Deep Oil Technology Incorporated

Horton Wison Deepwater, Inc.

Technip France

Cso Aker Maritime, Inc.

Horton Do Brasil Technologia Offshore, Ltda.

Coflexip, Sa

Agr Subsea, Inc.

Technip Offshore, Inc.

Lyle David Finn

Edward E Horton, Iii

James V Maher

Richard Lloyd Davies

Luiz Germano Bodanese

Xavier Castello

Rafael Bodanese

Rodrigo M R Guimarães

Marcelo I L Souza

John Edwin Halkyard

Himanshu Gupta

Greg Navarre

Metin Karayaka

Paul Nelson Stanton

Anil Kumar Sablok

Nils Lennart Rolland

Edmund Otto Muehlner

Emil Richard Talamo

Rafael Louzada Bodanese

Gerald Crotwell

Atle Steen

Walter Wade Mallard

J Lynn LeJune

Robert George Schoenberg

Roger Pokladnik

Dick Davies

Marcelo IL Souza

A floating offshore structure includes a buoyant hull including a first column, a second column, and a pontoon coupled to the first column and the second column. The pontoon extends horizontally from the first column to the second column. The pontoon includes a first tubular member, a second tubular member positioned laterally adjacent to the first tubular member, a first edge plate extending horizontally from the first tubular member, and a second edge plate extending horizontally from the second tubular member. The first tubular member and the second tubular member are disposed between the first edge plate and the second edge plate. Each tubular member has a central axis, a first end coupled to the lower end of the first column, and a second end coupled to the lower end of the second column. The longitudinal axis of the first tubular member and the longitudinal axis of the second tubular member are disposed in a common horizontal plane.

Floating offshore structures with round pontoons

A floating offshore structure includes a buoyant hull including a first column, a second column, and a pontoon coupled to the first column and the second column. Each column is vertically oriented and the pontoon extends horizontally from the first column to the second column. Each column has a central axis, an upper end, and a lower end. The pontoon includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member positioned laterally adjacent to the first tubular member. Each tubular member has a central axis, a first end coupled to the lower end of the first column, and a second end coupled to the lower end of the second column. The longitudinal axis of the first tubular member and the longitudinal axis of the second tubular member are disposed in a common horizontal plane.

An offshore structure comprises a hull having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the structure comprises an anchor coupled to the lower end of the hull and configured to secure the hull to the sea floor. The anchor has an aspect ratio less than 3:1. The hull includes a variable ballast chamber positioned axially between the first end and the second end of the hull and a first buoyant chamber positioned between the variable ballast chamber and the first end of the hull. The first buoyant chamber is filled with a gas and sealed from the surrounding environment. Further, the structure comprises a ballast control conduit in fluid communication with the variable ballast chamber and configured to supply a gas to the variable ballast chamber. The structure also comprises a topside mounted to the first end of the hull.

Offshore tower for drilling and/or production

An offshore system for drilling or production includes a buoyant hull. In addition, the offshore system includes a topside mounted to the hull and positioned above the surface of the water. Further, the offshore system includes a conductor having a lower end disposed in the sea bed below the sea floor and an upper end coupled to the topside. Still further, the offshore system includes a bend restrictor disposed about the conductor. The bend restrictor has a lower end positioned in the sea bed below the sea floor and an upper end positioned above the sea floor.

Conductor bend restrictor

An offshore structure comprises a hull having a longitudinal axis and including a first column and a second column moveably coupled to the first column. Each column has a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. In addition, the offshore structure comprises an anchor coupled to the second end of the second column and configured to secure the hull to the sea floor. The first column includes a variable ballast chamber and a first buoyant chamber positioned between the variable ballast chamber and the first end of the first column. The first buoyant chamber is filled with a gas and sealed from the surrounding environment. The second column includes a variable ballast chamber. Further, the offshore structure comprises a topside mounted to the hull.

Systems and methods for lifting drilling fluid from a well bore in a subsea formation are disclosed. Some system embodiments include a drill string suspended within a drilling riser to form the well bore, and a drilling fluid source for supplying drilling fluid through the drill string during drilling. A diverter is coupled between the drilling riser and a return line, while a power riser coupled to the return line at an interface. A lift fluid source supplies lift fluid through the power riser into the return line. The lift fluid is intermittently injected from the power riser through the interface into the return line to form one or more slugs of lift fluid positioned between slugs of drilling fluid, such that the combined density of lift fluid and drilling fluid in the return line is less than the density of the drilling fluid alone.

