Abstract: A pipe connection in which at least one of the flanges has a reverse hub between the outer portion of the flange and the inner portion of the flange that extends outward to form to the weld neck. The reverse hub tapers down toward the sealing face of the flange, rather than away from the face of the flange. This taper may follow a spline curve which is empirically determined to reduce stresses that are caused by rotation of the outer portion of the flange around the gasket. The reverse hub eliminates material that would be required for a positive hub and thereby reduces the weight of the flange. By reducing the stresses resulting from rotation of the outer portion of the flange around the gasket, the thickness of the flange may also be reduced, further reducing the weight of the flange.

Abstract: A swivel misalignment coupling for connecting pipe sections in a high-pressure conduit. In one embodiment, the coupling is a three-bolt coupling having a female coupling member, a male coupling member, and a swiveling collar member. The male and female coupling members have contact surfaces that are spherical to enable sealing contact between them. A seal ring may be positioned between the contact surfaces to ensure a good seal. The collar swivels around the male coupling member to facilitate fastening of the collar to the female coupling member, which holds the male and female coupling members in sealing engagement. Recesses may be positioned radially inward from the attachment points (e.g., bolt holes) of the female coupling member to reduce stress and potential deformation of the contact surface.

Abstract: A high-pressure connection in a conduit or enclosure utilizing a bidirectional, pressure-energized seal. Male and female flanges are provided, where one of the flanges has a recess that accommodates a seal ring. The outer peripheries of the two flanges' sealing surfaces are in contact with each so that clamping, bolting and bending stresses are not borne by the seal ring. The seal ring has a cross-section that includes a solid body and two V shaped sealing portions that extend from the body at an angle between 90 and 160 degrees. Each sealing portion has a set of opposing sealing faces with a cavity between them, so that fluid pressure within the cavity urges the sealing faces outward from the first cavity toward the flanges.

Abstract: Systems and methods for separating sand and other solids from oil and other fluids produced from a well. The present systems and methods introduce the fluids at relatively high speed into a generally cylindrical separation chamber. The fluids flow in a generally circular path within the chamber, causing the solids and higher density fluid/media to be urged outward from the axis of the chamber as the fluids flow from the upper portion of the chamber. Because the solids become concentrated at the outer wall of the chamber, the fluid in a central portion of the chamber is substantially free of the solids, and can be removed from the chamber via a fluid outlet. The solids concentrated at the outer wall of the chamber continue to move downward into an accumulation chamber in which the fluid speed is reduced, allowing the solids to settle out of the fluid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for connecting misaligned pipe sections, where two sets of variably spaced bearings enable the transfer of evenly distributed pressure from a collar member to a coupling member. One embodiment comprises a misalignment coupling that includes first and second coupling members, a collar, and two sets of bearings. The collar is positioned around the second coupling member and has a flange for coupling to a flange of the first coupling member. The bearings are positioned in an annular space between the second coupling member and the collar. The two sets of bearings have variable spacing and are interleaved, with one set contacting the collar and one set contacting the second coupling member. When the flanges are secured to each other, contact pressure is transferred from the collar through the bearings to the second coupling member, thereby applying contact pressure between the first and second coupling members.

Abstract: Lifting devices for use with drilling risers, where the lifting devices have a plurality of segments, some of which are hinged to facilitate handling and provide multiple shear points between the hinged segments. One embodiment comprises a lifting device for a drilling riser, where the device includes a collar and a lifting lug. The collar has a cylindrical ring with one or more annular ribs connected to corresponding circular edges of the ring. The lifting lug is connected to the collar and the ribs. The collar has a plurality of segments, and at least a first one of the segments is pivotally connected to another one of the segments by a hinge. Each rib may taper smoothly from a smaller thickness at a top edge of the rib to a greater thickness at a base of the rib.

