Patents Assigned to Expro North Sea Limited
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Patent number: 10570708Abstract: A landing string system and method therefor are provided. The landing string system has a measurement device with mechanical sensors that observe mechanical conditions associated with a landing string. Data-storage devices are in communication with the measurement device. The data-storage devices allow storage, from time to time, of data associated with the observed mechanical conditions. A power assembly provides power to the data-storage devices for at least an expected time of service of the system.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Paul Deacon, Keith Taylor
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Patent number: 10450834Abstract: A ball valve is provided. The ball valve includes a housing, a ball seat arranged in the housing, a ball member mounted within the housing and being rotatable relative to the ball seat between open and closed positions, the ball seat and ball member defining respective through bores, the ball member including a sealing surface, a bore surface and a leading edge surface extending between the sealing surface and the bore surface, the leading edge surface being configured to cut a body extending at least partially through the valve upon closure of the ball member, wherein said leading edge surface is truncated. The ball member may include a relief region proximate the leading edge surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Kris Manett, Paul Deacon
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Publication number: 20190284928Abstract: In described examples, there are systems and methods for deployment in proximity to an abandoned well. The systems and methods may allow use of data collected from an abandoned well, in which a sensor is positioned in the open hole section, or a well having a discontinuous metallic well structure. In some examples, there is described a communication system that is configured to be deployed in an abandoned well having a discontinuous metallic well structure that may be severed below a ground region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2017Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Alexandra Vasil'evna Rogacheva, Brian Phillip Champion
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Publication number: 20190284929Abstract: In described examples, there are systems and methods for deployment in proximity to an abandoned well. The systems and methods may help monitor conditions at an abandoned well and/or help communication with downhole communicate devices. In some examples, there is described a communication system that is configured to be deployed in proximity to an abandoned well having a metallic well structure severed below a ground region. The system may include a plurality of receivers configured to be deployed at the ground region in proximity to the abandoned well, and configured to receive data signals from the metallic well structure of the abandoned well via the ground region. The system may comprise a processing unit, in communication with the receivers, and configured to receive and process data signals from the receivers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2017Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Alexandra Vasil'evna Rogacheva, Brian Phillip Champion
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Patent number: 10392935Abstract: There are described methods and apparatus for determining the condition of a barrier in a well infrastructure, for example. In some examples, sensor data that has been derived from a sensor arrangement at a barrier positioned at a location in a well infrastructure in received. That sensor data may be associated with measured conditions at the barrier, or the like. Composition data derived from measurements of fluid composition within the well may also be received. Such composition data may be indicative of the location at which fluid has been in the well. Analyzing such received sensor data and composition data may help determine the condition of the barrier. In some examples, there is described well apparatus comprising a barrier for zonal isolation, a sensor arrangement configured to monitor conditions at the location of the barrier; and one or more tracer elements configured to interact with fluid at the location of the barrier so as to impart identifiable properties to the composition of fluid.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Iain D. Farley, Brian P. Champion
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Patent number: 10246970Abstract: A landing string includes a valve having a valve member mounted within a flow path extending through the landing string, and a valve control system for use in operating the valve to move the valve member between open and closed positions to control flow along the flow path. The valve control system is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the valve is operated or controlled under a fail-as-is (FAI) mode of operation, and a second configuration in which the valve is operated or controlled under a fail-close (FC) mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Paul Deacon, Jamie Walker, Dariusz Szpunar
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Patent number: 10066458Abstract: A ball valve apparatus includes a housing defining a housing inlet and a housing outlet and a valve cartridge mounted within the housing and defining a cartridge flow path extending between a cartridge inlet and a cartridge outlet, wherein the cartridge inlet is arranged in fluid communication with the housing inlet and the cartridge outlet is arranged in fluid communication with the housing outlet. A ball valve member is mounted within the valve cartridge and is rotatable to selectively open and close the cartridge flow path. A leak chamber is defined between the housing and the cartridge for containing fluid leakage from the valve cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Paul Deacon, John Sangster
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Patent number: 9957772Abstract: A valve assembly for wellbore, downhole or intervention operations, such as for subsea wellbore operations includes a rotatable valve member having a passage formed therein. The valve assembly is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the passage is aligned or alignable with a first conduit, and a second configuration in which the passage is misaligned or misalignable with the first conduit, so as to cut or sever and/or clamp apparatus present in the valve member passage prior to reconfiguration. The assembly is configured to apply a maximum cutting force at a particular phase or stage of the reconfiguration.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventor: Alan Tennant
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Patent number: 9951608Abstract: A lateral bore communication system where data signals are transmitted across the break in conductive path between a main bore and a lateral bore using a downhole structure section which has an electrode provided around a tubing portion and separated therefrom by an insulating layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventor: Steven Martin Hudson
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Patent number: 9786431Abstract: An electrical power and/or electrical signal transmission system for transmitting electrical power and/or electrical signals from a location on a first side of a metallic wall to a location on a second side of the metallic wall includes a transmitting apparatus having an electrical source and a first transformer. A receiving apparatus has a receiving module for receiving electrical power and/or electrical signals and a second transformer. First and second ends of a primary winding of the second transformer are electrically connected to respective spaced locations on the second, opposite, side of the metallic wall for picking up electrical power and/or electrical signals from the metallic wall. The receiving module is electrically connected to a secondary winding of the second transformer to enable electrical power and/or electrical signals to be transmitted from the electrical source to the receiving module.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2011Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventor: Steven Martin Hudson
