Ferranti Subsea Systems, Inc.

Trw Limited

Michael R Fitzgibbons

James A Sweety

Eugene L Brickman

Rodney K Seto

R Jan Carman

Robert A Mintz

An improved hydraulic coupler suitable for interconnecting subsea fluid lines is provided with a radial seal between the male and female body portions. A C-shaped metallic seal is housed between the female body of the coupler and a retainer external of the female body. An elastomeric secondary seal is provided on the retainer, and sealingly engages the same diameter cylindrical surface of the male coupler which is engaged by the C-shaped seal. A wiper member also mounted on the retainer cleans this cylindrical suface as the body portions are brought together, thereby enhancing the reliability of both the elastomeric seal and the metallic seal. Coupler halves may typically be housed within either a latchable subsea control module mounting base or a junction plate conventionally used in surface petroleum recovery operations.

Radial seal hydraulic coupler

Improved techniques are provided for opening or closing an underwater valve in a subsea fluid pipeline utilizing an acoustic signal transmitted from the surface to a receiver adjacent the valve. A predetermined torquing force is applied to a shaft directly coupled to the valve stem, although rotation of the valve stem is prevented by the mechanical connection of an explosive bolt. Receipt of the transmitted acoustic signal initiates the release of stored electrical energy which detonates the explosive bolt and breaks the mechanical connection, thereby enabling the pre-existing torquing force to rotate the valve stem. Valve operation reliability is significantly increased, since the torquing force for operating the valve is applied before the valve is installed in the subsea environment.

Method and apparatus for remote control of an underwater valve

An improved hydraulic coupler suitable for interconnecting subsea fluid lines is provided with a radial seal between the male and female body portions. A C-shaped metallic seal is housed within the female body of the coupler, so that the seal may be checked or replaced if necessary between successive mating and unmating operations. An elastomeric secondary seal is also provided on the female body, and sealingly engages the same diameter cylindrical surface of the male coupler which is engaged by the C-shaped seal. A wiper member also mounted on the female body cleans this cylindrical surface as the body portions are brought together, thereby enhancing the reliability of both the elastomeric seal and the metallic seal. A guide for the valve poppet is threadably connected to a respective coupling body to increase reliability. Coupler halves may typically be housed within either a latchable subsea control module mounting base or a junction plate conventionally used in surface petroleum recovery operations.

An improved hydraulic coupler suitable for interconnecting subsea fluid lines is provided with a highly reliable metallic seal between the male and female portions. A C-shaped metallic seal is radially compressed between the female and male coupler bodies, so that axial movement between these bodies does not effect sealing effectiveness. A floating retainer ring housed within the retrievable female body by a fixed retainer ring allows for radial misalignment between the coupling halves. The floating retainer ring thus becomes centered with respect to the male coupling body, while a metallic face seal provides sealing engagement between the floating and fixed retainers. Both axial and radial deviation between the coupling bodies is thus permissible, and the coupling can reliably seal fluid after repeated coupling and uncoupling operations.

Hydraulic coupler with floating metal seal

Apparatus for securing a first member to a second member includes a clamping structure having a first planar portion and a tapered second planar portion which extends transversely from the first portion. A threaded fastening member is rotatably carried by the clamping structure first portion and extends outwardly therefrom. A connecting structure is provided on the first member and includes a threaded aperture adapted for receiving the threaded fastening member. A tapered surface portion is provided on the second member for cooperative engagement with the clamping structure tapered second planar portion when the fastening member is threaded into the aperture of the connecting structure for providing a clamping force between the clamping structure and the first and second members.

Clamp assembly

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring fluid pressure in a subsea petroleum installation or other similarly inaccessible system while isolating the well fluid from the production control system. In one particular form of the invention, a body of secondary fluid is pressure-responsively coupled to but isolated from the oil or other primary fluid of interest by a piston, which subjects the secondary fluid to the pressure existing on the primary fluid. In addition, a measuring device is connected to the secondary fluid to derive an electrical signal representation of the pressure on the secondary fluid as a correlative indication of the wellhead or other pressure actually sought to be measured. Further, the isolating device is constructed and arranged to effectively seal off the primary fluid from escape into the environment or into the production control apparatus and the pressure of the primary fluid is maintained in the event of damage to any portion of the chamber enclosing and holding the secondary fluid. It is a particular feature of this invention to provide at least a minimum pressure on the secondary fluid of a magnitude such as to effectively limit the further compression of the secondary fluid by the piston, when the piston is initially subjected to the primary pressure.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Michael R Fitzgibbons