Conoco Inc.

Continental Oil Company

Henry A Bourne, Jr

Mamdouh M Salama

Gifford G McClaflin

Donald L Whitfill

Arthur W Morton

Tibor O Edmond

Louis M Ayers

Minor R Wiseman

A long pipeline is constructed at an on-shore site and is supported by floatable ground engaging supports. The pipeline is launched into a body of water while maintaining a tension load on the pipeline to hold it above the floor of the body of water. The floatable supports are retrieved after the pipeline is launched.

Method of launching long pipelines and retrieving support means therefor

Disclosed is a process whereby heavy, viscous crude oil may be produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation utilizing a jet pump without the problems associated with cavitation damage of the jet pump found in the prior art. The jet pump is operated with a power fluid comprising water and surfactant, the power fluid forming an emulsion with the heavy, viscous crude oil in the jet stream of the jet pump.

Method for producing heavy, viscous crude oil

An improved deflecting device is provided for a drilling apparatus having a rotatable drill shaft extending from a power source through said deflection device to a drill bit. The deflection device includes an outer housing affixed to the power source and extending axially therefrom. An inner ring is disposed within the housing and encompasses a portion of the drill shaft. An intermediate ring is disposed between the outer housing and the inner ring and has an inner configuration such that the inner ring is immovable relative to the intermediate ring in a first direction, and is prevented from rotating relative to said intermediate ring about an axis parallel to a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, and such that said inner ring is movable relative to the intermediate ring in said second direction. The intermediate ring is movable in the first direction relative to the outer housing, and is prevented from rotating relative to said outer housing about an axis parallel to said first direction. First and third opposed hydraulic rams are provided for positioning the intermediate ring relative to the outer housing in the first direction. Second and fourth opposed hydraulic rams are provided to position the inner ring relative to the intermediate ring in the second direction. A sequencing valve selectively directs hydraulic fluid under pressure to any one of said first, second, third and fourth hydraulic rams or to any transverse pair of said hydraulic rams.

Control system for a drilling apparatus

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for mooring a tension leg platform. The platform is positioned over an anchor means attached to the ocean floor. A plurality of guidelines or cables, attached to the anchor means, are called to the surface by means of acoustic recall buoys which are attached to a free end of the guide cables. The guide cables are then connected to the floating platform. Tension legs, each including a plurality of tubular leg elements threaded at each end, with threaded couplings connecting adjacent leg elements, are then lowered from the floating platform. Guide means connected between the tension legs and the guide cables direct the tension legs toward the anchor means on the ocean floor. A hydraulically actuated wellhead connector is connected to a lower end of the tension leg. The wellhead connector engages a wellhead body attached to the anchor means, and is locked thereto upon the sending of a hydraulic signal to the wellhead connector. The hydraulic signal is directed to the wellhead connector through the tubular tension leg. After the tension legs are connected between the anchor means and the floating platform, the floating platform is deballasted to apply a tensile load to the tension legs.

Mooring system for tension leg platform

A wireline retrievable, subsurface tubing safety valve that is opened and held open by the transmission of electric current from the surface. Interruption of the current supply results in automatic closure of the valve. The device includes a pressure equalizing valve which enables the valve to be opened against a high differential pressure.

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Ponca City, OK, United States of America

Henry A Bourne, Jr