The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 19, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1997
Bobby Eugene Cox, Kenner, LA (US);
Stephen W Balint, Houston, TX (US);
Anders G Ekvall, Houston, TX (US);
Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A deepwater riser assembly is disclosed for a riser connecting subsea equipment to a surface wellhead. A buoyancy can assembly provides an open ended buoyancy can tube which surrounds the upper end of the riser and an upper seal which effectively closes the annulus between the riser and the buoyancy can tube. A load transfer connection in the buoyancy can assembly then connects the riser to buoyancy can tube. A pressure charging system communicates with the annulus between the riser and the buoyancy can tube below the upper seal. Injecting gas into this annulus then provides support to the riser.