Abstract: Method for protecting subsea installations against cooling which leads to hydrate formation, in particular during production halts. This is achieved by thermally isolating portions of the installation (1) against the surrounding water (2), and particularly by completely encompassing the subsea installation (1) by means of a cap (3) which seals against the surrounding water (2). The cap (3) comprises several elements of which each separately can be exposed to cooling and internal hydrate formation. The invention also comprises a thermally isolating apparatus, adapted for protecting subsea installations (1) against cooling, which involves a risk for hydrate formation. An apparatus (3, 9) for implementing the method comprises a relatively tight-fitting cap (3) which encompasses at least two of the elements to be protected from cooling.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in monitoring particles in a fluid flow comprises: a duct (1) for receiving the fluid flow; light generating means (6) adjacent the duct for transmitting light into the fluid flow via a first at least partially light-transmissive part (4) of the duct; light-responsive detection means (7) adjacent a second at least partially light-transmissive part (5) of the duct for receiving light from the light generating means which has passed through the fluid flow; processing means (8) for location remotely from said duct; and means (9) for coupling the processing means with the detection means, the processing means being adapted for processing signals therefrom to provide data relating to particles in the fluid flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling device including a coupling part provided with a coupling member and having an internal bore extending through the coupling part and its coupling member, wherein the coupling part is provided with a valve, which includes a valve body displaceably arranged inside the internal bore and a spring member acting on the valve body, the valve body being displaceable against the action of the spring member from a first position to a second position. The valve includes a housing fixed inside the internal bore, the housing being provided with a cavity accommodating the spring member and a part of the valve body. The cavity is in fluid communication with an orifice at the end of the valve facing the free end of the coupling member so as to allow the cavity to be in fluid communication with the surroundings via the orifice when the coupling member is out of engagement with a corresponding coupling member.

Abstract: A subsea electrical power distribution system including a first chamber (20) housing a transformer, a second chamber (30) housing a power distribution system with busbars (32) for distribution of power to individual consumers connected to said busbars via connectors (33). The interface between the first and second chamber includes a flexible membrane (22) allowing the oil in the first chamber to expand into the second chamber and vice versa. The second chamber being connected to an external volume expansion chamber (34) allowing the pressure in the second chamber to balance against the pressure of the ambient sea.

Abstract: An electrostatic separator intended for separation of liquid phase systems, made up of mixtures of liquids of various electrical permittivity. In particular, the separator is intended for separation of an oil-and-water emulsion. The electrostatic separator contains a vessel, inside which there is suspended a system of electrodes energised from an external voltage source. The electrode system comprises at least one pair of conducting plates (8), which is attached to a supporting frame (7) and electrically connected with the high voltage winding of a feeding transformer (9), which is place in the supporting frame (7). The supporting frame (7) is preferably a casting of an insulating material. The conducting plates (8) of the electrode system are preferably connected to the winding of the feeding transformer (9) through a capacitive electrical connection.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a microseismic event includes detecting the event to produce a first signal dependent on the event. The first signal includes noise at a frequency of, for example 50 Hz. A first sample of the first signal is taken. Then a second sample of the first signal is taken, the second sample occurring n/f seconds after the first sample, where n is an integer (e.g. 1). Subtracting the first and second samples from each other produces a farther signal dependent on the event in which the noise has been at least partly compensated for.

Abstract: A first passageway (17) provides a first fluid flow path, in a well between a first zone (9) and a, common region (26). A second passageway (23), outside the first passageway (17), provides a second fluid flow path; between the second zone (10) and the common region (26). The first passageway (17) is provided with a first flow controller (25), for controlling the flow of fluid between the first zone (9) and the common region (26). The second passageway (23) is provided with a second flow controller (28), for controlling the flow of fluid between the second zone (10) and the common region (26).

Abstract: A flow control device comprises an outer sleeve having an outer sleeve wall and at least one aperture through the outer sleeve wall; a inner sleeve having an inner sleeve wall and at least one aperture through the inner sleeve wall; and means for providing relative sliding movement of the sleeves between “open” positions allowing variable flow of fluid through the apertures of the sleeves and a “closed” position, so that relative movement of the sleeves produces available amount of opening through which fluid can flows. The apertures are arranged so that the change in the coefficient of velocity (CV) of fluid flowing through the apertures caused by a change in the relative displacement of the sleeves is substantially proportional to said change in relative displacement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for removing solids from a fluid containment space, said device comprising a hood (11) arranged or intended to be arranged at a bottom surface of the fluid containment space, at least one inlet opening (14a) and at least one outlet opening (20a) being provided on a first side (15a) of the hood. The hood (11) is provided with means (21) for directing fluids through the respective outlet opening (20a) on said first side (15a) of the hood from the inner space (16) of the hood to the fluid containment space exterior of the hood in an essentially horizontal direction or in a direction towards the bottom surface of the fluid containment space. The invention also relates to a separator comprising such a device and a method for removing solids from a fluid containment space.

