Abstract: A downhole safety joint for use in a wellbore is described. The downhole safety joint includes an upper tubular member having an upper threaded end and a lower external threaded section; a lower tubular member having a lower threaded end and an upper interior threaded section for engaging with the lower external threaded section to form a break joint, the break joint having one or more of a maximum compressive stress limit and a tensile stress limit; and one or more circumferential stress reliefs disposed into the outer diameter of at least one of the upper tubular member and the lower tubular member for transmitting a side load applied to the break joint to one or more of the circumferential stress reliefs less than one or more of the compressive stress limit and the tensile stress limit.

Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting two members that allows manual lockdown to prevent accidental disengagement. The connector assembly can be used to connect a tension ring to a housing on a riser by using a lower set of hydraulically actuated dogs. A set of upper hydraulically actuated dogs on the connector assembly can be used to connect the tension ring to a diverter housing mounted on a rig. The connector assembly also has position indicators that ride along with the dogs to indicate whether the dogs are in the engaged or disengaged position.

Abstract: A marine drilling riser system for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting a pin end of one drilling riser joint to a box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint by using a moveable ring to drive a fastener of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A spider is used to drive the movable ring axially from a position where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint to a position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, and vice versa. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. The spider may also be used to support the marine drilling riser string during assembly.

Abstract: A connection for sub-sea use employs locking dogs that are isolated from seawater and a backup system for operating the backup sleeve to the dogs. The normal actuation system for the backup sleeve is also isolated from seawater exposure. The set position of the backup sleeve is positively retained against the prospect of axial movement that could be triggered by transmitted vibration into the connection.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a subsea overload release system and method. The disclosure provides a releasable connection system than can be overridden during an overload condition, and is resettable in a subsea location in situ. During normal operation, a collet sleeve is slidably engageable with a collet having one or more fingers that can releasably couple a first member with a second member. During an overload condition, an overload piston acting on fluid in an overload reservoir causes an overload pressure and a rupture or other release of fluid through an overload pressure member, causing the overload reservoir to at least partially collapse. The collapse allows the system to extend and force open the fingers to disengage the second member from the first member. When the overload symptom is rectified, the overload reservoir can be reset and the overload pressure member reset or replaced without requiring repairs above sea surface.

Abstract: In the marine hose of the present invention, protruded parts are provided at each axial direction end of the axial direction ends of the hose bodies, each axial direction end is located at both sides in the axial direction of the connection portion which is provided with limit mechanism. By this, when the marine hose is wound up to the reel, the protruded parts of the hose bodies contact the outer surface of the reel, the outer surface of the limit mechanism does not contact the outer surface of the reel. Thus, large amount of the bending force is not added to the limit mechanism.

Abstract: An offshore riser system has riser joints, each having a pin and a box. The pin has an external grooved profile that is engaged by a locking element carried by the box of another riser joint. An actuating ring engages with the locking element to move it into the locked position. A retractable spider supports the string of riser while the new joint is being made up. A makeup tool on the riser deploying floor moves the ring relative to the locking element, causing the locking element to move to the locked position.

Abstract: A circulator sub tool for dispensing and circulating fluid in a well bore having a threaded packer sub with a quick coupler body, and wherein diameters for each annulus of the quick coupler body and the sub body are substantially identical enhancing laminar flow through the threaded packer sub.

Abstract: A technique for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser joints have a tubular housing that has a box configuration on one end and a pin configuration on the other end. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting the pin end of one drilling riser joint to the box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint. A moveable ring is used to connect adjoining drilling riser joints. The moveable ring is used to drive a fastener of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. The moveable ring is driven axially from a position where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint to a position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position.

Abstract: A connection for sub-sea use employs locking dogs that are isolated from seawater and a backup system for operating the backup sleeve to the dogs. The normal actuation system for the backup sleeve is also isolated from seawater exposure. The set position of the backup sleeve is positively retained against the prospect of axial movement that could be triggered by transmitted vibration into the connection.

Abstract: A system for connecting and disconnecting a lower end of a marine riser (25) to and from a blow out preventer stack on a subsea Wellhead comprises gripping members (26) for the marine riser and a lock element (27) for locking the gripping members (26). The system comprises first primary actuators (28), second primary actuators (29) and secondary actuators (30) for moving the lock element (27) to an unlock position, and hydraulic circuitry for actuating the actuators. The system further comprises a hydraulic backup unlock circuit (9, 11, 16) comprising a triple flow divider (8) for dividing fluid flow from a source (16) into one flow for actuating the first primary actuators (28), one flow for actuating the second primary actuators (29) and one flow for actuating the secondary actuators (30).

Abstract: A triggering mechanism for a triggering valve (1) of a hydraulic emergency unlock circuit for unlocking hydraulically operated gripping members of a riser connector which connects a lower end of a riser (2) to a wellhead on a sea floor. The triggering mechanism comprises a cam ring (5) secured to a displaceable part (4) of a flex joint for the riser (2), and an actuator ring (8) which by means of hydraulic cylinders are translatory movable towards a stationary part (3) of the flex joint. An angular displacement (&agr;) of the riser (2) causes an angular displacement (&agr;) of the cam ring (5), which contacts the actuator ring (8) and forces the actuator ring (8) towards the stationary part (3) of the flex joint, causing an activating of a trigger (13) for the triggering valve (1).