Dual density mud return system

A tube buoyancy can system for tensioning a top tension riser. In some embodiments, the system includes a tubular can coupled to the top tension riser and a pressurized gas system configured to selectably inject pressurized gas into the tubular can. The tubular can includes an enclosed upper end having at least one closeable opening therethough, an open lower end configured to allow seawater to flow freely into and out of the tubular can, and an inner surface extending therebetween. The inner surface is devoid of structural obstructions which substantially inhibit the free flow of seawater through the lower end. When the opening is open, the tubular can is ballasted by seawater. When the opening is closed and pressurized gas is injected into the tubular can, the tubular can is de-ballasted of seawater.

Tube buoyancy can system

A quick-release system for coupling a topside for a fixed or floating platform and a barge for float-over installation of the topside is disclosed. The quick-release system comprises one or more releasable connections, each releasable connection configured to support at least a fraction of the weight of the barge and to be remotely actuated to allow the barge to decouple from the topside. In some embodiments, the quick-release system comprises two plates, one coupled to the topside and the other coupled to the barge, and a plurality of bolts extending therebetween. A frangible nut is coupled to each bolt. The quick-release system is actuatable by an electric signal that causes the frangible nuts to fracture and the barge to subsequently be released from the topside.

System and method for releasing a barge from a topside during a float-over installation

A floating oil storage system and associated methods for storing oil are disclosed. In some embodiments, the floating oil storage system includes a storage cell, a floating member disposed within the storage cell, whereby the storage cell is divided into a first compartment and a second compartment disposed below the first compartment, a pump operable to deliver oil under pressure into the first compartment, whereby the first compartment expands and the second compartment contracts expelling seawater from the second compartment, and a suction tank operable to receive oil expelled from the first compartment under hydrostatic pressure of seawater in the second compartment, whereby the first compartment contracts and the second compartment expands receiving seawater.

Floating oil storage system and method

A riserless mud recovery system including a mud return line secured by an anchor is disclosed. Some system embodiments for drilling a well bore in an offshore location having a water surface and a subsea formation include an offshore structure positioned on a platform at a water surface, a drill string for forming the well bore suspended from the offshore structure, a drilling fluid source on the platform for supplying drilling fluid through the drill string, a suction module for collecting the drilling fluid emerging from the well bore, a return pipe coupled to the suction module, a pump for receiving the drilling fluid from the suction module and pumping the drilling fluid through the return pipe to a location at the water surface, and an anchor for securing the return pipe, where the anchor is coupled to the return pipe and the subsea formation.

Anchored riserless mud return systems

A spar platform for use in the offshore drilling or production of fossil fuels includes a hull having a centerwell. An airtight and watertight barrier traverses the centerwell, forming a variable buoyancy compartment in the centerwell. In certain embodiments the centerwell is open at the bottom to the sea, while in certain other embodiments the centerwell is sealed at the bottom. At least one sleeve for accommodating a riser extends through the barrier and the variable buoyancy compartment to the bottom of the centerwell. The sleeve has an open upper end to provide a drain for water accumulating in the centerwell, and it forms an airtight and watertight seal at its juncture with the barrier. In some embodiments, two or more airtight and watertight barriers are provided across the centerwell, defining an airtight and watertight fixed buoyancy chamber between each adjacent pair of barriers.

Spar platform having closed centerwell

An apparatus for supporting a steel catenary riser (SCR) from a floating structure having a keel includes a flexible support tube or keel sleeve through which the SCR passes. The support tube or keel sleeve includes a pivot mechanism that is lockably received in a receptacle fixed to the floating structure. A method of supporting an SCR from a floating structure includes the steps of inserting a first end of the SCR into a support tube or keel sleeve; fixing the support tube or keel sleeve to the SCR; pulling the support tube or keel sleeve into a receptacle fixed to the floating structure; releasing the support tube or keel sleeve from the SCR; pulling the SCR through the support tube or keel sleeve up to an attachment point on the structure; fixing the SCR to the structure; and fixing the support tube or keel sleeve to the SCR.

Apparatus and method for supporting a steel catenary riser

A spar-type platform includes a hull defining a centerwell extending downward to a keel. The hull includes a reduced diameter neck portion for diverting ice flow. Adjustable ballast tanks allow the hull to be moved between a ballasted down position defining an upper water line, and a ballasted up position defined by a lower water line. A riser a support buoy is disposed in the keel. Risers extend through the centerwell, each having an upper portion extending upward from the support buoy and a lower portion supported in the support buoy. A disconnect system detachably connects the support buoy to the hull and the upper portion of each riser to the lower portion thereof, whereby the hull and the upper portion of each riser are selectively detachable from the buoy and the lower portion of each riser for movement to avoid a collision with a floating object.

Spar-type offshore platform for ice flow conditions

A frame and system for adding buoyancy to a riser used in connection with floating platforms is provided which, in some example embodiments, includes a stem attached to multiple supports which include flanges arranged to take impact and abrasion loads off an internal buoyancy module. An air management system is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Sugar Land, TX, United States of America

Lyle David Finn