Abstract: The present invention relates to an offshore wind turbine on a floating support (1) comprising either a rotor with a horizontal rotation axis (horizontal-axis wind turbine HAWT) or a rotor with a vertical rotation axis (vertical-axis wind turbine VAWT) with the rotor being mounted on a floating support having a principal axis. According to the invention, the principal axis of the floating support is offset by an angle ? with respect to either the axis of a tower carrying the horizontal-axis rotor or to the rotation axis of the vertical-axis rotor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a floating mounting (1) which includes ballasting means (2) in order to vary the draught of the floating mounting. The floating mounting (1) according to the invention has a depth-variable horizontal cross-section, such that the second moment of area of the cross-section of the floating mounting, at the buoyancy surface (Sd), is higher when the floating mounting is deballasted, compared with the second moment of area of the buoyancy surface of the floating mounting, at the buoyancy surface (Sb), when the floating mounting is ballasted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motion compensation system for an element hanging from a mobile unit, the system comprising two blocks, at least two articulated arms, a compensation cylinder and a cable. According to the invention, at least one characteristic length of the articulated system (for example: the length of a link or the distance between two sheaves of two articulated arms) is adjusted according to the motion to be compensated for.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal to energy conversion method and system using a Rankine cycle equipped with a heat pump, wherein heat pump (2) is integrated in the Rankine cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a floating mounting (1) which includes ballasting means (2) in order to vary the draught of the floating Lfb mounting. The floating mounting (1) according to the invention has a depth-variable horizontal cross-section, such that the second moment of area of the cross-section of the floating mounting, at the buoyancy surface (Sd), is higher when the floating mounting is deballasted, compared with the second moment of area of the buoyancy surface of the floating mounting, at the buoyancy surface (Sb), when the floating mounting is ballasted.

Abstract: The invention is an ocean thermal energy conversion method and a system in which a motive fluid having predetermined characteristics is circulated in a closed loop between a cold source in cold deep ocean water and heat sources in warm surface water. The motive fluid is compressed between the cold source and a first primary warm water heat source resulting in the motive fluid being substantially totally vaporized at an outlet of the warm water heat source. The motive fluid is heated downstream from the primary heat source by a secondary heat source. The thermal energy of the heated motive fluid is recovered from a turbine and the motive fluid is condensed in the cold source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motion compensation system for an element hanging from a mobile unit, the system comprising two blocks, at least two articulated arms, a compensation cylinder and a cable. According to the invention, at least one characteristic length of the articulated system (for example: the length of a link or the distance between two sheaves of two articulated arms) is adjusted according to the motion to be compensated for.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal to energy conversion method and system using a Rankine cycle equipped with a heat pump, wherein heat pump (2) is integrated in the Rankine cycle.

Abstract: The invention is an ocean thermal energy conversion method and a system in which a motive fluid having predetermined characteristics is circulated in a closed loop between a cold source in cold deep ocean water and heat sources in warm surface water. The motive fluid is compressed between the cold source and a first primary warm water heat source resulting in the motive fluid being substantially totally vaporized at an outlet of the warm water heat source. The motive fluid is heated downstream from the primary heat source by a secondary heat source. The thermal energy of the heated motive fluid is recovered from a turbine and the motive fluid is condensed in the cold source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an offshore wind turbine on a floating support (1) comprising either a rotor with a horizontal rotation axis (horizontal-axis wind turbine HAWT) or a rotor with a vertical rotation axis (vertical-axis wind turbine VAWT) with the rotor being mounted on a floating support having a principal axis. According to the invention, the principal axis of the floating support is offset by an angle ? with respect to either the axis of a tower carrying the horizontal-axis rotor or to the rotation axis of the vertical-axis rotor.

Abstract: As assembly and apparatus for analyzing a physical behavior of a drill string. The assembly includes at least two measuring sensors arranged at each end of a portion of a length of the drill string. A processing installation is provided and is adapted to receive, process, record and synchronize at least one signal coming from the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the acquisition of signals during a well drilling operation, wherein the following stages are carried out: shakes are generated by means of a vibration source, the signals resulting from the shakes are detected by downhole and surface measuring means (23; 24) connected to a control unit (22), a code for synchronizing the signals acquired by the downhole (7) and surface means (23; 24) is emitted, the signals supplied by the downhole measuring means (7) are stored in a storage module (11), the signals contained in storage module (11) are collected at the surface, then processings are performed on the synchronized downhole and surface signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and to a method for automatic detection of the precession of an element of a drill string, in particular of the bottomhole assembly of a drill string. The method comprises a stage of surface acquisition of signals linked with the vibration of the end of the drillpipes, automatic processing on at least one signal in order to detect a jump in average and a significant line in the spectrum of the signal. A precession criterion is calculated and an alarm is set off. The invention further relates to a system for detecting the precession of an element of a drill string.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and to a method designed to estimate the effective behaviour of a drill bit fastened to the end of a drill string and driven into rotation in a well by surface driving means, wherein a non-linear physical model of the drilling process based on general mechanics equations is used. The following stages are performed in the method:the parameters of said model are identified and computed by taking account of the parameters of said well and of said string,said model is linearized about a working point,said linearized model is reduced while keeping only some of the specific modes of the state matrix of said model,the displacement of the drill bit or the stress applied to the bit is computed in real time by means of the reduced model and of at least one parameter measured at the surface.FIG. 4 to be published.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for casing a well (1) from a tubular preform (2) lowered into a well in folded state. The preform comprises seal means (3, 4) at both ends so that it can be inflated in order to take on a second, unfolded state in which the preform is polymerized.Means (30) for disconnecting lower seal means (3) in order to take the latter up to the surface in a receptacle (11) are inserted into the casing.The invention also relates to a casing device comprising disconnecting means (30) and a receptacle (11) for the lower seal means (3).FIG. 1 to be published.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining a recording or log of measurements substantially comparable to the acoustic impedance of the formations crossed through by the borehole. The measurements are obtained from an acceleration detector (11) placed in the drill string (2) between the rock-breaking bit (7) and mechanical uncoupling system (12) set between certain elements of the string. A measurement representative of the acoustic impedance of the drilled formations is obtained by processing the signal by a function of the rotating speed of the drill bit and of the depth.

Abstract: A measuring tool including a device (4) for measuring the terrestrial magnetic field is inserted in a drill string (2) linking a drilling tool (3) to a surface installation. The method allows to be free from the disturbance affecting the measured terrestrial magnetic field and which is due for example to the drill string. It comprises stopping the tool during the progression thereof in the well in successive stop positions longitudinally spaced out in relation to one another, the angular position of measuring device (4) in these positions being random, and using a statistic calculation method for combining the different measurements and determining the disturbing field.

Abstract: An extensometric sensor for measuring stresses acting on a drilling element at a bottom of a well, with the sensor including a first measurement zone formed from at least two traction blades, on which are mounted measurement gauges, connected at their ends by uprights so as to form a first deformable parallelogram, with the traction blades being oriented in a first direction. A second measurement zone is formed of at least two torsion blades, on which are mounted measurement gauges, connected by cross pieces so as to form a second deformable parallelogram, with the torsion blades being oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second zones are connected and the same is mounted on a drilling element, with the cross pieces and uprights having large dimensions with respect to the torsion blades and the traction blades.