Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning a marine riser comprising a support for a number of actuators, where the support is connected to a vessel's structure, and where each actuator is connected to the support and to a marine riser, and where elements of the riser tensioner apparatus are enclosed.

Abstract: A vessel for operating on underwater wells has a deck; a moon pool extending through the deck; a further deck elevated above the moon pool and having a hole; and a compensation unit, which is mounted on the deck above the moon pool, is arranged between the deck and the further deck, and is provided with a frame sliding along the deck, a support carrier moveable with respect to the frame in a direction substantially vertical and suitable to support items, and a driving assembly connecting the support carrier to the frame and suitable to be selectively set so as to displace in the direction the support carrier either in a heave compensation mode or in a elevator mode.

Abstract: A system comprising a drilling platform having a central focus, a plurality of wellbay accesses positioned along a wellbay access perimeter surrounding the central focus, a drilling module, and a peripheral skidding system defining a skidding perimeter surrounding the central focus. Each of the plurality of wellbay accesses is associated with a wellbay substantially therebelow. The peripheral skidding system is operable to align the drilling module with one or more of the plurality of wellbay accesses, wherein the peripheral skidding system is positioned at an elevation higher than the plurality of wellbay accesses.

Abstract: A well completion system for monitoring multiple annuluses in a well, including an “A” annulus (between the production tubing and production casing) and a “B” annulus (between the production casing and intermediate casing). The system includes a tubing hanger suspension assembly that seals and separates an upper area of the production annulus. Port(s) in the production casing above the seal provide access between the “B” annulus and the separated area. The system also includes a moveable sleeve that allows fluid communication through the port(s) when in an open position, but not in a closed position. The tubing hanger suspension assembly includes means for moving the sleeve from the closed position to the open position. In addition, the tubing hanger housing includes “A” and “B” annulus passageways in communication with the production annulus and the separated area, respectively.

Abstract: A subsea completion for a well is presented that includes a tubing spool, a tubing hanger, a fluid coupling, an electrical coupling, a control system, a valve, and a production tree. The tubing spool includes a central bore, a side wall, and a fluid supply passage extending through the tubing spool. An electrical supply passage can also extend through the side wall of the tubing spool. The tubing hanger includes a fluid control passage. The tubing hanger can also include an electrical control passage. The control system includes a fluid control conduit to provide fluid to the tubing spool fluid supply passage from outside the tubing spool. The valve is connectable to the outside of the tubing spool to control fluid flow between the control system fluid conduit and the tubing spool fluid supply passage.

Abstract: A fluid diverting apparatus for use with a blowout preventer or a wellhead has a lower marine riser package having an interior passageway through which fluids can pass, an elongate member affixed to the lower marine riser package at an end opposite the blowout preventer stack or the wellhead, and a tubular member extending through a portion of the interior of the elongate member. The tubular member extends through a portion of the interior passageway of the lower marine riser passage. A seal is formed in one of the lower marine riser package of the elongate member so as to extend around an exterior of the tubular member so as to allow fluids to flow through a passage in the tubular member.

Abstract: A subsea system for intervention or deployment comprising a spool (9, 109) adapted for mounting subsea, a carrier (4, 4, 5?, 34, 104) adapted for suspension from a surface vessel or platform, a guide line (8, 108) wound on the spool, the free end of the guide line connected to the carrier and means (11) for driving the spool in one direction to pay out a length of guide line as the distance between the spool and the carrier is increased and in the other direction to reel in the length of guide line as the distance between the spool and the carrier decreases.

Abstract: A method and a device for enabling the use of riserless drilling fluid recovery from a seabed-based borehole (1) which is to be drilled by means of a casing (26), the casing (26) being provided with a drill bit (28) at its lower portion and with an inner wellhead (30) at its upper portion, and there being a conductor casing (6), which has an outer wellhead (8), in the seabed (2), the method including: —providing a suction module (12) with a dividable adapter (16) which fits complementarily in the outer wellhead (8); —drilling a length of the borehole (1) by means of the casing (26) extending through the suction module (12), while, at the same time, drilling fluid is flowing via the suction module (12) from the borehole (1); —subsequently pulling the adapter (16) up from the outer wellhead (8) and dividing the adapter (16); and—lowering the casing (26) with the inner wellhead (30) through the suction module (12) and the adapter (16) to its position in the outer wellhead (8).

Abstract: A tensioning apparatus for applying a substantially constant tension to a workover riser (12) includes a first portion (40) adapted to be coupled to a workover riser, a second portion (44) adapted to be coupled to a marine riser (14) and tensioning means (46) for providing relative movement between the first portion and the second portion to, in use, tension the workover riser.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for containing an underwater gas or oil leak. The system and method may include a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet. The vortex device may be positioned underwater proximate an underwater leak. A vortex may be generated within the vortex device. The vortex device may then collect a leak flow issuing from the underwater leak. The vortex device may collect the leak flow via the low pressure inlet, the high pressure inlet, or both.

