Fmc Corporation

Hughes Tool Company LLC

Hydrotech International, Inc.

Marathon Oil Company

Thomas J Ames

Glen H Cuiper

Glen E Lochte

Burlie R Bowen

Carl F Boehm

Robert C Houlgrave

Claud C Barrington

Michael J Krenek

Andre L Piazza

Ronald L Riess

Anthony J Masciopinto

Gary A Shaw

James A Kelly

A system and method is provided for storing a continuous length of an assembled jointed tubular conduit on an offshore vessel and for conveying the tubular conduit between the deck of the vessel and a subsurface wellhead on the floor of the body of water. The system includes a carousel positioned around the perimeter of the vessel defining a continuous close-curved carousel pathway in parallel or coplanar alignment with the horizontal deck. The assembled tubular conduit is maintained in coiled storage along the carousel pathway until it is desired to convey the tubular conduit into or out of the carousel. Horizontal and vertical directing means are provided that, in cooperation with rotation of the carousel, enable uncoiling of the tubular conduit from the carousel into the water or recoiling of the tubular conduit into the carousel from the water. The horizontal directing means is positioned proximal to the carousel, engaging the tubular conduit and defining a substantially horizontal curved pathway for the tubular conduit, thereby redirecting the tubular conduit in a linear radial direction relative to the circumferential carousel pathway. The vertical directing means is positioned proximal to the deck opening, engaging the tubular conduit and defining a vertical curved pathway for the tubular conduit, thereby redirecting the tubular conduit in a linear perpendicular direction relative to the carousel pathway.

Offshore system and method for storing and tripping a continuous length

A method and apparatus for making an electrical connection through a tubing hanger in a subsea well avoids the need for precise gauging and alignment. The tubing hanger has an electrical receptacle located on its rim and a guide hole also located on the rim. An impression block tool is lowered into the wellhead from the surface to make an impression of the rim to determine the orientation of the guide hole. A carrier is mounted to the tree connector at the surface. The carrier has a guide pin and an electrical connector. The carrier is aligned, then secured to the tree connector so that it can move only a limited amount rotationally. As the tree connector enters the wellhead, the guide pin will enter the guide hole, which is tapered. A limited amount of rotation of the carrier relative to the tree connector allows the electrical connectors to precisely align before contacting each other.

Device to orient electrical connectors in a subsea well

A metal support ring is located between a housing and a wellhead for reducing bending movement of the wellhead relative to the housing. The support ring has a plurality of circumferentially extending ribs for engaging the bore of the housing. The ribs are parallel to and vertically spaced apart from each other. Each rib protrudes outwardly from the wellhead a distance greater than the inner diameter of the housing. This causes the ribs to deflect in an interference fit when the wellhead is inserted into the housing.

Wellhead stabilizing member with deflecting ribs

A fluid pressure seal comprising the combination of a metallic sleeve-like member having one or more annular grooves around its outer periphery and two or more annular grooves on its inner surface, the grooves located to establish an accordion-like area in the member intermediate its ends, and flexible non-metallic sealing material within and filling the grooves. When the seal is installed between two adjacent metallic surfaces, such as around a valve stem and within a chamber in a valve bonnet, axial compression of the seal causes radial expansion of the accordion-like area into fluid-tight contact with those surfaces to produce a metal-to-metal static and dynamic seal therebetween.

Combined metallic and flexible non-metallic pressure seal

A diverless subsea flowline connection system includes a plurality of connectors for remotely connecting the end of a bundle of flowlines to the ends of a plurality of bundles of individual flowlines. Guidance components direct the end portion of each bundle of individual flowlines into precise connecting alignment with a corresponding end portion of the bundled flowlines without damage to the connecting seals. The end portion of the bundled flowlines are covered and sealed so that these flowlines can be pulled across a sea floor without damage to their connecting ends. Means are provided for pulling the flowline bundle toward an aligning structure so that the lines can approach the structure from a wide variety of angles and the structure will guide the bundled flowlines into position where they can be aligned exactly with the individual diameter flowlines. This pulling means includes means for connecting a pulling cable to the radial center of a pulling head attached to the ends of the bundled flowlines. The ends of the individual flowlines are connected to connector lugs and aligned before the fluid-tight seals are set to prevent possible damage to the seals. After the individual flowline ends are precisely aligned the seals are set. The pulling, aligning, replacement of seals and fluid-tight connecting of the individual flowlines is all directed by remote control from the surface of the sea.

