Other

Exxon Production Research Company

Rri Holdings, Inc.

Automatic Power, Inc.

Cso Aker Maritime, Inc.

Larry Rayner Russell

Phillip Andrew Abbott

Tommie Carroll Gipson

Kevin T Corbett

John L Evans

Elizabeth R Hall

Jesse R Sanders

Barbara L Thompson

Andrew C Barnett, Jr

A drillstring combination pressure reducing and signaling valve assembly uses multiple ball valves mounted in parallel, each having a different bore, to meter the flow through a drillstring. The individual ball valves are maintained in either a fully open or a fully closed position, but can be selectively moved between these two positions. The bores of the individual ball valves are sized so that at a given pressure, a first ball valve has a predetermined flow rate, a second ball valve has twice the flow rate of the first ball valve, a third ball valve has twice the flow rate of the second ball valve, and the remaining ball valves each have twice the flow rate of their predecessor in the valve sequence. This arrangement permits the flow rate and flow pressure drop through the assembly of valves to be digitally controlled by varying the combination of open and closed valves. In addition, another ball valve serving as a signaling valve is rapidly shifted either between a closed position, an open position, and back to a closed position. The signaling valve serves as a bidirectional signaling valve by relaying sensed pressure pulse signals emanating from either above or below the signaling valve past the valve assembly. Alternatively, the additional ball valve can be rapidly shifted between an initial open position to a closed position and then to a final open position. Pressure sensing is provided both above and below the valve assembly, and operative and control means are provided for the valve assembly.

Drillstring combination pressure reducing and signaling valve

A method and apparatus for controlling fluid flow with a quarter-turn ball valve with seats operated to lift off the sealing surface of the ball valve prior to ball rotation and to reseat upon completion of the ball rotation. One embodiment shown relates to a quarter-turn ball valve having a rotatable cam with an eccentric camming disk that engages a cam pocket in the ball seats to reciprocally lift off the sealing surface of the ball valve prior to ball rotation and to reseat upon completion of the ball rotation. An embodiment is also shown that provides filler pieces that restrict that flow around the ball valve whenever the ball seats are lifted off the surface of the ball valve.

Quarter turn ball valve with lift-off seats

A self piloted check valve which utilizes closure of a piloting flapper valve to permit development of closure forces for a ball valve. The normally open ball valve has a central flow passage and simultaneously rotates and translates as it traverses between its fully open and fully closed positions. An opening bias system utilizes a combination of a first less stiff spring and a second stiffer spring. Reversible decoupling means disconnects and reconnects the second spring at a short travel distance from the normally open position of the ball, while the first spring always provides opening bias forces to the ball. The pressure induced force required to fully close the ball valve following decoupling of the second spring is more than the force required to overcome the combination of the first and second springs. Additionally, while the secondary spring is engaged, hydrodynamic damping of the ball opening movement is provided.

Self piloted check valve

A selectably operable passive gripping device for gripping tubular materials has an elastomeric element which is provided with integrally bonded segmented end rings to prevent the extrusion of the elastomer when it is subjected to high compressive loads. The elastomeric element is molded so that its as-molded gripping surface interferes with the surface of tubular objects to be gripped. The elastomeric gripping element is mounted and supported by a structural element or housing and allows axial flow communication through the gripped tubular objects. The gripping device is used to lift tubular objects such as a tubular string used in oil field applications.

Stretchable elastomeric tubular gripping device

Gripping device for tubular objects

A threaded tubing end assembly having a tubing with a transverse first end, a tubing through bore, and a longitudinal weld seam; a threaded adapter having an adapter through bore, and an adapter body having a threaded first end having a male thread and an opposed second end with an external transverse shoulder surrounding a reduced diameter elongated shank with an external longitudinal slot; a circumferential weld; and a longitudinal weld.

Threaded end connector attachment for an end of a tube

The present invention is a lubrication system for movable pins connecting pivotable structural members of a deepwater floating oilfield production platform. The lubrication provides adequate lubrication for easing movement of the pins and also for maintaining the long-term functionality of the pins by reducing the corrosion of the pin assemblies. The lubrication of each of the pins is provided by a closed loop circulation system that provides sufficient flow and pressure to establish hydrostatic bearings around the bearing surfaces of the pin-connected members that are being axially assembled and between pin-connected members that are being rotated relative to each other. The lubrication system provides for continuously lubricating a static pinned connection for the purpose of preventing water intrusion and subsequent corrosion. Furthermore, the lubrication system provides a means for ensuring the lubrication of the most highly loaded zones of a laterally loaded pin connection.

Lubrication system for pin connections

The present invention provides a hot tap machine having independent speed drives for the center drill and the holesaw that can be remotely operated. The hot tap machine of the present invention also has improved vibratory damping and coupon stability and retention. During operation, the machine cartridge holding the machine internal assemblies of the hot tap machine of the present invention is, except for its controls and external support systems, entirely contained within its pressure containment housing which is sealingly attached to the hot tap fitting on the pipe. An advantage in the operation of the present invention is the independence of the center drilling operation and the pipe coupon cutting operation.

