Nl Industries

Douglas W Nayler

Willard D Childs

Fred R Foreman

John D Smith

Sheldon L Kovit

James W Albert

Eugene S Matsuda

Michael R Scalf, Sr

Bruce E Beakley

Bryan K Yam

Fred C Tilker

Howard J Bates

Gerald W Gilson

Apparatus for controlling fluid communication with a fluid pressure system includes parallel flow paths connected to the system. A first flow path includes first valve apparatus for selectively closing the flow path. The second flow path includes relief valve apparatus responsive to fluid pressure in the second flow path to move from a closed configuration to an open configuration. Switching apparatus, including sensors for detecting the condition of the system, operate to close the first valve apparatus in response to pre-determined threshold values of such condition. Fluid communication from the system may thereafter occur along the second flow path at the relief valve apparatus opens in response to pressure buildup in the flow path. A third flow path, parallel to the first two flow paths, may be provided with throttling apparatus for controlled communication of fluid along such third flow path.

Tensioner recoil control apparatus

A speed control valve is formed with a pair of cooperating inversely operating dashpots to control movement of a valve element in either direction so as to prevent sudden actuation upon change in fluid velocity or oscillation due to fluid flow changes. Bleeding of fluid into and out of the dashpots controls the speed of movement of the valve element.

Speed control valve

Disclosed is a compensator applicable for use with a traveling block supported from a mast, derrick or the like by means of a crown block wherein the traveling block may be utilized for supporting objects. Two fluid pressure piston-and-cylinder assemblies are arrayed on opposite sides of a line of travel of the traveling block relative to the crown block so that a flexible line positioned about the sheaves of both blocks passes over a pulley supported by one fluid pressure assembly to one side of the line of travel and, on the other side, the flexible line passes over a pulley supported by the other fluid pressure assembly. One end of the flexible line may be anchored relative to the mast as a deadline while the line at its other end may be selectively retracted or payed out by a drawworks or the like fixed relative to the mast. In one embodiment, the pulleys are carried by a carriage which is carried by the fluid pressure assemblies. The crown block is supported by flexible lines passing over pulleys also supported by the fluid pressure assemblies. In another embodiment, the fluid pressure assemblies directly support the crown block, and pulley assemblies are supported by flexible lines between the crown block and the mast, and include pulleys over which the flexible line connecting the two blocks passes. With the drawworks holding the first flexible line fixed, the crown block and the traveling block may move in unison relative to the mast with proportional reciprocable movement on behalf of each of the fluid pressure assemblies while the traveling block remains stationary relative to the crown block. Operation of the drawworks to retract or pay out the line results in manipulation of the traveling block relative to the crown block regardless of movement of the two blocks relative to the mast.

Crown block compensator

Disclosed is a compensator applicable for use with a traveling block supported from a mast, derrick or the like by means of a crown block wherein the traveling block may be utilized for supporting objects. Two fluid pressure piston-and-cylinder assemblies are arrayed on opposite sides of a line of travel of the traveling block relative to the crown block so that a flexible line positioned about the sheaves of both blocks passes over a pulley supported by one fluid pressure assembly to one side of the line of travel and, on the other side, the flexible line passes over a pulley supported by the other fluid pressure assembly. One end of the flexible line may be anchored relative to the mast as a deadline while the line at its other end may be selectively retracted or payed out by a drawworks or the like fixed relative to the mast. The crown block is supported by flexible lines passing over pulleys also supported by the fluid pressure assemblies. With the drawworks holding the first flexible line fixed, the crown block and the traveling block may move in unison relative to the mast with proportional reciprocable movement on behalf of each of the fluid pressure assemblies while the traveling block remains stationary relative to the crown block. Operation of the drawworks to retract or pay out the line results in manipulation of the traveling block relative to the crown block regardless of movement of the two blocks relative to the mast.

A motion compensator for disposition between an offshore support structure and an offshore well structure movable with respect thereto comprises a compensator assembly interconnected with the support structure and the well structure such that relative movement between said structures will cause movement within the compensator assembly, and a position indicator including a cam assembly for measuring the relative movement within the compensator assembly, and a transducer operatively associated with the cam assembly for translating its measurements into a signal.

Position indicator for drill string compensator

The invention pertains to motion compensators and compensator systems, particularly adapted for disposition between an offshore platform and a riser or conductor pipe. Each compensator includes a cylinder with a piston reciprocably mounted therein, the piston rod protruding from one end of the cylinder. That one end of the cylinder is directed toward and connected to either the platform or the riser pipe, with its other end being directed toward the other of those two bodies. Link rods are independently connected to the protruding part of the piston rod and extend longitudinally toward said other end of the cylinder for connection to said other of the two bodies. A compressible fluid is disposed between the piston and said other end of the cylinder to resist movement of the piston toward said other end and thereby resist movement of the platform and the riser pipe away from each other.

Motion compensator system

A motion compensator for disposition between an offshore support and an offshore well string or the like movable with respect to the support comprises first and second compensator bodies interconnected with the support and the well string such that relative movement between the support and well string causes relative movement between the compensator bodies. The compensator bodies are further interconnected with each other for relative movement in generally vertical directional modes. A compressible fluid or the like is associated with the compensator bodies for resiliently resisting relative movement therebetween in a first directional mode. A position indicator associated with the compensator bodies comprises a flexible vessel having one end connected to one of the compensator bodies and the other end connected to the other compensator body generally below the one end. The vessel is filled with a liquid between its two ends, and a pressure sensitive transmitter is associated with the lower end and operative to produce a signal which is a function of the hydraulic head at said lower end.

Motion compensator with improved position indicator

The invention pertains to apparatus for connecting to a wellhead structure. Lower and upper female bodies define first and second receptacles disposed generally in coaxially aligned, end-to-end, communicative relation. A male body is received in both receptacles. The male body and upper female body have respective sets of inductive electric couplers matched in one-to-one relation. Several features facilitate effective use of such couplers: the couplers themselves have the edges of their heads chamfered from a point located just outwardly of the O.D's of their cores; an improved mounting arrangement aligns the two female bodies in stacked relation without the lower female body interfering with proper seating of the male body in the upper female body; an improved compensator system enhances play of one female body for precise centering with the other.

Underwater wellhead connector

A guide roller assembly is disclosed for use with vertically moving members such as in offshore drilling rigs. The assembly preferably includes a pair of guide rollers which are supported on a cylindrical, rotational mounting shaft, with a biasing means applying a torque to the shaft in order to maintain the guide rollers adjacent respective guide surfaces. An adjustment subassembly is provided to vary the position of the guide rollers with respect to the guide surfaces. This subassembly includes a tubular support which has an elongated circular opening receiving the cylindrical mounting shaft and which is mounted in a circular bore. The circular opening of the support is eccentric with respect to the circular bore, such that rotation of the support adjusts the position of the shaft and rollers.

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Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

Douglas W Nayler