Abstract: The improved wellhead structure of the present invention includes a casing or tubing string which is sealed to the housing without the aid of elastomeric seals and an internal bushing to assist in providing the tight gripping and sealing engagement between the string and the housing. The structure provides a substantial inner diameter which is unrestricted unless landing shoulder is included in the structure. Also, the internal bushing used with the cold forging of the string into the housing recess improves the gripping and sealing engagement therebetween. In one form the bushing includes a series of external projections which alternate with the gripping and sealing projections within the housing recess and in another form includes a resilient annulus between the interior of the bushing and the string to ensure the uniform application of pressure against the interior of the string.

Abstract: An improved tension leg joint with a first or receptacle member having an opening to receive the second or tension leg member end, the first member opening includes an internal recess including an upper downwardly facing shoulder and a lower shoulder, the second member end includes a latching element carried on a lower upwardly facing shoulder of the second member and normally biased outward so that it moves into the internal recess of the first member when the second member end is inserted therein sufficiently far so that the latching element moves past the downwardly facing shoulder, and a release sleeve movable within the first member recess and having means for releasably engaging the latching element when it is moved into the interior of the release sleeve subsequent lifting of the second member and its latching element causes the release sleeve to be raised to engage the downwardly facing recess shoulder and allow the latching element to pass thereby in its upward movement without coming into latching e

Abstract: An apparatus for joining two tubular members together at a subsea location wherein one of the tubular members has internal grooves and the second tubular member is sufficiently small to slide into the first tubular member and the first tubular member has an external flange suitable for connecting to a flowline, which apparatus includes a tubular mandrel having means for connecting to said first tubular member, a resilient sleeve surrounding said mandrel and adapted to be positioned within said second tubular member, volume compensating means positioned within each of said grooves and testing means carried by said mandrel to allow testing of the joint while the mandrel is still in position after forming.

Abstract: An improved valve for controlling flow through a tubing hanger in a unit having a concentric tubing system and includes upwardly facing recesses or blind pockets in the hanger with a valve member in each of said pockets and having circumferential seals around its upper end and around its lower enlarged end, the valve members are biased upwardly in their pockets by springs and by annulus pressure which is transmitted to the lower end of the valve members through valve passages, the valve members each includes an upper projection or rod which is engaged by an annular actuator controlled responsive to a downwardly exerted spring force and by a pressure area differential which is exposed to annulus pressure and control pressure to urge the annular actuator downwardly which movement moves the valve member to its downward or open position.

Abstract: A well structure which includes a well housing having an upwardly facing internal shoulder and an internal recess below the shoulder, a tieback adapted to be landed on said housing internal shoulder and having an upper internal surface and a smaller lower internal surface with a shoulder therebetween, an actuator sleeve having an upper outer portion fitting closely within the upper internal surface of the tieback, a lower outer portion fitting closely with the lower internal surface of said tieback, a downwardly facing external shoulder between said lower and upper outer portions and a lower tapered surface tapering downwardly and inwardly, latch elements having upper and outer tapered surfaces mating with the lower tapered surface on said actuator sleeve, and a pressure compensating material position in the annulus between said shoulders and the upper internal surface of said tieback and the lower outer portion of said actuator sleeve so that downward movement of said actuator sleeve within said tieback is n

Abstract: The improved tubular joint of the present invention includes the tubular members each having a thickened portion near their adjoining ends which thickened portions have substantially the same stiffness as the thinner portions of the tubular members, an inner band positioned within the thickened ends of the tubular members and an outer band positioned around the thickened ends of the tubular members, said inner band having a plurality of capture plates with each having a threaded openings facing outwardly and registering with the openings of the bolt sleeves which extending through the outer band and the end of each of the tubular members, bolt shafts extending through said bolt sleeves in threaded engagement with said threaded openings in the capture plate and sealed within said bolt sleeves, locking nuts on the outer ends of said bolt shafts, means for sealing between the exterior of the inner band and the interior of each of the tubular members, means for testing the effectiveness of the seal between the in

