Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Brian J Fielding

Tracy Alan Fowler

Xinyou Lu

David A Baker

Zhen Li

Philip J Summerfield

Deborah Jean Davis

David B Yost

Larry S Gale

Sushil K Mandot

A method of conveying a production fluid from an offshore subsea well to an offshore vessel includes deploying an inflatable bladder from the offshore vessel, the inflatable bladder including a bladder valve, and fluidly connecting the inflatable bladder to an offloading port positioned at a seafloor, wherein the offloading port includes a port valve and is in fluid communication with one or more subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formations. The method further includes opening the bladder and port valves to discharge the production fluid from the offloading port into the inflatable bladder, and thereby resulting in a substantially filled bladder, closing the bladder and port valves, and fluidly disconnecting the substantially filled bladder from the offloading port.

Riserless offshore production and storage system and related methods

A Vertical Annular Separation and Pumping System (VASPS) utilizing a outer annulus liquid discharge arrangement to replace a standard pump shroud associated with an electrical submersible pump. The outer annulus liquid discharge arrangement directs produced wellbore liquids around the electrical submersible pump motor to provide a cooling medium to prevent overheating and premature failure of the electrical submersible pump.

Vertical annular separation and pumping system with outer annulus liquid discharge arrangement

An apparatus and method for pressure testing one or more sections of a pipeline are provided. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first high pressure seal and a second high pressure seal adapted to isolate a test volume located within a section of the pipeline between the first and second high pressure seals. The apparatus also includes at least one flexible member connecting the first high pressure seal to the second high pressure seal, the at least one flexible member adapted to permit movement of the first high pressure seal relative to the second high pressure seal, allowing the apparatus to travel through a curvature in the pipeline.

Pipeline pressure tool

Apparatus and method for a steerable horizontal electric dipole source system for underwater deployment as a moving source in electromagnetic surveying of subsurface regions for hydrocarbons. Position locating sensors () are placed near each electrode (), and means () are provided for correcting the electrodes to be at the same elevation with azimuth aligned with the source tow line () and the electrode mid-point positioned over the source tow line, based on instantaneous location information from the sensors. The streamer () connecting the electrodes may also be monitored for shape by sensors, with corrections made by lateral and vertical control means disclosed herein. The invention can be applied to any marine streamer used in geophysical surveys, including a towed streamer () of electromagnetic or seismic receivers ().

Method to maintain towed dipole source orientation

A Vertical Annular Separation and Pumping System (VASPS) utilizing an isolation baffle to replace a standard pump shroud associated with an electrical submersible pump. The isolation baffle may be a one piece plate positioned so as to direct produced wellbore liquids around the electrical submersible pump motor to provide a cooling medium to prevent overheating and early failure of the electrical submersible pump.

Vertical annular separation and pumping system with integrated pump shroud and baffle

System and method for maintaining vertical alignment of the electrodes of a dipole antenna as it is towed submerged in water. The system includes a source of vertical tension on the antenna, a towline attachable to a tow vessel at one end and to a negatively buoyant tow body at the other, a source of balancing force to make the net vertical force on the antenna when submerged substantially zero, and at least two tag lines used in specified ways to connect the antenna to the tow body or directly to the towline.

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Luanda, Angola

Brian J Fielding