Abstract: A unit dedicated to mechanically loading a tubular sample. At least one packer is housed in a sample at a test zone, having a longitudinal extension greater than that of the test zone and including i) a first pressure mechanism to cause local variation in the diameter of at least a first portion of the packer so as to apply the packer against an internal surface of the sample at the test zone, ii) a second pressure mechanism exerting a first selected internal pressure over a portion of the internal surface located at a second portion of the packer, and/or iii) a third pressure mechanism to cooperate with at least one plug member attached to the sample at a distance from one end of the packer to define a zone of action, to exert on the sample a second selected internal pressure at the zone of action.

Abstract: A fatigue-resistant threaded element for a threaded tubular connection. A portion of threads of the threaded element have a helical groove opening into the threaded crest. A groove is formed in all or a portion of the threads of one or both end zones, namely the first engaged thread zone and the last engaged thread zone, and it is optionally formed in the threads of the medial thread zone. The groove reduces stiffness of threads carrying a groove in the end zone or zones compared with the stiffness of the threads in the medial thread zone. The threaded tubular connection obtained after making up the threaded element with a mating threaded element is much more resistant to cyclic tensile stress and/or axial compressive stresses and/or flexion stresses.

Abstract: A unit is dedicated to mechanically loading a tubular sample (ET). It comprises at least one packer (P) housed in the sample (ET) at a test zone (ZT), having a longitudinal extension which is greater than that of said test zone (ZT) and comprising i) first pressure means (C1) instructed to cause local variation in the diameter of at least a first portion of the packer (P) so as to apply it against an internal surface of the sample (ET) at the test zone (ZT), ii) second pressure means (C2) charged with exerting a first selected internal pressure over a portion of the internal surface located at a second portion of the packer (P), and/or iii) third pressure means (C3) instructed to cooperate with at least one plug member (B1, B2) attached to the sample at a distance from one end of the packer (P) to define a zone of action (ZA), so as to exert on the sample (ET) a second selected internal pressure at the zone of action (ZA).

Abstract: A threaded tubular connection includes two elements, male and female, made up one into the other to a given torque in which, prior to making up, at least one thread face under contact pressure has a convexly rounded shape that is continuous over its width with a radius of curvature in the range 2 to 60 mm and is in point contact with the corresponding face of the mating element. Such a threaded connection has an increased resistance to breakout or to overtorquing. In one embodiment, the convexly rounded face is a male or female thread flank and one of the male or female threads includes a groove opening into the thread crest to render flexible either the convexly rounded flank or the corresponding flank. Such a geometry can accommodate variations in contact between the flanks.

Abstract: The invention concerns an antimicrobial peptide, called myticin, characterised in that it can be obtained from a bivalve mollusc shellfish, and its molecular mass is about 4.5 kDa; its pI is about 8.7; it comprises 8 cystein radicals. The invention also concerns its preparation and its uses. The invention further concerns a nucleic acid coding for said peptide.

Abstract: A threaded tubular connection comprises two elements, male and female, made up one into the other to a given torque in which, prior to making up, at least one thread face under contact pressure (125) has a convexly rounded shape that is continuous over its width with a radius of curvature in the range 2 to 60 mm and is in point contact with the corresponding face (26) of the mating element. Such a threaded connection has an increased resistance to breakout or to overtorquing.

Abstract: Fatigue-resistant threaded element for threaded tubular connection

Abstract: A threaded joint to be expanded, including a lip at the end of the male element end a housing for the lip on the female element to make the threaded joint capable of being sealed and of having a maximum internal passage cross-section after being subjected to diametral expansion by more than 10%. The free male end surface is socketed before expansion into a partially transverse shoulder surface of the female housing through the matching rebating shapes of the surfaces. And, the male lip outer peripheral surface is arranged with little play of the internal peripheral surface of the female housing. Such a threaded joint is particularly useful for casings and tubings used in oil wells.

Abstract: A threaded pipe connector which may find application in the petroleum and gas industry, and pipe connections formed with the connector. The connector includes a male element disposed at the end of a first pipe and a female element disposed at the end of a second pipe. The male element is provided with an external tapered male threading and the female element is provided with an internal tapered female threading corresponding to the male threading. A central seal, formed by a male bearing surface and a female bearing surface and bearing against each other and disposed in a central zone of the male and female threading respectively where the threadings have been interrupted, seals the connector when the connector is assembled. The connector and the connected pipes formed from this connector provide a tight seal under high external pressures.

Abstract: A method for the inspection of male or female tapered threads located at the extremities of metal pipes. The pitch diameter of the threads in a measuring plane located substantially in the middle of a zone of perfect threads is inspected using a plane diameter measuring device while the pitch diameter of the threads is conventionally defined by the specification API 5B in the plane of the last perfect male thread. The pitch diameter of the threads measured is compared with an estimated value calculated from the nominal value of the pitch diameter in the plane P0, from the distance between P0 and P1, and a plot value for the taper, itself a function of the distribution of the tapers formed.