Method and apparatus for completing diverless subsea large diameter

Apparatus for protecting subsea structures, and in particular christmas trees from damage by fishing nets, trawl boards, anchors and other marine equipment, include a protective structure which is placed over the christmas tree. The protective structure has an opening in the top portion to allow access to the christmas tree when such access is needed and a protective cap which closes the opening to prevent damage from silt, sand, trash and overhead falling objects. The entire protective structure is secured in place by one or more piles which are driven into the sea floor or by cementing one or more steel piles in place in the sea floor. The protective structure and the cap are guided into place around the well by guide cables attached to the guide base of the well. A lifting device in the protective cap facilitates removal of the cap by a single cable.

Apparatus for protecting subsea wells

A diverless subsea flowline connection system includes connectors for remotely connecting the ends of a first bundle of flowlines to the ends of a second bundle of flowlines and guidance components which direct the end portions of the first bundle of flowlines into precise connecting alignment with the end portions of the second bundle of flowlines without damage to the connecting seals. The ends of the first bundle are covered and sealed so that the flowlines can be pulled across the seafloor without damage to the ends of the flowlines. Means are provided for pulling the first bundle toward an alignment structure so that the lines can approach the structure from a wide variety of angles and the structure will guide the first bundle into exact alignment with the second bundle. This pulling means includes means for connecting a pulling cable to the radial center of a pulling head attached to the ends of the first bundle of flowlines. The ends of the flowlines are connected together and aligned before the fluid-tight seals are set to prevent possible damage to the seals. After the flowline ends are precisely aligned the seals are set. If desired, the connecting seals can be replaced by remote control. The pulling, aligning, replacement of seals and fluid-tight connecting of the flowlines is all done by remote control from the surface of the sea.

Method and apparatus for completing diverless subsea flowline connections

A method and apparatus for installing a length of underwater pipe, such as a petroleum flowline bundle, between two subsea stations, for example a subsea oil or gas wellhead and a subsea manifold to establish a fluid conduit between these stations. The flowline bundle is transported by a surface vessel to location where downhaul cables are then brought to the surface from the underwater stations by means of call-up buoys. A flowline mating vehicle is connected to each end of the flowline bundle, the downhaul cables are attached to powered winches contained in these vehicles, and the bundle is then hauled downward by the vehicles to the subsea stations where it is connected to the terminals of the flowlines at these stations by a remotely actuated clamping system. The flowline mating vehicles are then released from the flowline bundle and the stations to be retrieved at the surface for reuse. The invention is applicable to both 'wet' and 'dry' wellhead completions, and includes apparatus for accomplishing these completions entirely by remote control from the surface.

Method and apparatus for installing underwater flowlines

Method and apparatus for breaking concrete from a concrete coated pipe comprising; a frame mounted on the pipe; means supported by the frame for engaging the concrete to break the concrete from the pipe and means for driving the engaging means against the pipe to impart massive forces thereto exceeding the strength of the concrete to thereby break the concrete from the pipe.

Concrete removal tool

Method for making a remote controlled sub sea pipe connection between two pipe ends which may be relatively misaligned on a sea bottom comprising, providing a pair of mating coupling halves having misalignment capability for connecting together the pipe ends; lowering a remote controlled vehicle towards the pipe ends; installing a pipe coupling half onto each pipe end, and connecting the pipe coupling halves together and to the respective pipe ends by remotely operating the vehicle from the sea surface to thereby effect the pipe connection.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Thomas J Ames