Patents Assigned to GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
  • Patent number: 9145751
    Abstract: A hydraulic accumulator assembly in which a hydraulic accumulator is associated with at least one responsive unit, which is responsive to the weight of the accumulator to provide an indication dependent on the weight of the accumulator. The accumulator is in an underwater fluid extraction well facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Mark Edwin Organ
  • Publication number: 20150219253
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body, the flexible pipe body including a collapse resistant layer comprising a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, the radially inner surface comprising a plurality of substantially regular protrusions and/or depressions extending in a direction perpendicular to a tangent of the radially inner surface, for breaking up a boundary layer of fluid flowing along the flexible pipe body in use
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: GE OIL & GAS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Alasdair Clements, Krishna Kant Agarwal, Ravindra Devi, Jonathan David Leyland, Senthamil Selvan
  • Patent number: 9097371
    Abstract: An elongate tape element and method of manufacturing flexible pipe body are disclosed. The elongate tape element which is for providing at least one helically wound layer of windings in a flexible pipe body, comprises an elongate body having a base surface, a top surface opposed to the base surface and opposed first and second side walls extending between the base and top surfaces wherein at least one surface and/or side wall of the body comprises a recessed region for receiving a respective portion of a tape element holder member when said tape element is wound to form a layer of windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Geoffrey Stephen Graham
  • Patent number: 9097090
    Abstract: A communication connection in a subsea well for converting an optical signal from an optical fiber to an electrical signal, comprising a small form factor pluggable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Peter John Davey, Ian Kent
  • Patent number: 9097089
    Abstract: A method of supplying electrical power to at least one device at a tree of an underwater fluid extraction well is disclosed. The method comprises using magnetic resonance coupling for wirelessly transmitting power from a supply to each device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GE OIL & GAS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Overton, Andrew Robert Packham
  • Patent number: 9090019
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed relating to flexible pipe and composite tape. Flexible pipe body for a flexible pipe comprises an internal pressure sheath and at least one armor layer over the sheath comprising a wound tape of composite material. A method for manufacturing a composite tape is disclosed making use of a pultrusion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Terence Sheldrake
  • Patent number: 9079353
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed relating to flexible pipe and composite tape. Flexible pipe body for a flexible pipe comprises an internal pressure sheath and at least one armor layer over the sheath comprising a wound tape of composite material. A method for manufacturing a composite tape is disclosed making use of a pultrusion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Terence Henry Sheldrake
  • Publication number: 20150192232
    Abstract: A sleeve member, end fitting assembly, and a method of assembly of a flexible pipe are disclosed. The sleeve member includes a body comprising a substantially cylindrical portion having an inner diameter substantially equal to an outside diameter of a first pipe body layer for overlying the first pipe body layer; and a flange portion extending radially outwards from the body for locating between a further pipe body layer and an end fitting, the further pipe body layer being an armour layer, the flange portion having an outer diameter substantially equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the further pipe body layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: GE OIL & GAS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Judimar de Assis Clevelario, Fabio de Souza Pires, Felipe Areas Vargas, Valdeir Tinoco da Silva
  • Patent number: 9074427
    Abstract: A riser assembly and method for transporting fluids from a sub-sea location are disclosed. The riser assembly includes a riser comprising at least one segment of flexible pipe; at least one buoyancy element for providing a positive buoyancy to a portion of the riser; and a tethering element for tethering the buoyancy element to a fixed structure and to resist the positive buoyancy of the buoyancy element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Zhimin Tan, Yanqiu Zhang, Lun Qiu
  • Publication number: 20150167867
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes a collapse resistant layer comprising a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, the radially inner surface comprising, in cross section, a substantially flat portion and at least one cavity extending from the flat portion radially outwards, and the radially inner surface further comprising, in cross section, at least one aerodynamic feature extending from the flat portion for breaking up a boundary layer of fluid flowing along the flexible pipe body in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: GE OIL & GAS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Krishna Kant Agarwal, Bihari Lal, Senthamil Selvan
  • Publication number: 20150159458
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly includes a production tree and a tubing hanger assembly having a tubing hanger and an orientation adapter. A passage is formed through a side wall of the orientation adapter for porting communication from within a main bore of the wellhead assembly. When the tubing hanger assembly lands in the wellhead, a key on the orientation adapter engages a helical profile on an inner surface of the main bore and rotates the orientation adapter so that the passage registers with a passage in the tree. Fluid and electricity communicates through the registered passages. Examples of connectors between the respective passages include spheriseal connectors and electrical wet connects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited (Aberdeen) (UK and Northern Ireland)