Abstract: An improved well structure to be installed within a wellhead housing having an internal landing seat and an internal support groove above the landing seat, a hanger having an internal bore and an external landing shoulder with the hanger positioned within the housing so that the hanger landing shoulder lands on and transmits hanger loads to the housing landing seat and a blowout preventer secured to the upper end of the housing including a closure having a body which lands within the hanger bore and including an external downwardly facing load shoulder, a split support ring positioned below the shoulder and a sleeve coacting with the split support ring so that when said closure is exposed to blowout preventer testing pressures the sleeve wedges the support ring outwardly into tight supporting engagement with said internal housing groove so that testing pressure loads are transmitted from said body loading shoulder through said support ring to said housing.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for operating or setting equipment within a subsea marine wellhead from the surface having an indicating signal provided at the surface of the successful completion of such operation. The steps of the method include the lowering of a well component and the detecting and transmitting equipment on a running string from the surface; detecting the successful completion of the subsea operation, and transmitting to the surface of a signal signifying that the operations within the subsea well head have been successfully completed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved caisson structure which is adapted to support a production platform above the water and has its base on bottom and has a foot print or base which will pass through the drilling slot of a jackup rig. The caisson structure includes a large diameter caisson supported in a base structure including at least three base columns through which piling is placed and bracing extending between the columns and the caisson, a platform supported at the upper end of the caisson with production tubing and its casing extending upward through the caisson, and where desired, filled with concrete surrounding the casing within the caisson. The improved caisson structure can be used to surround and support an existing conductor pipe extending from a subsea wellhead to the surface or to surround a wellhead at the surface and the conductor which extends to such wellhead from a subsea well bore.

Abstract: A filtering case (1,30) is comprised of two superimposed parts, respectively an upper one (2,31) and a lower one (43, 32), which slide telescopically the one within the other. The upper part (2,31) bounds a slurry receiver chamber (2a,51) and has an apertured (4,51) bottom wall (8,40a); the lower part (3,32) is guided through the aperture (4,61) between a first position outside the slurry receiver chamber (2a,51) and a second position at least partway inserted thereinto. The lower part (3,32) has fiter-forming side walls whereby the overall filtering area of the case (1,30) increases with the depth of penetration of the lower part (3,32) into the slurry receiver chamber (2a, 51).

Abstract: A ratcheting connector for providing a radial connection between two concentric tubular members, with one of the members having a recess in which a split latching ring is mounted with coarse threaded engagement between said split latching ring and said one member and fine threads on the side of said split latching ring facing the other member which has mating fine threads with a shape which cams said split latching ring into its recess as the threads move past each other in the direction of installation. Setting of the connector is accomplished after full engagement of the fine threads by rotation of the central tubular member less than a full revolution.

Abstract: An improved tubular connector having a first tubular member with an external hub, an internal sealing surface and an external rib spaced from the hub, a second tubular member with an external hub, an internal sealing surface and an external dividing rib, a sleeve surrounding and slidable on the second tubular member and having an enlarged end extending beyond the end of the tub of the second tubular member in the retracted position of the sleeve, the sleeve having an internal rib engaging the exterior of the second tubular member and an internal tapered surface, a plurality of latching fingers supported between the interior of the sleeve and the exterior of the second tubular member, means for delivering fluid pressure to the space between the sleeve and the exterior of the second tubular member for movement of the sleeve in the direction toward the hub end of the second tubular member, means for limiting the movement of the latching members in the direction of movement of the sleeve whereby engagement of the

Abstract: An improved override structure for a valve having an override stem having T slot on its first end for connecting to the T shape of the valve member stem, an actuator threaded onto the override stem for moving the override stem axially to cause movement of the valve member between open and closed positions, pins and slots for preventing rotary movement of said actuator, an engaging member for receiving a handwheel on the other end of the override stem for imparting rotation to the override stem within the actuator, such rotation causing axial movement of the override and valve member stems to move the valve member without movement of the actuator.

