Cameron International Corporation

Andrew Jaffrey

Emanuel John Gottlieb

Gerrit Kroesen

Salvador Reyes

John Mangan

Donald Roy Augenstein

Kody Carrillo

Edward C Gaude

Brian Matteucci

Mark Saunders

Kartik Subramanian

Michael H Lampe

Claire Hammett

Edward Cates

Andy McNaney

Hyrum Salvador Hilario

Jon Davies

The present disclosure relates generally to a well boring apparatus, and associated components, for drilling wellbores without the necessity of traditional well drilling equipment. The well boring apparatus operates on similar principles as a tunnel boring apparatus. The well boring apparatus is self-propelled, steerable, and can be launched from a topside vessel or directly from a seabed installation. The well boring apparatus is fully instrumented and capable of analyzing the surrounding environment including the temperature, pressure, acidity and the presence of particular chemicals. The well boring apparatus is highly modular such that it can be configured for different tasks. The well boring apparatus can include components to case/line the wellbore during drilling, eliminating the need for running casing/lining. Further, the well boring apparatus can be incorporated in a drilling system in which cuttings are processed at the seabed, thereby removing the need for a drilling riser.

Seabed drilling system

An annular blowout preventer (BOP) includes a housing comprising a bore extending through the housing, an annular sealing element configured to be displaced inwardly into the housing bore, and an actuating member configured to be actuated radially or perpendicularly with respect to an axis of the annular sealing element to compress the annular sealing element inwardly into the housing bore.

Annual blowout preventer with radial actuating member

A navigation system includes a support structure configured to be positioned at a sea floor. The navigation system also includes multiple transducers coupled to the support structure at fixed locations and configured to emit multiple reference signals. The navigation system further includes a transducer coupled to a movable subsea vessel and configured to receive the plurality of reference signals. A controller includes a processor and a memory, and the processor is configured to determine a position of the movable subsea vessel relative to the support structure based on the multiple reference signals.

Subsea navigation systems and methods

An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a seal, such as a seal in a blowout preventer or in another oilfield device, is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a blowout preventer including a seal and a blowout preventer seal-monitoring system that includes a sensor positioned within a body of the seal and a data analyzer. The data analyzer has a processor and is configured to monitor a condition of the seal through analysis of data received by the data analyzer from the sensor positioned within the body of the seal. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Smart seal methods and systems

An apparatus and method for monitoring valve operation. In one embodiment, an apparatus for monitoring valve operation includes a first acoustic sensor and a monitoring system. The first acoustic sensor is to couple to a valve to detect vibration of the valve. The monitoring system is communicatively coupled to the first acoustic sensor. The monitoring system is configured to receive a signal generated by the first acoustic sensor. The signal is representative of vibration of the valve. The monitoring system is also configured to identify leakage in the valve based on the signal.

Apparatus and method for monitoring valve operation

A monitoring system includes a subsea laboratory configured to be positioned and operated below a sea surface. The subsea laboratory includes a housing, a fluid chamber within the housing and configured to receive a fluid from subsea drilling or production equipment, and a sensor within the housing and configured to generate a signal indicative of a characteristic of the fluid. The monitoring system also includes a controller having a processor configured to receive and to process the signal to determine the characteristic of the fluid, to determine an appropriate output based on the characteristic of the fluid, and to provide a control signal that causes an indication of the output via a user interface of a remote base station positioned above the sea surface.

Fluid monitoring systems and methods

A blow out preventer ('BOP') includes a vertical bore extending through the body, a ram cavity intersecting the bore, and a port located below the ram cavity. A sensor assembly is locatable in the port and is configured to monitor the position of at least one opposing ram contained in the BOP. At least one of the rams includes a detection feature on a lower surface of the ram which is distinguishable from the rest of the ram body, other features of the BOP, and any debris in the bore of the BOP. The detection feature is detectable by the sensor assembly. The detection feature may include a visual indicator.

Assembly and method for monitoring position of blowout preventer rams

The present disclosure relates generally to data communication in subsea oil and gas drilling and production operations. In particular, data communication from sensors located on a piece of subsea oil and gas drilling and/or production equipment to a remote location, such as to a demodulation system, is disclosed. The data communication system can include sensors for measuring various characteristics of the subsea equipment, for coding the measured data into a signal, for transmitting the signal, and for ultimately decoding the signal. The signal is transmitted along the structures which provide the containment for existing hydraulic fluid lines associated with the subsea equipment by a variety of methods, such as by pulse position modulation and/or reverse time pulse position modulation. The communication system can further include a local power generator assembly to power associated sensors and transmitters.

System for communicating data via fluid lines

A system and method to monitor a cable using noise-domain reflectometry. A receiver is configured to receive a signal and a reflection of the signal transmitted through the cable. The reflection of the signal can be indicative of a fault condition relating to the integrity of the cable. A processor is in communication with the receiver and configured to analyze the signal and the reflection using noise-domain reflectometry and determine the fault condition of the cable.

Cable monitoring system and method using noise-domain reflectometry

Seals with embedded sensors

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a drilling fluid system that includes a conduit configured to convey a fluid from a first sub-system of the drilling fluid system to a second sub-system of the drilling fluid system, an ultrasonic measurement system configured to determine a flow rate of the fluid in the conduit, and a controller configured to receive feedback from the ultrasonic measurement system and to adjust one or more operating parameters of the drilling fluid system based at least on the feedback.

Drilling fluid measurement system

A piezoelectric power generator assembly includes a housing, a piezoelectric transducer located in the housing, and a piston located in the housing. The piston is movable with respect to the housing and is configured to be moved into contact with the piezoelectric transducer, and the piezoelectric transducer is configured to generate an electrical charge when contacted by the piston.

Piezoelectric generator for hydraulic systems

An apparatus for characterizing objects in the bore of a well assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a sensing array including ultrasonic transducers and a data analyzer coupled to receive input from the sensing array. The sensing array is positioned to transmit ultrasonic waves into the bore of a well assembly and to receive ultrasonic waves from the bore. The data analyzer processes data representative of ultrasonic waves received by the sensing array to identify a location of a component in the bore. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Bore object characterization system for well assemblies

An apparatus includes a blowout preventer housing comprising a bore extending through the blowout preventer housing and an inflatable element positionable within the blowout preventer housing and comprising an internal cavity. The internal cavity is configured to receive fluid pressure to expand the inflatable element and facilitate forming a seal within the blowout preventer housing.

Blowout preventer with inflatable element

A subsea electronic information system for managing data related to a characteristic of subsea equipment locatable subsea. The system includes sensors locatable subsea and in communication with and capable of measuring a characteristic of the subsea equipment. A sensor interface box (SIB) separate from the sensors and locatable subsea includes a processor and a memory device capable of receiving and storing sensor measurement data. Additionally, the SIB is in data and power communication with the sensors. The system further includes a subsea retrievable data capsule capable of recording all system data over a long period. The capsule may be recovered from subsea (independently of the other elements of the information system) for forensic analysis of the recorded data.

Growing community of inventors

Oldmeldrum, United Kingdom

Andrew Jaffrey