Abstract: A threaded connection for two metal pipes including a male element at the end of a first pipe and a female element at the end of a second pipe, the male element including a male external thread, the female element including a female internal thread. The male and female threads are screwed one into the other. At least one of the male or female threads includes a groove formed in the thread and opening either into a stabbing flank or into a crest of the thread or straddling the stabbing flank and the thread crest. The groove is disposed in the thread so as to increase the flexibility of the portion of the thread which comes into pressure contact with the mating thread or to reduce the contact surfaces or to affect the two aspects at the same time.

Abstract: The invention concerns a threaded joint to be expanded, comprising a lip (5) at the end of the male element (1) and a housing for said lip on the female element (2) to make the threaded joint capable of being sealed and of having a maximum internal passage cross-section after being subjected to diametral expansion by more than 10%, the free male end surface (9) is socketed before expansion into a partially transverse shoulder surface (10) of the female housing through the matching rebating shapes of said surfaces and the male lip (5) outer peripheral surface (7) is arranged with little play of the internal peripheral surface (8) of the female housing (6). Such a threaded joint is particularly useful for casings and tubings used in oil wells.

Abstract: A process for the long-term preservation of DNA molecules and a packaging for practicing the same provides for extraction, purification and dehumidification of the DNA by any suitable technique carrying out an encapsulation in a sealed corrosion-proof metallic capsule of the DNA molecule.

Abstract: A threaded connection for two metal pipes which includes a tapered male thread with trapezoidal threads on a male element and a mating female thread on a female element. The thread width of the male and female threads, at the thread crest, is less than the thread width at the thread root. The width of the thread crests is larger than the width of a space between the roots of the mating threads. The male and female elements are screwed to a position located beyond that of the position where two flanks of the male threads come into contact with two flanks of the female threads. Such a connection permits makeup with a very high torque. The threads of one and/or the other of the threads can optionally include a groove opening into the thread crest.

Abstract: An integral threaded connection of two metal tubes includes a male element and a female element, each of the elements including a bearing surface, a tapered threading, a sealing surface, and an end surface. The end and bearing surfaces are flat and perpendicular to the XX connection axis. The male sealing surface is separated from the male threading by a lip that has an external tapered lip surface whose amount of taper is equal to that of the male threading and has a generatrix which is substantially a roughly extension of the tangent to the male thread roots. The distance between the end and bearing surfaces of a same element is adapted to the corresponding distance on the other element so that at the end of connection, the inner pair of bearing surfaces is abutted first.

Abstract: An integral or threaded and coupled connection between two metal pipes which are provided with an internal coating to contain a corrosive fluid. The male part of the connection includes a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion with the non-threaded portion having a metal sealing surface, an annular transverse bearing surface and a nose surface. The nose surface joins the internal peripheral surface of the pipe by way of an annular radial surface termed the internal end. The female part contains corresponding elements. A sealing ring is interposed between the annular internal end surfaces to prevent the liquid phase from penetrating into the connection. Male metal sealing surfaces are provided between the treaded portion and the bearing surface. A clearance is provided between the external peripheral surface of the nose and the facing internal reinforcing peripheral surface on the female part.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a tubular threaded joint provided with a device opposed to over-screwing or unscrewing. The joint includes a male component (3) with an external threading (8) and a female component (2) with internal threading (6), these two components capable of being assembled with predetermined amount of torque. A female portion (7) arranged beyond the female threading (19) and a male portion (13) arranged beyond the male threading (12) provide between their internal surface (14) and external surface (15) an annular zone in which one part at least forms a calibrated zone (20) in which an adhesive ensures mechanical connection between the female portion (7) and the male portion (13). Use of the joint particularly for the oil and gas industry.

Abstract: The invention concerns threaded joints for tubes, having a layer intended in particular to protect the tubes and the joints from corrosion or to improve the conditions for a flow of fluids. The joint comprises two tubular threaded components each provided with a radial annular surface. The internal wall of the components and the annular surfaces are covered with a layer. The shape of the annular surfaces is such that in the screwed state those surfaces are partially in abutment contact at their external portion, their internal portion creating a progressive opening zone which is at least partially filled by the layers of the two components.

Abstract: The threaded joint for tubes according to the invention concerns sealed end to end connections of metal tubes useable in particular in the petroleum industry. This joint comprises a sleeve provided with two housings with tapered threads into which are screwed the male extremities of two metal tubes provided with corresponding threads having non-threaded extremity zones the front walls of which abut one against the other, a clearance existing between the lateral walls of these zones and the annular wall of he sleeve opposite. Two pairs of male/female shoulder stops prevent over-screwing. The heights of the teeth of the male and female threads are identical.

Abstract: The joint according to the invention relates to a sealed connection between metal pipes used for producing petroleum tubings or casings. This joint comprises a sleeve fitted with two threaded housings suitable for receiving the male ends of two pipes. The end faces thereof come to bear one against the other inside the sleeve. An annular convex tapering zone near the end face of each pipe bears in a sealing manner against an annular concave tapering zone of the sleeve. Shoulder stops 16 ensure the centering of each male end.