flushed sand and seawater is commingled with the mixture of oil and water downstream of the fluid separation chamber (17) and the commingled mixture is conveyed to a host facility. There, the sand is separated from the commingled mixture and is disposed of.

Abstract: A filter assembly for collecting material that is entrained in a gas stream includes a housing for a filter element. The housing has first and second ends with an inlet and an outlet at the first end for the gas that is to be filtered, and a support surface on its internal wall at a point towards its second end. The assembly includes a tubular filter element arranged within the housing for the gas stream to flow through its wall between the inlet and the outlet. The element is located in the housing by way of a support which extends between the filter element at or towards its end and the support surface on the internal side wall of the housing on which the support rests.

Abstract: A web-based traffic notification service permits end users to select travel routes and automatically receive notification of routes having the fastest travel times. The service can be provided by a website configured to display an interface that allows users to create accounts for storing personal travel information. The travel information includes origin, destination, way point, and departure time data for trips selected by the user. For each trip, alternative routes are designated. At or near the selected departure time of a trip, travel times for the alternative routes are computed using real-time traffic data. The user is then automatically notified of the route having the fastest travel time using an email or voice message. The service can be configured so that the user is notified only when the travel time of a user-defined preferred route is longer than a secondary alternative route.

Abstract: A filter assembly for collecting material that is entrained in a gas stream includes a housing for a filter element. The housing has first and second ends with an inlet and an outlet at the first end for the gas that is to be filtered, and a support surface on its internal wall at a point towards its second end. The assembly includes a tubular filter element arranged within the housing for the gas stream to flow through its wall between the inlet and the outlet. The element is located in the housing by way of a support which extends between the filter element at or towards its end and the support surface on the internal side wall of the housing on which the support rests.

Abstract: Methods are provided for inhibiting or suppressing viral replication in an infected host cell. More specifically, methods are provided for inhibiting or suppressing viral replication in an infected host cell by administering compounds that inhibit cellular protein phosphatase 2A. Such methods are advantageous for treating viral infections such human immunodefeciency virus infections.

Abstract: A filter assembly for collecting material that is entrained in a gas stream includes a housing for a tubular filter element. The housing has first and second ends with an inlet and an outlet at the first end for the gas that is to be filtered, and a support surface on its internal wall at a point towards its second end. The assembly includes a tubular filter element arranged within the housing for the gas stream to flow through its wall between the inlet and the outlet. The element is located in the housing by means of a support which extends between the filter element at or towards its end and the support surface on the internal side wall of the housing on which the support rests.

Abstract: A filter assembly for collecting material that is entrained in a gas stream includes a housing having inlet and outlet ports for the gas that is to be filtered. The housing includes an end cap in which at least one of the ports is provided, and a body section in which a tubular filter can be located arranged for the gas stream to flow through its wall provided by a filter medium, the end cap and the body section being separable to allow access to the inside of the housing. A tubular member, which might be a filter element or a conduit for directing a flow of gas to a filter element, can be sealingly connected to the end cap in fluid communication with one of the ports therein. The tubular member includes a tang which can be received in a recess in the housing when the tubular member and the housing end cap are properly assembled.

Abstract: A cooling system (10) for a turbocharged locomotive engine (12) including a two stage intercooler (20) for conditioning the combustion air (16). A first coolant loop (32) includes a first stage intercooler (38), the engine coolant passages (22), a radiator (34), a first tank (36), an oil cooler (30), and a first pump (40). A second coolant loop (42) includes a second stage intercooler (44) a subcooler (48), a second tank (46), and a second pump (50). A fluid connection is provided between the first coolant loop (32) and the second coolant loop (42) to provide heat there between during conditions of overcooling of the second coolant loop (42). Flow control valves forming a portion of first coolant loop (32) may be embodied in a single rotor-sleeve flow control valve (130).