Patents by Inventor Frederico Nicoletti De Fraga

Frederico Nicoletti De Fraga has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11828113
    Abstract: An end fitting for a subsea riser comprises an engagement head to be engaged with a subsea foundation in a vertically downward longitudinal direction. A structure of the end fitting surrounds a longitudinally extending flow axis and is arranged to bear a tensile load on a load path extending longitudinally from the engagement head parallel to the flow axis. The structure includes a pivot joint assembly having a first part attached to or integral with the engagement head and a second part pivotable relative to the first part about a centre of rotation substantially aligned with the flow axis. The structure can be fixed to the engagement head or removably attached to the engagement head. The engagement head supports an upwardly facing connector hub that is offset laterally from the flow axis. A connector pipe in fluid communication with the connector hub extends from the flow axis to the connector hub. A counterweight is opposed to the connector hub and the connector pipe about the flow axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Subsea 7 do Brasil Servicos LTDA
    Inventors: Luiz Carlos De Lemos Junior, Andre Ramiro Amorim, Gustavo Queiroz Hepner, Frederico Nicoletti de Fraga, Joao Carlos Carvalho Gouveia, Ivan Carlos Pimentel da Cruz, Yann Brouard, Daniel Karunakaran
  • Patent number: 11549314
    Abstract: A pliant link to mitigate fatigue-inducing motion of a subsea catenary riser has an articulated spine having a longitudinal series of interconnected rigid segments. The spine can be coupled to upper and lower sections of the riser to transmit loads along the riser through the link on a load path that extends through the segments. The link also has a pliant pipe terminating in end fittings that can be joined, respectively, to the upper and lower sections of the riser for fluid communication along the riser through the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Subsea 7 do Brasil Servicos Ltda
    Inventors: Luiz Carlos De Lemos Junior, Gustavo Queiroz Hepner, Andre Ramiro Amorim, Joao Carlos Carvalho Gouveia, Frederico Nicoletti de Fraga, Ivan Carlos Pimentel da Cruz, Daniel Karunakaran
  • Patent number: 11448341
    Abstract: An in-line accessory structure for a subsea pipeline has an elongate pipe section arranged to be integrated into the pipeline, hence defining a flow axis through the structure. A branch has a lower end in fluid communication with the pipe section and an upper end in fluid communication with a connector hub. The structure further has a subsea foundation such as a mudmat, arranged to support the structure installed orientation. When the structure is in that orientation, the branch inclines inwardly from its lower end toward its upper end in a transverse direction, toward an upright longitudinal plane containing the flow axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: Luiz Carlos De Lemos Junior, Joao Carlos Carvalho Gouveia, Frederico Nicoletti de Fraga
  • Publication number: 20220081977
    Abstract: An end fitting for a subsea riser comprises an engagement head to be engaged with a subsea foundation in a vertically downward longitudinal direction. A structure of the end fitting surrounds a longitudinally extending flow axis and is arranged to bear a tensile load on a load path extending longitudinally from the engagement head parallel to the flow axis. The structure includes a pivot joint assembly having a first part attached to or integral with the engagement head and a second part pivotable relative to the first part about a centre of rotation substantially aligned with the flow axis. The structure can be fixed to the engagement head or removably attached to the engagement head. The engagement head supports an upwardly facing connector hub that is offset laterally from the flow axis. A connector pipe in fluid communication with the connector hub extends from the flow axis to the connector hub. A counterweight is opposed to the connector hub and the connector pipe about the flow axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Luiz Carlos De Lemos Junior, Andre Ramiro Amorim, Gustavo Queiroz Hepner, Frederico Nicoletti de Fraga, Joao Carlos Carvalho Gouveia, Ivan Carlos Pimentel da Cruz, Yann Brouard, Daniel Karunakaran
  • Publication number: 20200224503
