Shell Oil Comapny

Other

David Wayne McMillan

Donald Wayne Allen

Richard Bruce McDaniel

Dean Leroy Henning

Early B Denison

Stephen W Balint

Stephen P Armstrong

Kenneth Dupal

Li Lee

Dennis E Walker

Bobby E Cox

Raghunath Gopal Menon

Joe H Haws

Ferdinand Joseph Fischer, Iii

Christopher Steven West

Kenneth Loch

Howard Ray Mitschke

Anders Gustaf Conny Ekvall

Methods and apparatus for the installation of VIV suppression during the S-Lay installation of a subsea pipeline. A locking member will be interposed between a pipe and a fairing rotatably mounted on the pipe, sufficient to bias the fairing against rotating. Upon marine application, the locking member will degrade, thereby releasing the fairing.

Methods and apparatus for installation of VIV suppression during installation of marine pipeline

There is disclosed a current tank system comprising a first current tank adapted to produce a first current in a first direction; a second current tank adapted to rotate to produce a second current in a second direction; a sample adapted to be exposed to the first current and the second current.

Current tank systems and methods

Apparatus and methods for remotely installing vortex-induced vibration (VIV) reduction and drag reduction devices on elongated structures in flowing fluid environments. The apparatus is a tool for transporting and installing the devices. The devices installed can include clamshell-shaped strakes, shrouds, fairings, sleeves and flotation modules.

Apparatus and methods for remote installation of devices for reducing drag and vortex induced vibration

Sensors, including fiber optic sensors and their umbilicals, are mounted on support structures designed to be retro-fitted to in-place structures, including subsea structures. The sensor support structures are designed to monitor structure conditions, including strain, temperature, and in the instance of pipelines, the existence of production slugs. Moreover the support structures are designed for installation in harsh environments, such as deep water conditions using remotely operated vehicles.

Apparatus and method for retroactively installing sensors on marine elements

Apparatus for suppressing vortex induced vibrations on a marine element of a riser system wherein the riser system comprises at least one umbilical element. Systems comprising and methods of using said apparatus to suppress vortex induced vibrations. The apparatus, systems, and methods comprise module elements which provide: i) a surface around a marine element for installing VIV suppression devices; and ii) passages for housing the at least one umbilical element.

Apparatus and methods for providing VIV suppression to a riser system comprising umbilical elements

A method for controlling drag and vortex induced vibration in a substantially cylindrical element by providing an ultra-smooth surface about the cylindrical element. The system for controlling drag and vortex induced vibration utilizes a substantially cylindrical marine element having an ultra-smooth effective surface.

Smooth sleeves for drag and VIV reduction of cylindrical structures

Methods for remotely installing vortex-induced vibration (VIV) reduction and drag reduction devices on elongated structures in flowing fluid environments. The devices installed can include clamshell-shaped strakes, shrouds, fairings, sleeves and flotation modules.

Methods for remote installation of devices for reducing drag and vortex induced vibration

Apparatus for remote installation of devices for reducing drag and vortex induced vibration

Apparatus for controlling drag and vortex-induced vibration exerted onto a substantially cylindrical element of a fixed position subjected to a fluid flowing environment. Apparatus of the invention comprise a sleeve comprising an ultra-smooth surface. Methods for installing such apparatus onto cylindrical elements, and systems for controlling drag and vortex-induced vibrations in which a substantially cylindrical marine element has an ultra-smooth effective surface.

Methods and systems for reducing drag and vortex-induced vibrations on cylindrical structures

Apparatus and methods for suppressing vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of aquatic elements of underwater structures. The system includes use of a sleeve positioned around at least a portion of an aquatic element and at least one strake positioned along at least a portion of the length of the aquatic member. The apparatus further comprises copper to suppress the growth of aquatic organisms.

Apparatus for suppression of vortex induced vibration without aquatic fouling and methods of installation

A partial helical strake system and method for suppressing vortex-induced-vibration of a substantially cylindrical marine element, the strake system having a base connected to the cylindrical marine element and an array of helical strakes projecting from the base for about half or less of the circumference of the cylindrical marine element.

Partial helical strake for vortex-induced-vibrationsuppression

A spar platform is disclosed having a deck, a buoyant tank assembly supporting the deck, and a counterweight. A counterweight spacing structure connects the counterweight to the buoyant tank assembly. The buoyant tank assembly has a first buoyant section connected to the deck and a second buoyant section disposed beneath and axially vertically aligned with the first buoyant section. The second buoyant section has a substatially larger diameter than the first buoyant section and a buoyant section spacing structure connects the first and second buoyant sections in a manner providing a horizontally extending vertical gap therebetween. Another aspect of the invention is a method for reducing VIV in spar platform by providing a substantially open horizontally extending vertical gap in the cylindrical buoyant tank assembly between a first buoyant section and a second buoyant section. The first and second buoyant sections are vertically aligned and are selected to combine first and second buoyant sections of substantially different diameters.

Spar platform

The present invention is a spar platform having a deck supported by a buoyant tank assembly having a first buoyant section connected to the deck, a second buoyant section disposed beneath the first buoyant section; and a buoyant section spacing structure connecting the first and second buoyant sections in manner providing a horizontally extending vertical gap therebetween. A counterweight is connected to the buoyant tank assembly through a counterweight spacing structure.

Spar platform with spaced buoyancy

A method for reducing VIV is disclosed for a spar platform having a deck, a cylindrical hull having a buoyant tank assembly, a counterweight and an counterweight spacing structure. The overall aspect ratio of the hull is reduced by providing one or more abrupt changes in hull diameter below the waterline.

Growing community of inventors

Deer Park, TX, United States of America

David Wayne McMillan