Sonsub Inc.

Dtc International, Inc.

William C Parks

Dana C Beebe

Chester W Kronke

Jerry C Graff

Walter S Going

Michael W Spiering

David A Gray

J Douglas Smith

A modular control system consisting of multiple, remotely retrievable functional modules for controlling a blowout preventer stack. The various functional modules can be located on the lower marine riser package and blowout preventer stack positioned near the equipment with which they are associated, wherein this distribution of modules nearly eliminates the complex interface connection between the lower marine riser package and blowout preventer stack. Each of the functional modules is capable of being installed, retrieved or replaced with a single remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployment from a vessel. The functional modules can be used to operate as a complete control system for a blowout preventer stack or can be used selectively individually or in various combinations to accommodate multiple control applications or upgrades of other control systems.

Control system for blowout preventer stack

A subsea control module for providing control of subsea equipment is provided. The design allows for replacement and retrieval of a subsea control module with a single remotely operated vehicle ('ROV') deployment from a vessel. The subsea control module can provide distributed electrical and hydraulic control functions via multiple directional control valve modules, multiple pilot valve modules, and a central electronic control module. Each directional control and pilot perform a set of functions so that replacement of a single module does not require disassembly of any other components) or hydraulic connection. Similarly, each pilot valve module can include a set of pilot valves, pressure transducers, solenoids and electronic circuitry to perform a limited set of functions so that failure of a single pilot valve module does not result in failure of the entire subsea control module. The central electronic control module can provide electrical signals to each pilot valve module which can provide hydraulic signals to each directional control valve module and to off-board hydraulics through a subsea equipment receptacle mated with the subsea control module.

Control module for subsea equipment

A riser assembly includes riser segments, each having threaded ends. A coupling nut is connected to the threaded end of the first riser segment. The threads of a second riser segment and a set of corresponding threads of the coupling nut are breech threads, which allow the second riser segment to stab into the coupling nut and engage the first riser segment. The coupling nut rotates a portion of a turn in order for the breech threads of the second riser segment and the first riser segment to engage each other. Castellations on the first and second riser segments engage each other to transmit torsional forces from one riser segment to the other instead of through the threads.

Breech lock connector for a subsea riser

A subsea control module consists of three primary sections. The lower portion consists of a plate for carrying hydraulic couplings and hydraulic passages from valves to couplings. The lower portion contains a sub-assembly containing electro-optical couplings with direct sealed passages and wiring to a dry electronics chamber. The valve manifold has multiple pressure supply sources and a plurality of valves mounted therein. An outside portion of the valves are exposed so that the valves are externally accessible without disassembly of the subsea control module assembly, which facilitates an increase in accessibility and a reduction in maintenance times and costs. Electronics, wiring and solenoid valves are located in a one atmosphere, dry nitrogen purged chamber in a pressure vessel dome. The dry chamber has direct access to transducers and solenoid valves, thereby eliminating subsea cables. A mandrel extends below the device for engagement with a central locking mechanism in a receiver baseplate. Since the mandrel is located below the SCM rather than extending therethrough, space within the device is not occupied by the mandrel. Therefore each module is of a reduced size, which permits the retrieval and immediate replacement of the module by an ROV, which reduces the need to make several trips between the surface and subsea.

Subsea control module

A bore selector assembly having a unitary bottom section having primary and secondary inlet passageways extending therethrough, a unitary interior section having a bore therethrough, a unitary top section with a primary outlet passageway therethrough, and an outer sleeve extending over the interior section and securing the bottom, interior and top sections together.

Non-welded bore selector assembly

A hydraulic connector having a first assembly releasably connected to a second assembly. The first assembly includes a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a receptacle portion surrounding the longitudinal bore. The first assembly has an internal circumferential chamber therein. The chamber has an upper portion and a lower portion. The second assembly includes a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a protruding portion having an external circumferential groove. A movable locking ring is housed in the lower portion of the chamber. The locking ring has a first surface to matingly engage the circumferential groove. A piston is slidably received in the chamber. The piston is permitted to move axially relative to the first assembly. The piston has an upper head and a lower head connected by a sleeve segment. The piston and the chamber form individual chambers for locking and unlocking. The locking chamber can be pressurized to force the piston to a locked position in which the locking ring matingly engages the circumferential groove. The unlocking chamber can be pressurized to force the piston to an unlocked position in which the locking ring is not matingly engaged with the circumferential groove.

Hydraulic connector

An improved subsea template system. A drilling template is adapted to rest on the seafloor. The drilling template includes at least one conductor guide through which a well is drilled. An alignment structure is attached to the top of the conductor guide and fits within a conductor guide of a production template. The production template includes at least one conductor guide more than the drilling template. Once engaged, the alignment sleeve serves to coaxially align the conductor guide of the drilling template with a corresponding conductor guide of the production template.

Subsea drilling and production template system

A hydraulic connector having a first assembly releasably connected to a second assembly. The first assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a receptacle portion surrounding the longitudinal bore. The first assembly has an internal circumferential chamber therein. The chamber has an upper portion and a lower portion. The second assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a protruding portion having an external circumferential groove. A movable locking ring is housed in the lower portion of the chamber. The locking ring has a first surface to matingly engage the circumferential groove. A piston is slidably received in the chamber. The piston is permitted to move axially relative to the first assembly. The piston has an upper head and a lower head connected by a sleeve segment. The piston and the chamber form individual chambers for locking and unlocking. The locking chamber can be pressurized to force the piston to a locked position in which the locking ring matingly engages the circumferential groove. The unlocking chamber can be pressurized to force the piston to an unlocked position in which the locking ring is not matingly engaged with the circumferential groove.

A concentric riser joint comprising inner and outer tubular assemblies each having a longitudinal bore therethrough. An annular space is formed between the inner and outer tubular assemblies. The outer tubular assembly comprises a tubular element having a pin end coupling connected to a first end and a box end coupling connected to a second end of the tubular element. A cylindrical retainer plate is received in the pin end coupling. The cylindrical retainer plate has an inner bore for receiving the inner tubular assembly therethrough. The retainer plate further includes a plurality of longitudinal bores extending therethrough. A seal sub is connected to one end of the inner tubular assembly. The seal sub is partially received in the box end coupling and includes a plurality of longitudinal passageways extending therethrough. A threaded nut connects the outer tubular assembly to an adjoining concentric riser joint. The box end coupling and the pin end coupling each have a mating end surface with a longitudinal blind bore therein such that the plurality of longitudinal passageways and the plurality of longitudinal bores are in axial alignment when the longitudinal blind bores are axially aligned. An alignment pin is fixedly received in one of the longitudinal blind bores. The alignment pin axially aligns the plurality of longitudinal passageways of the riser joint with the plurality of longitudinal bores of an adjoining riser joint.

Concentric riser joint with self-aligning coupling

An improved umbilical connector for preferable use in a subsea application. The apparatus includes a female portion and a male portion having connections located within, and a threadable fastener on the male and female halves intended to threadably engage thereby advancing and locking the male half within the female half of the present invention.

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Katy, TX, United States of America

William C Parks