Abstract: A lock assembly for locking an outer tubular element to an inner tubular element extending through the outer tubular element for holding loads between the tubular member when lowered downhole. The assembly includes a lock mandrel connected to one of the tubular elements and the other tubular element having a recess with at least one inwardly converging side surface. A lock member, having a retracted and an expanded mode, is arranged between the first and second tubular elements. The lock member is movable relative to the recess in the retracted mode and locks against the inwardly diverging side surface when in the expanded mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to safety joints which permit separation of a downhole assembly at the location of the joint. The invention provides a safety joint characterized by the provision of auxiliary interconnecting means on a body (2) for interconnecting said body (2) to an auxiliary shaft after removal of a main shaft (3) from said body (2). Axial loading between the auxiliary shaft and said body (2) may be thereby transferred. Furthermore, torque may also be transferred between the auxiliary shaft and said body (2) in a direction opposite to that in which torque may be transferred from the main shaft (3) to said body (2). Thus, the present invention allows a length of downhole assembly located above said body (2) to be removed from a wellbore by rotation of said length of assembly in a first direction and then allows rotation of said body (2) in the same first direction by means of the auxiliary shaft in an attempt to remove a length of assembly stuck in the wellbore downhole of said body (2).

Abstract: A coupler 10 for pressure conduits 12a-d comprises movable components 22, 26 selectively engageable with or disengageable from fixed components 34 to provide disconnectable sealed pressure connections therewith, the moveable components 22 being acted upon by a primary actuator comprising a bearing plate 52, a thrust nut 50 and a threaded drive spindle 44. Spindle 44 is mounted in an end cap 46 normally held fixed relative to the fixed components by collet fingers 66 but which is disengageable from a connector body 14 upon withdrawal of a retainer sleeve (70, FIG. 8) so as to provide secondary actuation of the movable components 22, 26 independently of the primary actuator 44, 50, 52.

Abstract: A latch is adapted to be connected to a tubing string and will snap into a packer disposed in a wellbore. A predetermined first number of pounds is required to snap the latch into the packer and a predetermined second number of pounds, greater than the first number, is required to pull the latch out of the packer in the wellbore. In order to maintain constant the first and second number of pounds, the latch has the following special characteristics. The latch has a plurality of flanges separated, respectively, by a plurality of gaps, that snap into the packer, each flange having external threads disposed around its periphery, each thread including an engaging surface and a disengaging surface, an angle between the surface of each disengaging thread relative to a vertical being in a range from 20 to 28 degrees. An elastomeric barrier occupies the gap between adjacent ones of the flanges.

Abstract: A quick connect coupler for interconnecting pressure sealed housings with pin and socket members where the socket member has a sealing bore and locking grooves. The pin member has a first rotatable ring assembly and a second rotatable ring assembly is mounted on the first ring assembly. A rotatable pawl member in the second ring assembly interlocks the socket member and the ring assemblies against axial and rotational movement. When actuated, the pawl member releases to permit relative rotation to an unlock position where the pawl member is used as a cam member to move the assemblies axially relative to one another to release the sealing connection as well as the locking interconnection.

Abstract: A ram assembly for positioning within a through bore of a blowout preventer body includes first and second opposing ram pistons each powering a respective knife blade. Each knife blade may have a pair of angled shear edges on opposite sides of the respective ram centerline, with each pair of angled shear edges defining a generally V-shaped configuration. The pair of opposing knife edges preferably engage the oilfield tubular at four contact points spaced substantially equidistant about a circumference of the tubular, and thereby contain the tubular for the shearing operation. According to the method of the present invention, the oilfield tubular is sheared substantially by brittle shearing rather than ductile shearing.

Abstract: A tubular connector joint has a pin member on one of the tubular members and a box member on the other of the tubular members. External pin threads are formed on the exterior of the pin member. Internal box threads have the same pitch as the pin threads. A latch ring locates between the pin threads and box threads. The latch ring contracts and has threads on its inner and outer diameter that mate with the threads of the two tubular members. A drive key causes the latch ring to rotate with the pin member. The latch ring contracts when the upper tubular member stabs into the lower tubular member. A short amount of rotation then causes the drive ring to engage the threads of the lower tubular member.

Abstract: A device for releasably locking an inner member within the bore of a tubular outer member holds load in upward and downward directions. The inner member has a grooved profile on its exterior. The outer member has a grooved profile in its bore. A split latch ring is carried by the inner member. The ring has an inner profile that mates with the profile on the inner member. The ring has an outer profile that mates with the profile in the bore. The ring cannot move axially relative to the inner member while fully engaging the inner member profile. Similarly, the ring cannot move axially relative to the outer member while fully engaging the profile of the outer member. The inner member is released by a releasing device which provides an axial force to the ring independent of any force applied to the inner or outer members.

Abstract: A ratcheting connector for providing a radial connection between two concentric tubular members, with one of the members having a recess in which a split latching ring is mounted with coarse threaded engagement between said split latching ring and said one member and fine threads on the side of said split latching ring facing the other member which has mating fine threads with a shape which cams said split latching ring into its recess as the threads move past each other in the direction of installation. Setting of the connector is accomplished after full engagement of the fine threads by rotation of the central tubular member less than a full revolution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety connection for drilling purposes, especially for oil wells. The connection comprises two portions (1,2) which, during normal drilling, transmit the torque and the thrust required for the tool to operate, said torque and thrust being transmitted via a drive cone (11) and fluting (10). In the event of the tool becoming jammed downhole, strong axial traction breaks calibrated traction links (4) at a predetermined force, thereby separating said two portions (1, 2) and making it possible to abandon downhole solely the tool and the connection portion (1) connected thereto.

Abstract: A weak point element for a cable head comprising a tubular ring having a circumferentially extending zone of reduced tensile strength between the ends thereof. Novel cable head assemblies which substantially isolate the weak point element from other than tensile stress are also disclosed.