Abstract: Systems for lifting drilling risers that serve as thrust collars to retain buoyancy modules on the risers and also enable the risers to be lifted using lifting lugs that are attached to the thrust collars. In one embodiment, a lifting device uses two annular ribs at the edges of a cylindrical collar, wherein the ribs have substantially constant height, but varying thickness. The thickness of each rib is greater at the position of the lifting lug, and may also be greater at its base than that its top or outermost edge. The collar may be segmented, where the segments are bolted together to assemble the device around the riser. The segments may be pre-stressed to reduce stresses during lifting. The device may include an elastomeric layer on its inner surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving heat exchangers by implementing self-energizing seals. In one embodiment, a U-tube heat exchanger includes a shell enclosure, a tube sheet, a closure and a set of tubes welded to the tube sheet. The tube sheet separates first and second chambers from a third chamber in the shell enclosure. The closure seals the first and second chambers. Each tube extends from the first chamber, through the third chamber to the second chamber. The improvement comprises a seal between the shell enclosure and either the closure or the tube sheet. The seal includes conically tapered sealing surfaces on the shell enclosure and closure or tube sheet which form a wedge-shaped gap. A seal ring having surfaces complementary to the sealing surfaces of the shell enclosure and closure or tube sheet is positioned between the sealing surfaces to form a self-energized seal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving heat exchangers by implementing self-energizing seals. In one embodiment, a U-tube heat exchanger includes a shell enclosure, a tube sheet, a closure and a set of tubes welded to the tube sheet. The tube sheet separates first and second chambers from a third chamber in the shell enclosure. The closure seals the first and second chambers. Each tube extends from the first chamber, through the third chamber to the second chamber. The improvement comprises a seal between the shell enclosure and either the closure or the tube sheet. The seal includes conically tapered sealing surfaces on the shell enclosure and closure or tube sheet which form a wedge-shaped gap. A seal ring having surfaces complementary to the sealing surfaces of the shell enclosure and closure or tube sheet is positioned between the sealing surfaces to form a self-energized seal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making connections between pipe sections. In one embodiment, a pipe connection consists of a pair of flanges having conically tapered sealing surfaces and a tapered seal ring. A first one of the flanges has a male nose extending forward from the face of the flange, while a second one of the flanges has a female pocket which is recessed into the flange. The seal ring has conically tapered surfaces complementary to those of the flanges so that, when the connection is assembled, a seal is created between the seal ring and each of the flanges. The nose of the male flange extends forward so that, when the connection is assembled, the nose makes direct contact with the pocket of the second flange, forming a substantially gap-free conduit through the flanges.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling pipes made of dissimilar materials in applications that are subject to large variations in temperature. In one embodiment, a connection comprises a first flange made of a first material and a second flange made of a second material. Each flange is designed to be welded to a pipe of the same material. One of the flanges has a male mating surface, while the other flanges as a female mating surface. The male flange is made of the material that experiences greater expansion or less contraction when the temperature of the connection is changed from a connection temperature to an operating temperature. The female flange is made of the other material. A sealing ring having elastic properties is preferably used between the mating surfaces of the flanges.

Abstract: Systems for actuating a pair of pipe flanges to cause the flanges to be sealingly engaged. In one embodiment, a connection includes a first flange, a second flange and a coupling. The first and second flanges have complementary mating surfaces. The coupling engages both the first and second flanges, with the flanges oriented so that their mating surfaces face each other. The coupling movably engages the first flange to form a cavity between the coupling and the flange. When fluid is forced into the cavity, expansion of the cavity moves the first mating surface toward the second mating surface. This is continued until the mating surfaces make contact and a desired amount of pressure is applied between them to create a seal. The pressure of the fluid is distributed evenly through the cavity, so the contact pressure between the mating surfaces of the flanges is also evenly distributed.

Abstract: A removable connector for use between angled, immovable high pressure lines is disclosed. The connector utilizes a tubular elbow portion having a mating flange on each end and an adapter which mates with one of the elbow flanges. The remaining elbow flange mates with a flange at the end of one of the high pressure lines and the free end of the adapter mates with a flange at the end of the other high pressure line. The mating flange surfaces are frusto-conical in shape and corresponding frusto-conical seal rings are placed between the mating surfaces. The elbow and adapter are adapted to have their respective ends placed at the pipe flanges and their bodies rotated toward each other until their opposite ends mate with each other. The flanges are then bolted together and tightened to ensure sealing engagement and bring the elbow and adapter into alignment with the pipes.

Abstract: A swivel flow line connector is disclosed for use in misaligned connections. The connector includes male and female flanged tubular members and a seal ring positioned therebetween. The male member and the seal ring have mating annular spherical surfaces which are respectively convex and concave. The female member and the seal ring have mating frustoconical tapered surfaces, but the outside diameter of the seal ring is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the female member frustoconical surface. Prior to drawing the male and female members together by bolting respective flanges thereof, the convex male member surface is pivotably engaged with the concave seal ring surface for alignment of the members in the desired swiveled position. Upon drawing the members together by tightening the flange bolts, the seal ring is radially compressed by axial displacement of the female member frustoconical surface with respect to the corresponding tapered surface of the seal ring.