Abstract: A process of control of a thermal energy storage unit in the ground includes heat exchangers buried in the ground, each of the exchangers allowing a calorific energy exchange between a heat-conveying fluid traversing it and the ground, the energy storage unit being at the interface between a source and consumer of calorific energy to store thermal energy. One measures the temperature in various points of the ground using buried temperature gauges, the temperatures and flow of a heat-conveying fluid in input and output of the source to determine the thermal power provided by the source, and temperatures and flow of a heat-conveying fluid in input and output of the consumer to determine the thermal power to provide the consumer. One optimizes the storage of thermal energy in the storage unit by selecting active exchangers among the plurality of exchangers according to temperature measurements, flow measurements and thermal power measurements.

Abstract: A tension leg subsea platform (TLSP) (1) comprises a buoyant, submersible hull anchored to the seabed by tendons (3). A jack-up platform (6), either for drilling operations, production operations or any combination of these, is located such that its legs (8), when lowered, rest on the TLSP. In an alternative arrangement (FIG. 3), legs or columns are pre-installed on the TLSP, and the working platform lifted or floated onto them. In either case, the two components can be fabricated and travel separately to the field location. The effective depth of the TLSP may be 30 m to 100 m, while the sea itself is substantially deeper than 100 m. The working platform may be re-used at other locations. A drilling platform may be exchanged for a production platform while the TLSP remains moored on location, and the production platform may in turn be exchanged for a decommissioning platform.

Abstract: A marine pipelay vessel equipped with a pipe laying apparatus comprising a pipe handler for moving the pipe into its raised launching position, a pipe connection station for connecting together pipe ends when in the launching position, a pipe support for maintaining the pipe in a raised position, a static clamp for releasably securing the upper end of a previously launched pipe, a pipe launcher for controllably launching the raised pipe stalk in which the pipe launcher comprises a second mobile clamp adapted to be releasably secured to the pipe such that the second clamp may be raised and lowered controllably over a predetermined stroke distance between the uppermost and the lowermost stroke position relative to the vessel.

Abstract: A device for spooling flexible tubular pipe comprising at least one spooling wheel comprising a hub and spokes extending from the hub in a radial plane, wherein the spokes are articulated to the hub so that they can be folded towards the axis of the hub. The spokes may have several fold up articulations along their lengths.