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Patent number: 9546539Abstract: Downhole electrical power generation apparatus and methods of using stored pressurized gas and/or ambient downhole pressure. One example comprises first and second fluid receiving chambers, a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber and a turbine generator disposed so that fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communications path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Steven Martin Hudson, Alexandra Vasil'evna Rogacheva
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Patent number: 9518444Abstract: A valve assembly (2) which is configured to be coupled to a tubing string comprises a housing (8) defining a housing flow path (9) for communicating with the tubing string, and a barrier member (14) located in the housing (8) and configurable between a normally-closed position in which the barrier member (14) restricts access through the housing flow path (9), and an open position in which access is permitted through the housing flow path (9). The valve assembly (2) also comprises a bypass arrangement reconfigurable between an open state in which the bypass arrangement defines a bypass flow path that communicates with the housing flow path (9) on opposite sides of the barrier member (14) to permit fluid to bypass the barrier member and thereby fill the tubing string, and a closed state in which fluid is prevented from bypassing the barrier member to thereby permit pressurization of the tubing string.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2011Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventor: Richard William Thompson
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Patent number: 9506341Abstract: An impressed current cathodic protection arrangement includes an elongate metallic structure to be protected and cathodic protection apparatus which comprises a DC power supply and an anode. One terminal of the power supply is connected to the structure at a connection point and another terminal of the power supply is connected to the anode. The arrangement includes monitoring apparatus for monitoring effectiveness of cathodic protection provided by the cathodic protection apparatus by determining the electrical potential of the structure relative to surroundings at at least one location which is spaced from the connection point.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventor: Steven Martin Hudson
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Patent number: 9371727Abstract: Downhole water level detecting apparatus for detecting the level of water in a formation in the region of a well installation. The detecting apparatus includes a transmitter for applying electrical signals to a signaling loop at a first location. The signaling loop includes a downhole metallic structure of the well installation and an earth return. The detecting apparatus also includes a detector for monitoring electrical signals in the signaling loop, and an evaluation unit arranged for determining a level of water in the formation relative to the downhole metallic structure in dependence on the monitored signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Steven Martin Hudson, Robert Charles Bromwich, Alexandra Vasil'evna Rogacheva, Bridget Mary Weston
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Patent number: 9022102Abstract: A well installation includes a metallic structure having downhole metallic tubing for conveying product towards the surface, a sub surface safety valve disposed in the downhole metallic tubing for interrupting flow of product towards the surface when closed and allowing flow of product towards the surface when open. Also, valve control means are disposed downhole and arranged for detecting electrical signals in the downhole metallic tubing and for holding the valve open while receiving an electrical signal, and surface signaling means for applying an electrical signal to metallic structure of the well for transmission via the downhole metallic tubing towards the valve control means so as to hold the valve open. The system can be made more robust by ensuring that the control means will only hold the valve open while receiving a signal of given characteristics to help prevent stray currents erroneously holding the valve open.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2009Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Steven Martin Hudson, Alexandra Vasil'evna Rogacheva, Bridget Mary Weston, Robert Charles Bromwich
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Publication number: 20140218208Abstract: An impressed current cathodic protection arrangement includes an elongate metallic structure to be protected and cathodic protection apparatus which comprises a DC power supply and an anode. One terminal of the power supply is connected to the structure at a connection point and another terminal of the power supply is connected to the anode. The arrangement includes monitoring apparatus for monitoring effectiveness of cathodic protection provided by the cathodic protection apparatus by determining the electrical potential of the structure relative to surroundings at at least one location which is spaced from the connection point.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2012Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: EXPRO NORTH SEA LIMITEDInventor: Steven Martin Hudson
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Publication number: 20140190703Abstract: A landing string for use in deploying equipment between a surface vessel and a subsea well comprises a separation assembly configured to permit relative movement of upper and lower regions of the landing string upon exposure to a predetermined load.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2012Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Alistair Tennant, Paul Deacon
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Publication number: 20140002088Abstract: Downhole water level detecting apparatus for detecting the level of water in a formation in the region of a well installation. The detecting apparatus includes a transmitter for applying electrical signals to a signaling loop at a first location. The signaling loop includes a downhole metallic structure of the well installation and an earth return. The detecting apparatus also includes a detector for monitoring electrical signals in the signaling loop, and an evaluation unit arranged for determining a level of water in the formation relative to the downhole metallic structure in dependence on the monitored signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2011Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: Expro North Sea LimitedInventors: Steven Martin Hudson, Robert Charles Bromwich, Alexandra Vasil'evna Rogacheva, Bridget Mary Weston
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Publication number: 20130292133Abstract: A valve assembly (2) which is configured to be coupled to a tubing string comprises a housing (8) defining a housing flow path (9) for communicating with the tubing string, and a barrier member (14) located in the housing (8) and configurable between a normally-closed position in which the barrier member (14) restricts access through the housing flow path (9), and an open position in which access is permitted through the housing flow path (9). The valve assembly (2) also comprises a bypass arrangement reconfigurable between an open state in which the bypass arrangement defines a bypass flow path that communicates with the housing flow path (9) on opposite sides of the barrier member (14) to permit fluid to bypass the barrier member and thereby fill the tubing string, and a closed state in which fluid is prevented from bypassing the barrier member to thereby permit pressurization of the tubing string.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2011Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: Expro North Sea LimitedInventor: Richard William Thompson
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Publication number: 20130292265Abstract: An impressed current cathodic protection arrangement includes an elongate metallic structure to be protected and cathodic protection apparatus which comprises a DC power supply and an anode. One terminal of the power supply is connected to the structure at a connection point and another terminal of the power supply is connected to the anode. The arrangement includes monitoring apparatus for monitoring effectiveness of cathodic protection provided by the cathodic protection apparatus by determining the electrical potential of the structure relative to surroundings at at least one location which is spaced from the connection point.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: EXPRO NORTH SEA LIMITEDInventors: Alexandra Vasil'evna Rogacheva, Steven Hudson