Hot tap machine

The present invention relates to pins that may be selectably operated to engage and disengage socket bores in the assembly and disassembly of large structures, such as floating offshore platforms for deepwater applications. The pin connections can be engaged or disengaged robotically or under direct operator control. The construction and installation of structures utilizing the pin connections will typically use multiple sets of selectably operable pins to connect, support and stabilize the structural components of the structure.

Selectably operable field mateable pin assembly

This invention is a method and apparatus for making a pressure-containing threaded tubular connection, suitable for remotely operated connection and separation, utilizing electrical heating to reduce the amount of make up torque required to produce reliable preloading of the connection. One aspect of the present invention comprises: 1) a first hub with male threads on its exterior and having a sealing face and axial flow passage, b) a second hub having an axial flow passage and carrying an annular seal which can be mated with the sealing face of the first hub and mounting a rotatable nut having female threads on its interior and integral nut heating means. After stabbing and initial make-up of the connection, the nut is heated and thereby expanded in a controlled manner and the connection retightened. Following cooling, the structural connection is fully preloaded and the annular seal fully compressed so that it seals. Reversing the procedure permits disconnection.

Pressure-containing tubular connections for remote operation

A floating moored oilfield production structure for deepwater application. An apparatus and a method for the construction and installation of floating oilfield production structures, wherein the deck structure is supported by multiple pairs of inclined buoyant legs which in turn support a subsurface damping plate structure for reducing the motions of the platform. The structure initially is initially constructed in a first configuration in relatively shallow water and then towed to a deepwater location where it is reconfigured to its operational configuration. The major structural components are joined by selectably operable pin connections.

Inclined leg floating production platform with a damper plate

An elastomeric seal having an antiextrusion device molded integrally into or onto the low pressure side of the seal. The antiextrusion of a corrugated strip into an elastomeric seal. One embodiment of the invention has the strip positioned with the midplane of its corrugations normal to the mating seal surfaces and parallel to the midplane of the seal groove. Another embodiment of the invention has the midplane of the corrugations canted within the seal. The antiextrusion device is applicable to annular seal rings, linear seals, or seals of more complex configuration.

Antiextrusion device

The present invention is a pivoting crash barrier for arresting an impacting vehicle without causing excessive injury to the driver. The crash barrier has an easily replaceable expendable gate which houses multiple plastically deformable cables mounted within for absorbing the energy of the impacting vehicle. The crash barrier design causes the cables to deform as an unit, rather than separately. The crash barrier gate is pivotally supported on a horizontal shaft by an operator unit positioned on a first side of a roadway. An engagement stanchion engageable by the outer tip of the lowered gate supports the lowered gate on the second, opposed side of the roadway. The upper sections of both crash barrier stanchions consist of operator heads that can pivot about the vertical axes of their respective mounting posts after the shearing of restraining shear pins whenever a vehicle impact occurs. This swiveling reduces the tendency for the components of the crash barrier other than the gate to sustain significant damage during vehicle impacts. The crash barrier gate further has a latch on the engagement stanchion side that prevents inadvertent gate unlatching from uplift forces to the gate and a simplified method of balancing the crash barrier with counterweights.

Vehicle crash barrier

This invention is a method and apparatus for making a pressure-containing threaded tubular connection, suitable for remotely operated connection and separation, utilizing electrical heating to reduce the amount of makeup torque required to produce reliable preloading of the connection. One aspect of the present invention comprises: 1) a first hub with male threads on its exterior and having a sealing face and axial flow passage, b) a second hub having an axial flow passage and carrying an annular seal which can be mated with the sealing face of the first hub and mounting a rotatable nut having female threads on its interior and integral nut heating means. After stabbing and initial make-up of the connection, the nut is heated and thereby expanded in a controlled manner and the connection retightened. Following cooling, the structural connection is fully preloaded and the annular seal fully compressed so that it seals. Reversing the procedure permits disconnection.

Remotely pretensioned threaded tubular connections

An improved plug device for sealing an internal tubular passageway in a predetermined location against pressure and flow applied from one side. The plug is selectively inserted and retrieved from the tubular passageway using an installation tool . The plug has an elastomeric seal and multiple latch dogs that reciprocate in an axial direction to engage or not engage the tubular passageway. An elastomeric seal of the plug is manipulated to cause it to recess during the installation and retrieval of the plug device to minimize scuffing the seal . Multiple latch dogs housed in the plug are radially moved outward to engage a prepared internal groove in the tubular passageway, then the elastomeric seal is relaxed to bias against the interior of the bore of the tubular passageway. The plug is easily installed and removed by robots or remote manipulators.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Larry Rayner Russell