Abstract: A method of using a seismic detector including four seismic sensors having axes which are in a substantially tetrahedral configuration, each of the sensors being in a respective signal channel, includes one or more of the following steps: combining outputs from the sensors to check that their polarities are correct; testing to ascertain if one of the sensors is not working and, if so, using the outputs from the other three sensors to obtain an indication of motion in three dimensions; if all four sensors are working, using their outputs to obtain an indication of motion in three dimensions on a least squares basis; checking that the outputs from the sensors are coherent; and checking the gains (or sensitivities) of the four channels.

Abstract: An electrically energised device for coalescing a first conductive fluid, emulsified in a second fluid, comprising a tube member (1), having at least one fluid inlet (2) and at least one fluid outlet (3), the tube B member (1) defining a flow channel (4) for an emulsion of the first and second fluid from its inlet side to its outlet side and comprising at least one electrically insulating layer portion, the channel B (4) having a generally circular or elliptic cross section, and an interacting pair of a first and a second electrode (5, 6) that are arranged outside and adjacent to the at least one insulating layer portion, that separates the electrodes (5, 6) from the channel (4) and thereby from immediate contact with the emulsion, and supplied with a pulsed or alternating voltage for the purpose of subjecting the first and second fluid flowing through the flow channel to an electrostatic field.

Abstract: A method of deploying a subsea line utilizes a subsea deployment unit. A drum wrapped with the line is mounted to the unit. The unit is lowered on a cable into the sea from a surface vessel. An ROV is lowered on an umbilical into the sea and brought into engagement with the unit. The ROV provides thrust and guidance to move the unit along a desired path above the sea floor. The ROV also supplies power to the motor of the unit to cause the drum to rotate and deploy the line from the drum. The ROV disengages from the unit and connects the ends of the line to subsea components.

Abstract: A tool lands a flowline connector on a base and soft land the connector to a mandrel. After the tool lands on the base, the tool locks to the base and then pushes the connector the mandrel until it abuts locks to the member. The tool has at least one ring assembly with a number of dogs per ring assembly. Each dog moves in unison with a follower relative to a cam ring in a slot. The movement along the slot moves the dogs radially and circumferentially relative to the cam ring. An actuator moves a follower ring that slides relative to the cam ring which moves the follower. Each dog remains in contact with the cam ring after moving radially inward because of protuberances on each dog that slide from a recess as the dog moves circumferentially and radially inward.

Abstract: A method and a system for separating the phases of a multiphase fluid from one or more wells. The system comprises at least one first gravity separator (3-6) and at least one second gravity separator (3-6), and means for conducting the fluid from the well or wells to the first and second gravity separator(s) (3-6). The system comprises means (15-18, 41-44, 50-53, 54-57) for selectively conducting the fluid to the first and second gravity separators (3-6) either in parallel or in subsequent steps depending on the properties of the fluid and process conditions.

Abstract: A coupling arrangement for use in subsea electrical power distribution comprising a first coupling part (1a), which is provided with a first contact member (3a) arranged in a first contact housing (2a) and an attachment (4a) for a first power conduit, and a second coupling part (1b), which is provided with a second contact member (3b) arranged in a second contact housing (2b) and an attachment (4b) for a second power conduit to be connected to the first power conduit by means of the coupling arrangement.

Abstract: Packers are expandable sealing devices used to seal off zones in a well. Packers are expanded to seal the bore of the well by means of expansion fluid supplied via individual pipelines. However, packers near the top of the well have to accommodate all of the pipelines for packers below. The invention provides a packer system comprising a plurality of packers (22-28) and fluid delivery means arranged to supply fluid to the packers, to expand them in use. The fluid delivery means includes a common fluid pipeline (36) for the packers. Thus, only one expansion fluid pipeline has to pass through the upper packers (22, 23), irrespective of the overall number of packers in the system.

Abstract: A subsea well system has a flowline jumper that extends between components on the sea floor. The jumper has connectors on each end for connecting to the two components. At least a portion of the jumper is buoyant and sufficiently flexible to cause it to assume a vertical arcuate configuration when installed. One end of the jumper has a connector that has a mandrel that guides into a mating socket formed on the end of an arm. The arm is mounted to a ring that can be rotated to various orientations.

Abstract: Actuators for subsea downhole chokes have tended to include hydraulic pistons which are prone to failure and crude in accuracy. The invention provides an actuator (1) having first and second rotary motors (2, 16) and an output region (3) arranged to engage a load, such as a choke sleeve. In a first mode of operation, the first rotary motor (2) imparts linear motion to the output in a first screw connection (4, 5). In a second mode of operation, the second rotary motor (16) imparts linear motion to the output via a second screw connection (12, 14). The provision of screw connections permits gradual linear motion of the output to be achieved. The provision of two motors permits continuing performance in the event of failure of one of the motors.

Abstract: Signals from microseismic events are used to obtain a parameter of reservoir such as porosity, permeability or saturation.

Abstract: A method and system for separating and treating water produced from a subsea well includes separating the water subsea, and then separating the water from residual hydrocarbons on a surface vessel. The water treated at the surface, can be dumped to sea or injected into other subsea wells. The residual hydrocarbons separated on the vessel can be conveyed subsea for transportation to a processing facility along with hydrocarbons from the subsea separator. Also, the residual hydrocarbons from the surface separator can be used to fuel gas powered equipment in order to drive other equipment or to generate electricity for the vessel.