Abstract: The invention is a subsea pump that includes pumping elements, each pumping element including a pressure vessel with a first and a second chamber therein and a separating member disposed between the first and second chambers. The first and second chambers are hydraulically connected to receive and discharge a hydraulic fluid and a drilling fluid, respectively. The separating member moves within the pressure vessel in response to a pressure differential between the first and second chambers. A hydraulic power supply is arranged to pump the hydraulic fluid to the first chamber of each of the pumping elements. A valve assembly is hydraulically coupled to the first chambers of the plurality of pumping elements and to the hydraulic power supply. Volume measurement devices are arranged to measure volumes of each of the first chambers and the second chambers.

Abstract: The invention is a subsea pump that includes pumping elements, each pumping element including a pressure vessel with a first and a second chamber therein and a separating member disposed between the first and second chambers. The first and second chambers are hydraulically connected to receive and discharge a hydraulic fluid and a drilling fluid, respectively. The separating member moves within the pressure vessel in response to a pressure differential between the first and second chambers. A hydraulic power supply is arranged to pump the hydraulic fluid to the first chamber of each of the pumping elements. A valve assembly is hydraulically coupled to the first chambers of the plurality of pumping elements and to the hydraulic power supply. Volume measurement devices are arranged to measure volumes of each of the first chambers and the second chambers.

Abstract: Resin impregnation of fiber bundles for use in making a composite material is described. The impregnated fiber bundles are suitable for use as a prepreg tape or for inline use in extrusion, pultrusion and filament winding operations. The improvements of the disclosed method and impregnation head enable high fiber take-off speeds without excessive damage or fraying of the fiber bundles. Encapsulated air or voids in the impregnated product are consistently less than 1% by volume of the impregnated product and decrease with increased take-off speed. These improvements are achieved by passing the fiber bundles through a multi-chambered impregnation head in which the resin is injected into a downstream chamber. The cross sectional area of the fiber bundles, the velocity of the fibers bundles, the size of the openings to the chamber, the viscosity of the resin and the pressure at which the resin is pumped into the downstream chamber all control the pressure within the downstream chamber.

Abstract: A system for drilling a subsea well from a rig through a subsea wellhead below the rig includes a wellhead stack which is mounted on the subsea wellhead. The wellhead stack includes at least a subsea blowout preventer stack and a subsea diverter. A drill string extends from the rig through the wellhead stack into the well to conduct drilling fluid from the rig to a drill bit in the well. A riser which has one end coupled to the wellhead stack and another end coupled to the rig internally receives the drill string such that a riser annulus is defined between the drill string and the riser. A well annulus extends from the bottom of the well to the subsea diverter to conduct fluid away from the drill bit. A pump has a suction side in communication with the well annulus and a discharge side in communication with the rig and is operable to maintain a selected pressure gradient in the well annulus.

Abstract: A rotating diverter for isolating fluid in a well from other fluid above the well is provided. The rotating diverter includes a housing body which has a bore running through it. A retrievable spindle assembly which includes a spindle and a bearing assembly is disposed in the bore. The bearing assembly supports the spindle for rotation. The spindle is adapted to receive and seal around a tubular member, and rotation of the tubular member rotates the spindle within the bore. A lock member is disposed in the housing body to secure the retrievable spindle assembly to the housing body.

Abstract: A blowout preventer control system has been developed with a pod with features which include a retractable internal stab with fixed internal hydraulic connection lines to the blowout preventer. The hydraulic connection lines are connected by pressure activated packer seals. The stab also has an electrical connector to the blowout preventer which uses a guide which proper aligns the pins of the connector without any rotation. The piping of the control system uses an adjustable length type tubing to reduce the binding on the pipe. A lost motion float is used reduce the loading on the connection bolts of the system. The entire system is enclosed with plates with keep the expended hydraulic fluid in contact with the internal mechanisms. The transducers and seal subs are located for easy accessibility with no disruption of the surrounding elements of the system.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus having a valve body forming a longitudinal axis with an inlet and an outlet connected by flow passage that are all substantially disposed on the longitudinal axis to provide a straight flow path is disclosed. A moveable flow control sleeve is concentrically disposed about a cylindrical seat member fixed in the valve body. Radially opposed ports are disposed in the seat member. A quick acting 90 degree rotatable stem is operably connected to the flow control sleeve to reciprocate the sleeve axially along the cylindrical seat to and from the open and closed position to regulate the fluid flowing through the opposed ports and valve apparatus. A flowmeter sensor is mounted with the valve body for providing a signal in response to the rate of flow through the flow passage. The signal is usable by a flow rate determining system which may be connected to a valve actuator for automatically operating the valve in response to certain prearranged flow conditions.

Abstract: A flexible control line for communication in a well bore is disclosed having a communication tube and a strength member extending along the tube. The tube and strength member are encapsulated in a sheath of elastomeric material. Sealing means are provided for the strength member to prevent fluid or gas migration to the surface through the strength member from a subsurface source.

Abstract: The establishment of control of a stack of underwater well head equipment is achieved by preliminarily positioning a locating means at the well head, and then:A. lowering to the well head first and second connector means and effecting reception thereof by the locating means so that the first and second connector means extend in laterally spaced apart relation as determined by the locating means, andB. lowering to the well head crossover third and fourth connector means and effecting generally vertical coupling thereof to the previously located first and second connector means respectively, for operatively interconnecting the first and second connector means via the crossover connector means.The first connector means typically has control line communication with a surface control station, and the second connector means typically has control communication with equipment in the stack.

Abstract: The gas content of well drilling mud under pressure is determined by extracting or isolating a sample of the pressurized mud, as for example at a down-hole location, reducing the pressure of the sample, and sensing the fluid pressure of the sample prior to and following such pressure reduction.