    Inventors: Chin Choy TAN, Haw Keat LIM, Farandy Angesti LlONG
  • Patent number: 9046203
    Abstract: Flexible pipe body for transporting fluids from a sub-sea location, including a carcass layer comprising a plurality of independent hoop elements each comprising a body portion having a circular outer surface that circles around an inner circumference of a bore region of the flexible pipe, said body portion being arranged to interlock adjacent hoop elements together. A method of manufacturing flexible pipe body is also enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Geoffrey Stephen Graham, George Karabelas
  • Publication number: 20150143878
    Abstract: An assembly and method of testing the integrity of a sealing ring of a flexible pipe are disclosed. The method includes locating a first sealing ring adjacent a first collar member and a layer of flexible pipe body; energising the first sealing ring by urging the sealing ring towards a primary pressure-retaining end fitting component, or by urging the pressure- retaining component towards the sealing ring; locating a second sealing ring adjacent the first collar member and a second collar member; energising the second sealing ring by urging the sealing ring towards the pressure-retaining component, or by urging the pressure-retaining component towards the sealing ring; and pressurising the region between the first sealing ring and the second sealing ring through a port extending towards the region to a predetermined pressure of 5 MPa or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: GE OIL & GAS UK Limited
    Inventors: Judimar de Assis Clevelario, Fabio de Souza Pires, Felipe Areas Vargas, Everton Vieira de Almeida, Andre Luis de Souza Breves
  • Publication number: 20150144350
    Abstract: A riser assembly and method of providing a riser assembly for transporting production fluids from a location deep under water are disclosed. The riser assembly includes a riser comprising a flexible pipe, the riser having a hang off point which is an end of the riser that in use connects with a floating facility, and a touchdown zone which in use is a section of the riser in the region of where the riser meets the seabed or other fixed structure; and at least one buoyancy element arranged at the touchdown zone or within about 50 m of the touchdown zone of the riser to support the riser in a configuration for accommodating kinetic energy propagating along the riser from the hang off point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: GE OIL & GAS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Yucheng Hou, Zhimin Tan, Jiabei Yuan, Tricia Hill, Yanqiu Zhang
  • Patent number: 9033614
    Abstract: A connector assembly, riser assembly and method of producing a connector assembly are disclosed. The connector assembly includes a body portion for locating over a flexible pipe and arranged to be connectable to or formed integrally with one or more buoyancy compensating element, and one or more protrusion extending from the body portion and arranged to reduce or interrupt vortex induced vibrations in water surrounding the flexible pipe in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Jiabei Yuan, Zhimin Tan, Yucheng Hou, Yanqiu Zhang
  • Patent number: 9016326
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and a method for manufacturing flexible pipe body is disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes an internal pressure sheath, at least one insulating layer comprising a mesh layer comprising a plurality of pockets and an outer sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Peter Raoul Williams
  • Publication number: 20150076813
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an outer collar member of an end fitting for a flexible pipe. The apparatus comprises an outer collar body portion and an outer collar neck portion extending away from the outer collar body portion. The neck portion is arranged to be secured to a portion of flexible pipe body in a slotted position between layers of the flexible pipe body. The position is located between an outer sheath of the flexible pipe body and at least one armour layer of the flexible pipe body wherein the outer collar body portion comprises a curved inner surface region for determining a radius of curvature of wires of the armour layer bent away from an axis of the flexible pipe bodies and supported by the curved inner surface when the pipe body is mounted in the end fitting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Tony Eccleston, George Karabelas, Zhimin Tan
  • Patent number: 8967220
    Abstract: A method of forming a homogenous composite pipe of unspecified length from strips of fiber reinforced thermoplastic material is disclosed. A mandrel is arranged stationary in a process direction to extend freely from a first supported end to a second end. A slip-sheath is applied about the mandrel. The thermoplastic material strips are wound about the slip-sheath. A section of the thermoplastic material strip winding is consolidated. The slip-sheath is formed from tape material which is applied longitudinally onto the mandrel surface. The slip-sheath is connected to a puller arranged downstream of the mandrel in the process direction. Consolidated pipe sections are pulled off from the second end of the mandrel in synchronization with the winding and consolidation. An assembly for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Ole A. Grytå
  • Patent number: 8955553
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes an inner fluid retaining layer; an armour layer provided radially outwards of the inner fluid retaining layer; and a buoyancy layer including a plurality of discrete elongate buoyancy elements provided radially outwards of the fluid retaining layer wound at a helical pitch angle equal to or more than 0 degrees and less than about 85 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the flexible pipe body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Terence Henry Sheldrake, Andrew Peter Roberts, Zhimin Tan
  • Patent number: 8900377
    Abstract: Use of a boron holding grease or fluid or oil for the purpose of increasing acid resistance and/or corrosion resistance in at least one metallic component of a flexible pipe body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Geoffrey Stephen Graham