Trendsetter Engineering, Inc.

Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore, Inc.

Brent Cox

James V Maher

Mario R Lugo

David Older

Elizbar Buba Kebadze

John D Henderson

Jeffrey Partridge

Teng Pin Lee

Kevin Poling

Jay Bullard

Stephen Kruppa

A subsea grease injection system has a grease accumulator containing a supply of grease, a hydraulic accumulator, a flowline connected to an outlet of the grease accumulator so as to allow discharge of grease from the supply to flow therethrough, and a subsea structure connected to the flowline. The hydraulic accumulator is in fluid communication with the grease accumulator such that the displacement of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic accumulator causes a corresponding discharge of grease from the grease accumulator. The subsea structure receives grease from the flowline. The grease accumulator is a piston and cylinder in which the piston is received in the cylinder to define first and second compartments. The supply of grease is in the first compartment. The hydraulic fluid fills an interior of the second compartment. This avoids the use of hydraulic conduits from the surface such that only power and communications are from the surface.

Subsea grease injection system

A system for tethering a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) includes a plurality of anchors disposed about the subsea BOP and secured to the sea floor, a plurality of tensioning systems, and a plurality of flexible tension members. Each tensioning system is coupled to a frame of the BOP and is configured to apply a tensile preload to one of the tension members. Each tension member is coupled to one of the anchors and extends from a first end coupled to one of the tensioning systems to a second end coupled to an anchor.

Systems and methods for tethering subsea structure mounted on a wellhead

A pile top assembly includes an adapter configured to couple to an upper end of a subsea anchor, a tensioning system mounted on an upper end of the adapter, and a flexible tension member having a first end coupled to the tensioning system. The tensioning system is operable to pay in and pay out the flexible tension member relative to the tensioning system. The pile top assembly further includes means coupled to the adapter for selectively engaging the upper end of the subsea anchor.

A subsea connection system for connecting to a hub has a body with an interior passageway, a collet having a plurality of collet segments, an outer sleeve overlying the collet, and a poppet valve assembly positioned within the interior passageway of the body. The plurality of collet segments are movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The poppet valve assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position in which the open position allows a fluid to flow through the interior passageway and the closed position blocks a flow of fluid through the interior passageway. The outer sleeve is movable so as to cause the plurality of collet segments to join to a hub.

Poppet assembly for use in a subsea connection system

A gasket for use with flanges has an annular member formed of a metallic material. The annular member has a cross-sectional profile with a body portion having an end surface, a first side, a second side, and a T-shaped portion extending from the body portion. The T-shaped portion of the body portion defines a pair of annular grooves on opposite sides of the annular member. The T-shaped portion has a central portion connected to the body portion and a head portion at an end of the central portion opposite the body portion. The central portion of the T-shaped portion has a weep hole extending therethrough. The weep hole has opposite ends opening respectively to the pair of annular grooves.

Gasket for use in sealing flanges together

A subsea connector system having ejection capability has a first connector with a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom and a second connector. The second connector has a hub, a housing extending around the hub, and an actuator mounted on or in the housing. The actuator is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The actuator bears on the flange of the first connector when in the extended position so as to allow the second connector to be disengaged from the first connector. The first connector is a plurality of collet segments engageable with the hub of the second connector. The actuator causes the plurality of collet segments to separate from the hub when the actuator is in the extended position.

Subsea collet connection system having ejection and secondary unlocking capability

A subsea connection system for connecting to a hub of a subsea structure has an outer sleeve, a collet having a plurality of collet segments in which the collet segments are movable between a lock position and an unlock position, a connection hub positioned in the interior of the hollow sleeve such that the collet extends around the connection hub, and a translation mechanism cooperative with the outer sleeve so as to move the outer sleeve between a forward position and a rearward position. The connection hub is suitable for abutting the hub of the subsea structure when the plurality of collet segments are in the lock position. The plurality of collet segments are in the unlock position when the outer sleeve is in the forward position. The plurality of collet segments are in the lock position when the outer sleeve is in the rearward position.

Collet connection system for a subsea structure

A subsea chemical injection system has a subsea structure, a manifold connected by jumper to the subsea structure, a coiled tubing, a disconnect mechanism affixed to the coiled tubing, and a hose extending from the disconnect mechanism to the manifold such that the chemical flowing through the coil tubing can selectively flow through the disconnect mechanism and through the hose to the subsea structure. The disconnect mechanism is adapted to selectively release from the hose. The disconnect mechanism has a connector affixed thereto. A hydraulic fluid supply is connected to the connector so as to selectively release the connector from the hose. Control lines can extend from a surface location to a control module and the disconnect mechanism for selectively delivering for receiving signals from the subsea structure.

Subsea chemical injection system

A subsea connection system for connecting to a hub has a body with an interior passageway suitable for allowing fluids to flow therethrough, a collet having a plurality of collet segments that are movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, an outer sleeve overlying the collet, and a translator cooperative at the outer sleeve so as to move the outer sleeve between a first position and a second position. The plurality of collet segments are in the unlocked position when the outer sleeve is in the first position. The plurality of collet segments are in the locked position when the outer sleeve is in the second position. The locked position is adapted to secure the body in connection with the hub.

Subsea collet connection system

A system for tethering a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) includes a plurality of anchors disposed about the subsea BOP and secured to the sea floor. In addition, the system includes a plurality of tensioning systems. One tensioning system is coupled to an upper end of each anchor. Further, the system includes a plurality of flexible tension members. Each tension member extends from a first end coupled to the subsea BOP to a second end coupled to one of the tensioning systems. Each tensioning system is configured to apply a tensile preload to one of the tension members.

Systems and methods for tethering subsea blowout preventers to enhance the strength and fatigue resistance of subsea wellheads and primary conductors

An apparatus for causing an indication of a connector of a subsea structure has a lifting structure pivotally affixed adjacent an upper end of the subsea structure, an extension extending outwardly adjacent a bottom of the subsea structure and an inclination tool cooperative with the extension so as to move the lower end of the subsea structure in an angular direction offset from horizontal. The inclination tool has a ratchet mechanism cooperative with a line extending from the lifting structure. Hydraulic actuators serve to draw the ratchet mechanism upwardly in a direction toward the lifting structure.

Apparatus and method for adjusting an angular orientation of a subsea structure

A method of protecting an integrity of a wellhead includes the steps of affixing a subsea structure to the wellhead, installing a plurality of piles into the subsea floor adjacent the wellhead, extending lines between the subsea structure and the piles, and tensioning the lines such that each of the lines applies tension to the subsea structure. The plurality of lines are secured to an upper portion of the subsea structure. The tensioning mechanism has a tensioning cylinder having a ratchet rod extending therefrom. The ratchet rod is connected to either the line, the pile or the subsea structure.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Brent Cox