    Abstract: A pliant link to mitigate fatigue-inducing motion of a subsea catenary riser has an articulated spine having a longitudinal series of interconnected rigid segments. The spine can be coupled to upper and lower sections of the riser to transmit loads along the riser through the link on a load path that extends through the segments. The link also has a pliant pipe terminating in end fittings that can be joined, respectively, to the upper and lower sections of the riser for fluid communication along the riser through the link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Luiz Carlos De Lemos Junior, Gustavo Queiroz Hepner, Andre Ramiro Amorim, Joao Carlos Carvalho Gouveia, Frederico Nicoletti de Fraga, Ivan Carlos Pimentel da Cruz, Daniel Karunakaran
  • Publication number: 20200088320
    Abstract: An in-line accessory structure for a subsea pipeline comprises an elongate pipe section arranged to be integrated into the pipeline, hence defining a flow axis through the structure. A branch has a lower end in fluid communication with the pipe section and an upper end in fluid communication with a connector hub. The structure further comprises a subsea foundation such as a mudmat, arranged to support the structure in an installed orientation. When the structure is in that orientation, the branch inclines inwardly from its lower end toward its upper end in a transverse direction, toward an upright longitudinal plane containing the flow axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Luiz Carlos De Lemos Junior, Joao Carlos Carvalho Gouveia, Frederico Nicoletti de Fraga
  • Patent number: 9422773
    Abstract: A subsea riser support buoy is disclosed having a riser support member and a jumper support member that extend generally parallel to each other and that define a lengthwise direction extending between them across the buoy. Pontoons extend lengthwise beyond the riser support member and the jumper support member to provide attachment points for connecting tethers to the buoy. In this way, the attachment points are spaced more widely than lengthwise extremities of the riser support member and the jumper support member, beneficially altering the dynamic behavior of the buoy and especially its pitch characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Karunakaran, Frederico Nicoletti De Fraga, Chunqun Ji, Chunfa Wu, Yun Ding
  • Publication number: 20150247366
    Abstract: A subsea riser support buoy is disclosed having a riser support member and a jumper support member that extend generally parallel to each other and that define a lengthwise direction extending between them across the buoy. Pontoons extend lengthwise beyond the riser support member and the jumper support member to provide attachment points for connecting tethers to the buoy. In this way, the attachment points are spaced more widely than lengthwise extremities of the riser support member and the jumper support member, beneficially altering the dynamic behaviour of the buoy and especially its pitch characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Karunakaran, Frederico Nicoletti De Fraga, Chunqun Ji, Chunfa Wu, Yun Ding
  • Patent number: 9121529
    Abstract: A rigid-to-flexible connector (RFC) is provided on the rigid pipe section instead of a pipeline end termination (PLET), and the pipe end having the RFC is raised to the surface of the sea, while leaving a portion of the rigid pipe section on the seabed. The RFC is then connected to one end of the flexible pipe section, and the latter lowered to the seabed, with the raised, end of the rigid pipe section attached, to return the rigid pipe section to the seabed. Since the RFC on the rigid pipe section is connected to the flexible pipe section at the surface of the sea, the RFC can have a simpler, lighter, technical design, resulting in significant cost, manufacturing time and quality control time savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Limited
    Inventors: Jessica da Silva Machado, Peter Tanscheit, Frederico Nicoletti De Fraga, Paulo Marcio Moreira Castro
  • Publication number: 20130164084
    Abstract: A rigid-to-flexible connector (RFC) is provided on the rigid pipe section instead of a pipeline end termination (PLET), and the pipe end having the RFC is raised to the surface of the sea, while leaving a portion of the rigid pipe section on the seabed. The RFC is then connected to one end of the flexible pipe section, and the latter lowered to the seabed, with the raised, end of the rigid pipe section attached, to return the rigid pipe section to the seabed. Since the RFC on the rigid pipe section is connected to the flexible pipe section at the surface of the sea, the RFC can have a simpler, lighter, technical design, resulting in significant cost, manufacturing time and quality control time savings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Jessica da Silva Machado, Peter Tanschett, Frederíco Nicoletti De Fraga, Paulo Marcio Moreira Castro