Abstract: An improved forging billet of dual alloys and an improved method for forging a dual alloy billet. The billet is cylindrical in shape having an outer tubular portion of one alloy and another alloy filling the central opening through the tubular portion, the ends of the billet include a radial flange of the tubular alloy extending a short distance outward at each end of the billet and having a skirt extending from the outer end of the radial flange axially away from the body of the billet to form a circular opening at each end of the billet which has at least as large a diameter as the outer diameter of the outer tubular portion, and a sandwich structure positioned within each of said circular opening including a plurality of layers of a powdered lubricant, preferably boron nitride lubricant, separated by foil layers, preferably a high purity nickel foil.

Abstract: The improved magnetic proximity detector includes a tubular housing, a tubular magnet fixed in position within the housing, a first movable magnet within the housing at one end of the tubular magnet, a second movable magnet with the housing at the other end of the tubular magnet, an annular magnet positioned in surrounding relationship to the housing and being adjustable axially with respect to the housing, a switch having a blade, a first contact and a second contact, a connection extending between the first and second movable magnets and to the switch blade to move the switch blade responsive to movement of the magnets, the poles of the first movable magnet arranged so that the magnet is attracted to the tubular magnet, the poles of the second movable magnet arranged so that the magnet is repelled by the tubular magnet, the end of the housing containing the first movable magnet moving the two magnets responsive to ferrous metal in close spaced relationship to such end to change the position of the blade swi

Abstract: A seal assembly for providing a primary metal-to-metal seal between the outer wall of a tubular member and the inner wall of a surrounding receiving bore slidingly receiving the tubular member. The sealing assembly includes a metal seal ring member having the general configuration of a toroid which has been flattened on its upper and lower surfaces. The metal seal ring member has a close fit on the outer wall of the tubular member, and an interference fit with the wall of the receiving bore. When stabbed into the receiving bore, the metal seal ring member coins onto the walls of the tubular member and the bore, resulting in an effective metal-to-metal seal. The seal assembly preferably includes a compliant seal ring member of a preferably high lubricity material, e.g., Teflon, disposed on the tubular member below the metal seal ring member.

Abstract: An improved subsea hanger and seal having a hanger body with an external landing shoulder and an upstanding sealing rim with external sealing teeth and multiple internal camming surfaces and an actuating ring which fits within the sealing rim and includes external multiple camming surfaces mating with the camming surfaces on the interior of the sealing rim to move said sealing rim into initial set position and allow subsequent pressure to be applied to the interior of the actuating ring to deform the sealing rim into positive gripping and sealing engagement with the interior of the subsea wellhead housing in which the hanger is landed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for making a casing patch while the casing is held under tension. The method includes the steps of lowering a casing patch tool to position the annular member to which the upper end of the casing is to be connected and a casing protection collar both in surrounding relationship to the upper end of the casing and with the cold forging tool and the tensioning spear within the casing, setting the spear within the casing at a level surrounded by the casing protection collar, pulling on the spear to tension the casing, and cold forging the casing into tight gripping and sealing engagement with the annular member.

Abstract: The improved shaft locking apparatus includes a body with a bore therethrough and includes balls mounted in radial ports in said body so that in one position the balls partially extend into the bore and in restricting the bore lock a shaft associated with the apparatus from axial movement. A heat sensitive material is used as a part of the balls supporting means and when it is subjected to excessive heat, heat above its design limitations, its support of the balls relaxes and allows their retraction from the bore to thereby allow axial movement of the shaft.

Abstract: A low-noise valve has a body with a fluid inlet to receive pressurized fluid, an oulet and a fluid passageway extending between the inlet and outlet. Located in the passageway are a number of spaced throats. The valve also includes a movable stem with a number of plugs each adapted to be closely received by a corresponding throat. Each plug includes a plurality of circumferential alternating grooves and lands, the lands being closely spaced within the throats to create a plurality of flow restrictions each incrementally restricting fluid flow when the stem is at a minimum flow position. Movement of the stem toward a full open position sequentially removes the lands from the throat to reduce restriction of said fluid flow in stages.