Shell Oil Comapny

Shell Offshore Inc.

Early B Denison

David Wayne McMillan

Richard Bruce McDaniel

Leon L Dickson

Gary L Marsh

Anders G Ekvall

Jean-Claude M Picard

A fairing system is disclosed for protecting a cylindrical marine element from drag and vortex induced vibration. A noncorrosive fairing shroud is rotatably mounted about the cylindrical marine element and defines an annular region between the exterior of the cylindrical marine element and the inside of the fairing shroud and at least one copper element is mounted at the annular region to discourage marine growth at the fairing shroud-cylindrical marine element interface. This enables the fairing to remain free to weathervane to orient most effectively with the current Another aspect of the present invention is a method for protecting a substantially cylindrical marine element from vortex-induced vibration in which a rotatable fairing is installed about the marine element and a marine growth inhibitor is mounted in active communication with the annular interface of the rotatable fairing and the cylindrical marine element.

Copper protected fairings

The present invention is a method for deploying a drilling riser VIV suppression system in which a first retaining ring is installed on a syntactic foam buoyancy module encircling the drilling riser with a spring loaded connection. The spring loaded connection is capable of adjusting the diameter of the retaining ring automatically to compensate for compression of the syntactic foam under the influence of water pressure. VIV suppression provisions is then installed about the drilling riser using the first retaining ring as a load shoulder.

Vortex induced vibration protection for deepwater drilling risers

A fairing system is disclosed for installation about a drilling riser deployed in a deepwater application. In another aspect of the invention, a method for deploying a drilling riser fairing system is disclosed in which a first retaining ring is installed on a buoyancy can encircling the drilling riser and a drilling riser fairings is installed above the first retaining ring. Drilling riser fairing installation folds a pair of fairing sides of a fairing shroud about an axially disposed hinge to surround the buoyancy can above the first retaining ring. A tail connection system secures the tail ends of the fairing sides together and a pair of struts are installed to further secure the fairing sides together. A plurality of interior bearing pads are provided on the internal circumference of the fairing shroud and axial bearing pads are provided on flanges at the upper and lower edges of the fairing shroud. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for stowing a drilling riser fairings is disclosed in which a lift harness is connected to lift eyes on the exterior of the fairing shroud and the tail connection system is released from the tail edge of the fairing sides. Struts are removed from the upper and lower flanges of the fairing sides which are then opened up about their hinged connection. The open fairing shroud is lifted and set down in a nested relationship with other removed fairing shrouds.

Fairings for deepwater drilling risers

A fairing system is disclosed for protecting multiple, parallel, bundled but separate cylindrical elements deployed in offshore applications. The fairing system deploys a plurality of elongated fairing surface elements foldable about an axis with a connection system joining the elongated edges of the fairing surface elements in a folded manner about the axis. A plurality of thrust bearings are orthogonally connected across the fairing surface elements at each axial end and an axially extending circular rotational surface is defined by the interior of each of the folded fairing surface elements and a transverse edge of the thrust bearings connected thereto. This rotational surface has a diameter which circumscribes the multiple bundled cylindrical elements. A plurality of clamps interconnect the bundled, cylindrical elements and a bearing collar on the axial ends of the clamps is provided to receive the thrust bearings of the axial ends of the fairing elements.

Fairings for drilling riser control pod hoses

An improved method for conducting offshore well operations is disclosed in which a compliant platform is installed adjacent a selected well site and an auxiliary vessel is temporarily docked to the compliant platform to provide for support for the well operations which will be produced through the compliant platform. In the practice of the improved method, the compliant platform is isolated from vertical loads upon the auxiliary vessel docked thereto during the performance of well operations conducted for the compliant platform by the offshore auxiliary vessel. Another aspect of the present invention is an improved system for restraining an offshore drilling vessel temporarily to a compliant platform which uses a slide-connection for isolating the compliant platform from vertical loads upon the offshore drilling vessel during the well operations.

