Patents Assigned to ABB Offshore Systems Inc.
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Patent number: 6796261Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2003Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: ABB Offshore Systems, Inc.Inventor: Angus Niall Colyer
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Patent number: 6793019Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: ABB Offshore Systems, Inc.Inventors: Tony Alan Rodgers, Robert Duane Fross
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Patent number: 6742594Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignees: ABB Vetco Gray Inc., ABB Offshore Systems, Inc.Inventors: Gawain Langford, Francisco Dezen, Lars-Petter Sollie, Stephen P. Fenton
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Patent number: 6672391Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2003Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: ABB Offshore Systems, Inc.Inventors: Clay F. Anderson, John Allen
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Patent number: 6394131Abstract: A volume compensator has a body with an axial chamber containing a piston assembly that is biased to one side by a spring. The compensator is coaxially mounted with a female coupler to a protective cover for a hydraulic interface plate. The female coupler has an axial bore containing a poppet assembly with an axial bleed port that extends into a receptacle on the end of the female coupler. The receptacle receives a male coupler on the interface plate. The male coupler contains a poppet assembly with a solid poppet that seals in high pressure hydraulic fluid. When the cover is secured to the interface plate, the male coupler is inserted into the receptacle and a small amount of sea water is trapped in between. The trapped sea water is forced through the bleed port and female coupler, and into the compensator where it displaces the piston and spring in the compensator. When the tips of poppets engage, high pressure hydraulic fluid is released into the female coupler and compensator where it is retained.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: ABB Offshore Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Fross, Richard K. O. Barratt
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Patent number: 6328070Abstract: A valve arrangement for controlling hydraulic fluid flow to a subsea system includes a plurality of docking modules each having a valve element for controlling the flow of a fluid and a docking module port for fluid flow between the valve element. The valve arrangement additionally includes a manifold having manifold ports of uniform cross section. The docking modules can be interchangeably mounted to the manifold ports as desired to tailor the valve arrangement for any selected valve operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: ABB Offshore Systems Inc.Inventors: Hugh R. Clayton, Grahame M. Williams