Abstract: There is here disclosed an excavation machine having an automatic controlled excavation implement that adjusts the excavation implement to maximize the earth moved in accordance with vehicle operating parameters, and finished terrain parameters.

Abstract: A marine riser includes one or more buoyancy modules running along a length of the marine riser, wherein the one or more buoyancy modules are molded such that an umbilical may be secured along a length of the one or more buoyancy modules.

Abstract: A tool for actuating a blow out preventer includes one or more connections for receiving hydraulic power from a remotely operated vehicle (“ROV”), a first pump for increasing pressure of an operating fluid for the blowout preventer (“BOP”), a second pump for increasing flow rate of the operating fluid, and a conductor for transporting the operating fluid to the BOP. The tool rapidly increases the pressure and flow rate of the fluid flowing to the BOP, and the BOP may be rapidly closed.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon drilling tubulars storage and handling system, said system comprising: —first and second rotary storage racks, each rotary storage rack being rotatable about a vertical axis and having storage slots for storage of multiple tubulars in each rotary storage rack in vertical orientation, the first and second rotary storage rack each including a drive to rotate the storage rack about its vertical axis, —a tubulars racking device positioned between the first and second rotary storage racks, said racking device including a rotary structure that is rotatable about a vertical axis and a drive to rotate the rotary column structure about said vertical axis, the rotary structure supporting at a first side thereof a first tubular racker assembly and at a second side thereof a second tubular racker assembly, each tubular racker assembly including one or more one gripping members adapted to grip a tubular.

Abstract: An adapter assembly having a sealing element, a drive bushing, and an adapter flange disposed between the sealing element and the drive bushing. Also, a method of assembling a rotational control device that includes coupling mechanically an adapter flange to a sealing element, coupling mechanically the adapter flange to a drive bushing, and installing the adapter flange, sealing element, and drive bushing in the rotational control device.

Abstract: A plug plugs into a ROV drive bucket limiting rotation of a drive shaft therein to say 15° and reducing the build-up of marine growth in the bucket. As shown it includes a polyethylene body (which may be made in two parts 12, 13) housing a metal socket 11 mounted for limited angular orientation therein. The socket has a twenty four point aperture or recess (22) which fits over a squared end of a drive shaft 10 at various angles orientation. The socket has external splines (20) which fit loosely in wide internal grooves (21) in the body and self-orientates within the body when the body is plugged into the bucket. The plug has a pair of diametrically opposite dogs (4) which engage in slots (5), included in flanges on conventional buckets.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods useable in drilling installations having a mud loop for detecting ongoing or imminent kick events are provided. An apparatus includes a first sensor configured to measure a input mud flow pumped into the well, and a second sensor configured to measure a variation of a return mud flow emerging from the well. The apparatus further includes a controller connected to the first sensor, and to the second sensor. The controller is configured to identify an ongoing or imminent kick event based on monitoring and comparing an evolution of the input mud flow as measured by the first sensor and an evolution of the return mud flow as inferred based on measurements received from the second sensor. Additionally, a third sensor can be included in the apparatus to confirm the conclusion made by the controller before alerting the user that a kick has likely occurred.

Abstract: A system for drilling and/or producing a subsea wellbore comprises a primary BOP comprising a primary ram BOP. In addition, the system comprises a secondary BOP releasably connected to the primary BOP, the secondary BOP comprising a secondary ram BOP. The primary rain BOP is actuatable by a first control signal. The secondary ram BOP is actuatable by a second control signal. The secondary rain BOP is not actuatable by the first control signal.

Abstract: What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a swivel can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the drilling fluid or mud into upper and lower sections and allowing the fluid to be displaced in two stages, such as while the drill string is being rotated and/or reciprocated. In one embodiment the sleeve or housing can be rotatably and sealably connected to a mandrel. The swivel can be incorporated into a drill or well string and enabling string sections both above and below the sleeve to be rotated in relation to the sleeve. In one embodiment the drill or well string does not move in a longitudinal direction relative to the swivel. In one embodiment, the drill or well string does move longitudinally relative to the sleeve or housing of the swivel.

Abstract: A water intake assembly (105) is suspendable from an off-shore structure (102) is proposed. It has a bundle (106) of at least a first tubular conduit (106A) and a second tubular conduit (106B) generally stretching side by side along a length direction. At least a part of the distal portion (109) of the first tubular conduit extends further in the length direction than the second tubular conduit when in fully suspended condition. Described used of such a water intake riser assembly include: a method of producing a liquefied hydrocarbon stream and a method of producing a vaporous hydrocarbon steam.