Compliant platform with slide connection docking to auxiliary vessel

Method and apparatus for use in drilling a well from an offshore drilling vessel having a riser extending from the vessel down to a subsea wellhead. The apparatus of the invention comprises a flexible coupling installed in the riser's upper elements, with a tensioned cable connected between the flexible coupling and the vessel. The angle of misalignment of the riser's upper elements due to ocean currents impacting the riser and/or vessel may be maintained within acceptable limits by adjusting the tension applied to the flexible coupling.

Riser angle control apparatus and method

Method and apparatus for use in drilling a well from a floating vessel by means of a riser, which connects the vessels drilling equipment to a wellhead assembly adjacent the ocean floor. The riser is capable of being disconnected from the wellhead assembly, and having its upper end locked to the vessel. The present riser locking apparatus is made up of selectively-positionable resiliently-moveable locking beams adapted to be remotely actuated to lock the upper elements of the riser to the vessel, thereby preventing lateral or vertical movement of the riser relative to the vessel.

Drilling riser locking apparatus and method

Apparatus and method for use in drilling a well from a floating vessel by means of a riser, which connects the vessels drilling equipment to a wellhead assembly adjacent the ocean floor. The riser is capable of being disconnected from the wellhead assembly, and having its upper elements locked to the vessel. This allows the riser to be suspended from the floating vessel, or permits maintenance of the normal riser motion-compensating and tensioning equipment. Riser locking apparatus is employed which comprises selectively positionable moveable locking beams adapted to be remotely actuated to lock the upper elements of the riser to the vessel, thereby preventing lateral or vertical movement of the riser relative to the vessel after the lower end thereof has been disconnected from the wellhead assembly.

A method and apparatus for steering a rotary drilling operation wherein the magnitude and direction of the side force on the bit is measured and used to control the weight on the bit and the rotary speed. The side force on the bit is determined by disposing strain gauges on a cylindrical member above the bit and making instantaneous measurements. The direction of the force is determined from sensors disposed adjacent the bit to determine the orientation and inclination of the bit simultaneously with the force measurements. The information is transmitted to the surface where a computer can compare the measurements with a model of the drill string and determine the proper bit weight and rotary speed.

Steering drill string

In logging a well substantially as soon as it is drilled, at least one measuring transducer and a transducer-moving system are mounted within a lower portion of a segmented electrically-conductive drill string. At least one downhole transducer is moved in response to an electrical command and is held near or against the borehole wall while the drill string is raised and a recording is made of electrical signals indicative of both the downhole transducer measurements and the distance the drill string is raised.

Logging while raising a drill string

A portable, hand-held cleaner for cleaning the box and pin ends of a joint of drill pipe using only high-pressure water. The cleaner includes a tubular housing having a plurality of spray nozzles disposed to create a swirling water jet that thoroughly cleans the threads and mating shoulders of the box and pin without requiring the use of solvents or mechanical means, such as brushes.

Tool joint cleaner

A remotely operated connector for electrically and mechanically coupling a wireline to a connector located at the bottom of a drill string. The connector includes a spring-actuated jar that facilitates the release of the connector.

Downhole connector for use with drill string telemetering system

A method and apparatus for telemetering information from the bottom of a borehole to the surface while drilling wherein a wireline is used to transmit the information from the bottom of the borehole to an intermediate position in the drill string, and a special drilling string, having an insulated electrical conductor, is used to transmit the information from the intermediate position to the surface. In an alternate arrangement, an electro-magnetic method may be used to transmit information from the intermediate position to the surface. There is also disclosed special equipment that permits removal of the jumper wire from the surface without removing the drill string from the borehold.

Drill string telemeter system

A combination saver sub, kelly and lower kelly cock for use with a drill string having a hard wired telemetering system installed therein. The combination includes a hard wired circuit for extending the circuit from the top of the drill pipe to a slip ring assembly mounted on the kelly.

Kelly and kelly cock assembly for hard-wired telemetry system

An improved pipe section for use in a telemetering drill string in which each pipe section contains an insulated electrical conductor extending between insulated electrical connectors in the pipe joints. The improvement comprises encasing the conductor and insulating material in a fluid-tight metal conduit to isolate them from the fluid in or around the drill string when the pipe sections are interconnected.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Early B Denison